1.1 Laptop Hardware

Question 1

SSD

Answer 1

Laptop Storage
Solid-state drive
• All memory, no moving parts
• Silent, fast access time, less latency
• 2.5 inch and 1.8 inch form factors

Question 2

Hybrid drive

Answer 2

Laptop Storage

SSD

Question 3

Magnetic disk

Answer 3

Laptop storage

Traditional spinning drive platters.

Question 4

Replacing Laptop Storage

Answer 4

• Can be very modular
• Two screws and the drive slides out
• All internal
• Open a cover on the back
• Open the entire laptop

Question 5

Laptop memory

Answer 5

• SO-DIMM
• Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module
• Micro-DIMM
• Micro-Dual In-line Memory Module
• Memory used in laptops and mobile devices

Question 6

Smart card reader

Answer 6

• Integrated card reader
• Built into the laptop
• External reader
• USB connected

Question 7

Optical drive

Answer 7

• Too large for today’s portable devices
• Becoming difficult to find
• Often removable
• Replace with other media
• Read and write CD-RW/CD-ROM and DVD-RW/DVDROM
• In a portable device

Question 8

Video Cards

Answer 8

Often built into the processor
• Not upgradable
• Sometimes part of the system board
• Again, not upgradable
• Some laptops have upgradable video cards
• Not the slimline models

Question 9

Screen

Answer 9

• LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)
• Light and high-resolution
• Very, very fragile - Get a good case!
• Resolutions are fixed
• Changes to native resolution may look
blurry or not as crisp

Question 10

Laptop power - AC adapters

Answer 10

Auto-switching or fixed input
• Converts AC to DC
• Input voltage - 110 volts / 220 volts
• DC jack on the laptop
• Specific to the power supply type

Question 11

Laptop power - batteries

Answer 11

• Lithium Ion (Li-ion)
• Common in consumer electronics
• No “memory effect”
• Charging the battery diminishes capacity

Question 12

Laptop frame

Answer 12

• Plastic
• Lightweight, mobile
• Durable, difficult to break
• Inexpensive, cost-effective
• Metal
• More durable than plastic
• Can be more difficult to repair

Question 13

Speaker

Answer 13

Self-contained - Portable audio
• Not the highest quality - Very small
• Often stereo (L/R) - May include a subwoofer!

Question 14

System board

Answer 14

Proprietary
• Built to fit
• Replacement isn’t easy
• Swap the entire board
• Most components are on the system board

Question 15

CPU

Answer 15

• Designed for mobility
• Power management
• Integrated features
• Memory controller, video controller
• Not very upgradable
• Replaceable, but not upgradeable
• Often slower than desktops
• Size and heat are disadvantages