A+ Flashcards
What are the four basic types of computers?
Super computers, mainframe computers, minicomputers, microcomputers
What is ESD?
Electrostatic discharge. It’s the standardization of charges between two conductors, and can, and often does, damage electronic devices.
How can you prevent Electrostatic discharge?
Antistatic wrist wraps, antistatic mats, antistatic parts bags, antistatic spray
What are some advantages of digital signals vs. analog signals?
Digital signals consist of binary code. They travel through conductors or air faster. They transfer more data in the same amount of time. Digital signals have sharper and clearer signal. Digital signals lack distortion, and are less susceptible to interference.
Name three numbering systems
Decimal numbers - base 10, used everyday. Binary numbers - base 2, combinations of 1s and 0s. Hexidecimal numbers - base 16, allows larger numbers to use less space and process resources.
How many bits in a byte?
8
How many bytes in a kilobyte?
1000
How many bytes in a megabyte?
1,000,000
How many bytes in a gigabyte?
1,000,000,000
How many bytes in a terabyte?
1,000,000,000,000
Computers have a built in metronome-like signal called a what?
Clock signal
What are some types of cases for a PC?
Full tower, mid tower, mini tower / shuttle, desktop, media center, server
What is a motherboard?
It’s the spine of the computer, also known as the system board. It connects all of other components of a PC together.
Compare nonintegrated vs integrated system boards.
Nonintegrated system boards - each major assembly is installed in he computer as an expansion card. Integrated - they are integrated into the motherboard.
What does RAM stand for?
Random access memory
What are the main parts of a PC?
Power supply, motherboard, CPU, Ram, Optical drive, hard drive, heat sink, system fan, computer case
What is a chipset?
It’s the “smarts” of a motherboard. It directs traffic and controls the flow of information inside the computer.
What does BIOS stand for and what does it do?
Basic Input Output System - Lowest level software in the computer, acts as an interface between the hardware and the operating system. Provides access to the system hardware and enables creation of the higher level operating systems. Responsible for allowing you to control hardware settings, for booting up the machine when you turn on the power or hit reset, and various other system functions.
What are the number of cores?
Single core, dual core, triple core, quad core, Core i7. Generally, more cores equals better multi tasking.
What is core clock speed?
Measured in millions or billions of cycles per second, or megahertz (MHz or GHz). Its how fast your computer thinks.
What is Front Side Bus speed?
How fast your CPU talks to the rest of the system.
What is Cache memory?
Storage area for frequently used data and instructions. Offsets difference in core clock speed and FSB speed.
What is L1 cache?
L1 cache is where data waits to enter CPU
What is L2 cache?
L2 cache is where data that’s already processed waits
Wha is L3 cache?
L3 cache is not always available, but it adds performance
What is RAM?
RAM is part of the machine that runs your computer. It’s a chip or set of chips used to store info temporarily, like a white board. More is always better, and all programs use a certain amount.
Are there motherboard, CPU, and OS limitations when it comes to RAM?
Yes
What’s the fastest way to upgrade any computer?
Increase RAM
What are RAM sticks currently referred to as?
DIMMs (dual inline memory modules) or SODIMMs (Small outline DIMM) for laptops
What does PCI stand for?
Peripheral Component Ineterconnect
What does ATX stand for?
Advanced technology extended
What is DRAM?
Dynamic Random Access Memory. It stores information as charges in small capacitors. Needs constant refresh every fe minutes. Without refresh you will lose info.
What is SDRAM?
Synchronous DRAM. Synchronized to the FSB speed
What is ROM?
Read Only Memory. Memory that permanently stores data even when computer is switched off
What is VRAM?
Video RAM. Used to store image data for processing by the video adapter.Usually built into video cards.
What does FAT stand for and what does it do?
The File Allocation Table is the file that contains information about where the tracks and sectors on the disk are located.
What is spin speed?
Spin speed indicated how fast the platters are spinning in a fixed disk drive.
What does it mean to format?
Format is a system function that prepares a mass storage device to hold data.
What is a partition?
A partition is an isolated section of disk that functions like a separate drive and enables you to create a logical disk structure and organize drives.
What does RAID stand for?
Redundant array of independent disks
What does a power supply do in a PC?
A power supply converts 110 volt AC into the voltages that a computer needs to operate (5 volts DC, 12 volts DC, 3.3 volts DC).
Match the appropriate colored wires to the correct voltage in a power supply
3.3 volts - orange, 5 volts - red, 12 volts - yellow
What does VDC stand for?
Volts direct Current
What is POST?
The power on self test is a diagnostic program that is built into every computers BIOS. The motherboard’s functions are tested, for the most part, by the POST routines.
