Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

COMPTIA A+ 1001 > Chapter 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 1 Flashcards

Basics, Motherboard form factors, CPU form factors, RAM form factors, Northbridge and Southbridge

1
Q

What is RAM?

A

Random Access Memory - temporary storage for data and programs that are being accessed by the CPU,
Volatile Memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Hardware?

A

The physical equipment of the computer that the user can interact with eg. case, mouse, keyboard

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is Software?

A

The operating system and programs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What’s the computer case for?

A

Provides protection and housing for the internal components of a computer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a Form Factor?

A

The size and layout of a device, port, or peripheral (ie. how something looks and is shaped)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What’s a PSU and what does it do?

A

Power Supply Unit, it provides power to the unit by converting AC (alternating current) to DC (Direct Current)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What’s a single-rail PSU?

A

Power supplies that have only one over current protection circuit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What’s a multi-rail PSU?

A

Power supplies that have more than one over current protection circuit. (Safer, but more expensive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What’s a motherboard?

A

The main printed circuit board

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What’s the purpose of a motherboard?

A

It holds together many of the crucial components of a computer, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory and connectors for input and output devices.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are buses?

A

The lines on a circuit board

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the most common motherboard form factor?

A

ATX (Advanced Technology Extended)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the ATX motherboard form factors?

A

EATX
ATX
Micro ATX
Mini ATX

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the ITX motherboard form factors?

A

Mini-ITX
Nano-ITX
Pico-ITX
Mobile-ITX

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a CPU?

A

Central Processing Unit, a processor- It process a program which is a sequence of instructions. (The brain of the computer)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the speed in which the CPU is measured?

A

Megahertz (Mhz) and Gigahertz (Ghz)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is overclocking?

A

Forcing a CPU to run faster

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is throttling?

A

Lowering the speed of a CPU (I.e Battery saver mode)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the two CPU form factors?

A

Intel- LGA (Land Grid Array) uses all numbers

AMD- PGA (Pin Grid Array) uses letters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In regards to RAM, what’s the difference between parity and non-parity?

A

Parity checks for errors in Ram, mainly used in Servers

Non-parity does not, mainly used in desktops

21
Q

What is ECC?

A

Error-Correcting Code: Has the possibility to find and try to fix errors in RAM. Used in servers

Pssst: Very expensive, not often used in desktops

22
Q

What is cache?

A

Type of memory that is very fast, faster than physical RAM. Part of the CPU and reserved for most frequently used data

23
Q

What is SRAM?

A

A type of memory that is the fastest memory that money can buy. Is reserved for the most frequently used data. Usually found in CPUs

24
Q

What are channel types?

A

How your RAM best interacts with eachother

25
Q

Briefly describe Single, Dual, and Triple Channel Memory

A

Single channel - essentially RAM works best alone
Dual channel- works best in pairs
Triple - works best when you have 3 sticks of RAM

26
Q

What are the two RAM form factors?

A

DIMM- Found in desktop motherboards

SODIMM- Found in laptop motherboards

27
Q

What does a case fan do?

A

Makes cooling process more efficient

28
Q

What does a heat sink do?

A

Draws heat away from the CPU

29
Q

What is Thermal Paste or Thermal Compound Paste?

A

A paste that is placed on top of the CPU to draw out heat into the heatsink

30
Q

What is liquid cooling?

A

The use of liquids such as Nitrogen, Oil, Water to cool CPU or system

31
Q

What are adapters and expansion cards?

A

Used for the computer to have networking capability

32
Q

What’s an NIC?

A

Network Interface Card, used in older laptops for internet access.

33
Q

What’s a riser card?

A

Used to change the orientation (physical position) of how a card would fit into the case

34
Q

What’s a TV Tuner Card?`

A

Old, no longer in use. Allowed you to watch TV on computer.

35
Q

What is a PCI?

A

Peripheral Component Interconnect- is an adapter slot for adapter cards of any type.

36
Q

What are the five sizes PCIe come in?

A 
x1 (smallest)
x4
x8
x16
x32 (largest)
37
Q

What is SATA used for?

A

(Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)- An interface used to connect ATA hard drives to motherboard

38
Q

What is IDE also known as PATA?

A

LEGACY IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) or Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment : a 16-bit interface that connected two devices to a single-ribbon cable

39
Q

What is POST?

A

POST (Power On Self Test) is the computer checking to see if all hardware is working properly (checking CPU, RAM, etc)

40
Q

What is BIOS?

A

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is an integrated ROM chip that checks configuration settings on hardware

41
Q

What is UEFI?

A

UEFI (United Extensible Firmware Interface) is an upgraded version of BIOS which is not volatile.
It adds security functionality such as ‘Secure Boot’

42
Q

What is Secure Boot?

A

Allows the user to choose what devices or programs it can boot up to help prevent malicious software applications and unauthorized systems from loading during the start-up process

43
Q

What is CMOS?

A

CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor)- Chip that stores all configuration (data) settings in the BIOS

44
Q

What is the Northbridge responsible for?

A

Handles RAM, CPU and GPU

45
Q

What is the Southbridge responsible for?

A

Handles every other device on Motherboard ie. BIOS, IO {input/output} PCI, USB- Parts of the Motherboard

46
Q

What are the Front Panel Connectors?

A 
Audio
Reset
HDD Indicator
Power on/off
USB ports
47
Q

What is TPM?

A

Trusted Platform Module- A security chip that could be enabled in BIOS; allowing the ability to use programs such as Bitlocker and LoJack.

48
Q

Describe the difference between Bitlocker and LoJack?

A

Bitlocker- A software that encrypts your entire hard drive

LoJack- A software that allows you to use GPS to find a lost laptop

COMPTIA A+ 1001 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions