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IT Essentials > Chapter 1: Introduction To The Personal Computer > Flashcards

Chapter 1: Introduction To The Personal Computer Flashcards

Explain IT industry certifications. Describe a computer system. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of cases and power supplies. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of internal components. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of ports and cables. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of input devices. Identify the names, purposes, and characteristics of output devices. Explain system resources and their purposes.

1
Q

Define Information Technology?

A

Information Technology is the design, development, implementation, support, and management of computer hardware and software applications.

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2
Q

Describe a computer system.

A

A computer system consists of hardware and software components. (i.e. storage drive, o.s., programs, monitor, cables, etc…)

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3
Q

Who developed the A+ certification program?

A

Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)

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4
Q

What is the latest edition of the + certification?

A

2009 Edition

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5
Q

What 2 exams are needed to be A+ qualified (Code number and name)?

A

CompTIA A+ Essentials, exam code 220-701; and CompTIA A+ Practical Application, exam code 220-702

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6
Q

Describe the A+ Essentials qualification.

A

CompTIA A+ Essentials measures the necessary competencies of an entry-level IT professional with at least 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. It tests for the fundamentals of computer technology, networking and security, as well as the communication skills and professionalism now required of all entry-level IT professionals

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7
Q

Describe the A+ Practical Application qualification.

A

CompTIA A+ Practical Application is an extension of the knowledge and skills identified in CompTIA A+ Essentials, with more of a hands-on orientation focused on scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems

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8
Q

What are the 5 modules that make up the EUCIP International certification.

A

M1: PC Hardware, M2: Operating Systems, M3: Local Area Network and Network Services, M4: Expert Network Use, M5: IT Security

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9
Q

What is the computer case used for?

A

The computer case provides protection and support for the internal components of the computer.

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10
Q

Why do all computers need a power supply?

A

To convert AC to DC

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11
Q

How is the shape of the computer case determined?

A

The shape of the computer case is determined by the motherboard and other internal components

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12
Q

Why would a user invest in an over-sized case?

A

To allocate room for future component additions

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13
Q

How much power should the power supply provide?

A

The power supply should provide enough power for the components currently installed and additional future components

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14
Q

What is the size and layout of the case called?

A

The size and layout is called form factor

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15
Q

Name some examples of form factors.

A

Examples of form factors: Desktop and tower

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16
Q

What role does a computer case play in cooling the internal components?

A

The case helps cool by ducting or forcing air to flow through the components that need to be cooled

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17
Q

What are the main factors for selecting a computer case?

A

The main factors for selecting computer cases are: the size of the motherboard, the number of external or internal drive locations aka bays, and available space

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18
Q

How are the internal computer components protected by the case from static electricity?

A

The case protects the internal components from static electricity by having the internal components grounded to the case

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19
Q

What can cause a power supply to fail?

A

Significant fluctuations in power can cause a power supply to fail

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20
Q

What is a UPS?

A

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

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21
Q

How does a UPS protect a computer?

A

A UPS protects a computer by providing power via battery if the primary source should the primary source of power (outlet) fail

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22
Q

How does a UPS provide power?

A

The UPS provides power with an inverter

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23
Q

How does the UPS battery provide power to the computer?

A

The UPS converts DC to AC

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24
Q

Most connectors today are _____connectors.

A

Keyed

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25
Q

Keyed connectors are designed to be inserted in only ___ direction.

A

One

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26
Q

Describe a Molex connector.

A

Keyed, used to connect to an optical drive or a hard drive (from power supply)

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27
Q

Describe a Berg connector.

A

Keyed, used to connect to a floppy drive and is smaller than a Molex connector (from power supply)

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28
Q

Describe a 20-pin or 24-pin connector.

A

Slotted, used to connect to the mother board (24-pin two rows of 12 pins, 20-pin two rows of 10 pins, and from power supply)

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29
Q

Describe a 4-pin to 8-pin connector.

A

Axillary, to motherboard (two rows of 2 to 4 pins, same shape as main power connector but smaller, and provides power to all areas of the motherboard)

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30
Q

What 2 connector types do older power supplies use?

A

P8 and P9

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31
Q

Why are the old P8 and P9 connectors not used?

A

They are unkeyed and can be installed backwards

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32
Q

What should you never do to any connector or component?

A

Never force any connector or component

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33
Q

What are the four basic units of electricity?

A

Voltage (V), Current (I), Power (P), Resistance (R)

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34
Q

What is voltage?

A

Voltage is a measure of the force required to push electrons through a circuit

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35
Q

What is voltage measured in?

A

Volts (V)

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36
Q

What is current?

A

Current is a measure of the amount of electrons going through a circuit

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37
Q

What is current measured in?

A

Amperes or Amps (A)

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38
Q

What is power?

A

Power is the rate of work being performed

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39
Q

What is power measured in?

A

Watts (W)

40
Q

What is resistance?

A

Resistance is the opposition to the flow of current in a circuit

41
Q

What is resistance measured in?

A

Ohms (R)

42
Q

Solve for V.

A

V=IR

43
Q

Solve for I.

A

I=V/R

44
Q

Solve for R.

A

R=V/I

45
Q

Solve for P.

A

P=VI

46
Q

What can increase power?

A

Increasing current or voltage

47
Q

What power supply range do computers typically use?

A

250W to 650W

48
Q

What is the small switch located on the back of the power supply called?

A

Voltage selector switch

49
Q

What settings does the Voltage selector switch have?

A

110V/115V or 220V/230V

50
Q

What is the motherboard?

A

The main printed circuit board containing the buses or electrical pathways.

51
Q

What are motherboards also known as?

A

System board, backplane, or main board

52
Q

What does the motherboard accommodate?

A

CPU, RAM, expansion slots, heat sink/fan assembly, BIOS chip, chipset, and embedded wire, sockets, internal and external connectors, and various ports

53
Q

What was to most common old form factor (motherboard)?

A

AT

54
Q

Why was the AT form factor replaced (motherboard)?

A

The AT was too cumbersome

55
Q

What are the most common motherboard form factors?

A

ATX and BTX

56
Q

Why would some ATX motherboards be incompatible with standard ATX cases?

A

The ATX motherboard would have a proprietary form factor

57
Q

What is a chipset?

A

Collection of integrated circuits that controls how system hardware interacts with the CPU and motherboard

58
Q

What determines what CPU can be installed in a motherboard?

A

The socket or slot

59
Q

How are most chipsets divided?

A

Northbridge and Southbridge

60
Q

In general, what does the Northbridge control?

A

Access to RAM, video card, and the speeds at which the CPU can communicate with them

61
Q

What is sometimes integrated with the Northbridge?

A

The video card

62
Q

In general, what does the Southbridge control?

A

Allows the CPU to communicate with the hard drives, sound card, USB ports, and other I/O ports

63
Q

What is the CPU considered?

A

The brains

64
Q

Most calculations take place in the ___.

A

CPU

65
Q

In terms of computing power, what is the most important element?

A

CPU

66
Q

Name two common CPU manufactures.

A

Intel and AMD

67
Q

What is the most common architecture CPUs are built around?

A

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

68
Q

PGA CPUs are usually inserted with ____.

A

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)

69
Q

What is a program?

A

Sequence of stored instructions

70
Q

How does a CPU execute a program?

A

It processes each piece of data as directed by the program and the instruction set (The first step is executed while the rest are stored in a cache memory while waiting to be processed)

71
Q

What are the two major CPU instruction sets?

A

Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) or Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC)

72
Q

Describe RISC.

A

Architecture that uses a small set of instructions and executes them very rapidly

73
Q

Describe CISC

A

Architecture that uses a broad set of instructions resulting in fewer steps per operation

74
Q

What is hyperthreading?

A

Executing multiple pieces of code per pipeline simultaneously increasing performance (i.e. makes a single core perform like a dual core)

75
Q

How is the power of a CPU measured?

A

Speed and amount of data it can process by cycles per second

76
Q

What decides the amount of data the CPU can process at one time?

A

Processor data bus

77
Q

The wider the processor data bus width the _________ the processor is.

A

More powerful

78
Q

What do current processors have as a data bus?

A

32-bit or 64-bit

79
Q

What is overclocking?

A

Making a processor work at a speed faster than its original specification (not reliable and can damage)

80
Q

What is throttling?

A

Making a processor run at less than the rated speed (conserves power or produces less heat)

81
Q

What are the most common multi core processors?

A

Single, dual, triple, and quad

82
Q

Which multi core has one deactivated?

A

Triple core

83
Q

What two devices cool computer components?

A

Heat sink and fan

84
Q

What system do extremely fast CPUs and GPUs use to manage heat?

A

Water cooling system

85
Q

Definition of ROM?

A

Read-Only Memory

86
Q

Where is the ROM chip located?

A

Motherboard

87
Q

What is ROM sometimes incorrectly referred to as?

A

Firmware

88
Q

Definition of RAM?

A

Random Access Memory

89
Q

What type of memory is RAM?

A

Volatile memory

90
Q

Definition of a DIP chip?

A

Dual Inline Package Chip

91
Q

How was RAM installed on early computers?

A

Individual DIP chips were soldered onto the motherboard

92
Q

Why did it become necessary for RAM to be manufactured on it’s own special module?

A

The old solder method was too difficult to install and often became loose on the motherboard

93
Q

What does the speed of memory have a direct impact on?

A

How much data a processor can process

94
Q

Faster memory ________ the performance of the processor.

A

improves

95
Q

As the processor speed increases, so should ______________.

A

memory speed

IT Essentials (6 decks)

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