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CompTIA A+ > Chapter 1: Motherboards, Processors, and Memory > Flashcards

Chapter 1: Motherboards, Processors, and Memory Flashcards

1
Q

Define “Personal Computer”

A

Computing device made up of many distinct electronic components that all function together in order to accomplish some useful task.

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2
Q

When we say most computers today are modular, what does this mean?

A

Their components can be removed and replaced with similar components.

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3
Q

Name 5 components common to most personal computers.

A

Motherboards

Processors

Memory

Basic Input/Output Systems (BIOS)

Cooling Systems

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4
Q

Name the PC component that connects all other components.

A

Motherboard

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5
Q

Other names for Motherboard

A

System Board

Mainboard

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6
Q

PCB

A

Printed Circuit Board: a conductive series of pathways lami- nated to a nonconductive substrate

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7
Q

Substrate

A

The foundation material of a PCB.

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8
Q

Common colors of a motherboard

A

Olive, Brown, Blue

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9
Q

Name this component:

A

Motherboard

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10
Q

Name some popular form factors (designs) of a motherboard

A

ATX

ATX Micro

ITX

AT

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11
Q

ATX

A

Advanced Technology Extended

One form factor for motherboards.

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12
Q

Who developed the ATX form-factor, and when?

A

Intel, in 1995

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13
Q

Why does the ATX form-factor run cooler than its predecessor, the AT?

A

The processor and memory slots are at a right angle to the expansion slots, putting them directly in line with the fan output.

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14
Q

What is the standard measure of an ATX motherboard?

A

12” x 9.6” (305mm x 244 mm).

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15
Q

Full-Length Expansion Cards

A

Adapters that extend the full length of the inside of a standard computer case.

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16
Q

Half-Length Expansion Cards

A

Exactly what you expect - expansion cards that are half as long as full length.

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17
Q

Why can you install full-length expansion cards on an ATX motherboard?

A

The processor and memory slots are placed at right angles from the expansion slots, out of the way of any potential, longer expansion card.

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18
Q

Name 3 motherboard form factors could fit in a standard ATX-compatible case.

A

ATX and Micro ATX

Mini-ITX can usually fit into an ATX case. Several of its mounting holes line up with an ATX case and the rear interfaces are placed in the same location as those on the ATX motherboards.

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19
Q

Micro ATX form factor motherboards will fit into which two case types?

A

Micro ATX and ATX

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20
Q

Other terms for Micro ATX

A

µATX, mATX, uATX

(µ is the metric prefix for the unit ‘micro’, which is the unit between milli and nano)

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21
Q

What does the ATX form factor share with the Micro ATX form factor?

A

Similar component placement (Processor & memory at right angles from expansion slots), so the PC runs cooler.

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22
Q

What does the micro ATX form factor give up to be smaller?

A

Fewer…

Memory slots

motherboard headers

expansion slots

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23
Q

Measurements of the Micro ATX

A

9.6” x 9.6” (244mm x 244mm)

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24
Q

ITX refers to a line of motherboard form factors. Name 4 of them.

A

Mini-ITX

Nano-ITX

Pico-ITX

Mobile-ITX

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25
Q

Name these motherboard form factors:

A
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26
Q

Name this motherboard form factor:

A

ATX

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27
Q

Name this motherboard form-factor

A

Micro ATX

Note the right-angle the processor and memory slots make to the expansion slots, and that there are fewer expansion slots than the standard ATX, pictured here:

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28
Q

Two categories of Bus Architecture

A

Serial Connectivity

Parallel Connectivity

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29
Q

Bus

A

Communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer.

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30
Q

Difference between parallel and serial bus

A

Parallel bus (AKA parallel communication) sends multiple binary bits at the same time.

Serial bus sends binary bits one at a time.

The communication channel used by parallel bus would require multiple connections, whereas the communication channel used by serial bus requires a single connection.

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31
Q

Examples of technology that use serial communication

A

SATA (Serial ATA), USB (Universal Serial Bus), FireWire, PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Extended)

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32
Q

Examples of technology that uses parallel bus architecture

A

Conventional PCI cards

Hard drives with IDE connections

PC Cards (PCMCIA) used for laptops (back in the day)

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33
Q

For the most part, bus the arcitecture used for connecting components within a PC has moved away from _____, towards ____.

A

For the most part, the bus arcitecture used for connecting components within a PC has moved away from parallel communication, towards serial communication.

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34
Q

Define Chipset

A

Collection of chips or circuits that perform interface and peripheral functions for the processor.

Provides interfaces for memory, expansion cards, and peripherals.

Determines how a motherboard communicates with other components.

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35
Q

Two functional groups of chipsets

A

Northbridge

Southbridge

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36
Q

5 Main Types of Expansion Slots Used

A

PCI

AGP

PCIe

PCI-X

CNR

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37
Q

A chipset’s northbridge subset is responsible for what

A

High-speed peripheral communications, like:

Integrated video via AGP or PCIe expansion cards

Communications between the processor and the memory

Manages communication to the southbridge

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38
Q

A chipset’s southbridge subset is responsible for

A

Providing support to the onboard slower peripherals (PS/2, parallel ports, serial ports, Serial and Parallel ATA, and so on), managing their communications with the rest of the computer and the resources given to them.

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39
Q

Examples of computer components connected to the motherboard via the chipset’s southbridge

A

Basically, any component that is not connected to the northbridge (These components ARE connected to the northbridge: AGP, PCIe, CPU, memory).

Popular examples:

PS/2, USB, LAN, audio, PCI

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40
Q

Name the components in this image

A
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41
Q

Expansion Slots

A

Small plastic slots, usually from 1 to 6 inches long and approximately 1⁄2 inch wide

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42
Q

Name the PCI Expansion Slot’s

Frequency

Channel

Data Rate(s)

A

Frequency: 33-66MHz

Channel: 32bits or 64 bits

Data Rates: Usually 133MBps (if operating at 33MHz, 32bits)

Other data rates: 266 MBps (if operating at 66MHz, 32 bits)

533MBps (if operating at 66MHz, 64bits)

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43
Q

What is the result of using a 33MHz PCI expansion card in a system that also supports a 66MHz PCI expansion card?

A

All PCI expansion cards will operate at 33MHz. This will reduce the speed of all 66MHz cards from 266MBps to 133MBps.

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44
Q

Two voltage levels for PCI cards

A

Either 5 volts or 3.3 volts

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45
Q

Name this PCI slot’s voltage and width in bits

The left side of the image represents the back of the PC

A
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46
Q

Name this PCI slot’s voltage and width in bits

The left side of the image represents the back of the PC

A
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47
Q

Name this PCI slot’s voltage and width in bits

The left side of the image represents the back of the PC

A
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48
Q

Name this PCI slot’s voltage and width in bits

The left side of the image represents the back of the PC

A
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49
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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50
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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51
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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52
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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53
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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54
Q

Describe the voltage and width of this PCI card

A
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55
Q

PCI-X Expansion cards are compatible with _____ slots

A

standard 64-bit PCI slots

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56
Q

PCI-X cards have a throughput of ____ GBps

A

4.3 GBps

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57
Q

PCI-X cards are used primarily for

A

Servers

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58
Q

PCI stands for

A

Peripheral Component Interconnect

59
Q

PCI-X Stands for

A

Peripheral Component Interconnect eXtended

60
Q

AGP, in the term AGP Expansion Slot, stands for

A

Accelerated Graphics Port

61
Q

Since 2004, AGP slots have been phased out in favor of

A

PCI Express (PCI-X)

62
Q

In this image, which slot is PCI and which is AGP?

A

AGP is orange and on top.

PCI are the two blue slots below.

63
Q

In this image, determine the PCI, AGP, and ISA slots.

A
64
Q

What is the maximum throughput of an AGP slot, using the original specification, 1x

A

Using a 32bit channel and a 66MHz clock.

Results in throughput of 266MBps

65
Q

What is the maximum throughout of an AGP slot using the final 8x standard?

A

533MHz produces throughput of 2133MBps

66
Q

Which expansion slot was designed to be a replacement for AGP and PCI?

A

PCIe (PCI Extended)

67
Q

What expansion card slot type was designed to replace PCI and AGP?

A

PCIe

(PCI Extended)

68
Q

RAM stands for

A

Random Access Memory

69
Q

DIMM stands for

A

Dual inline memory module

Type of circuit board used for RAM.

70
Q

Two form factors for laptop memory.

A

SODIMM (Small Outline DIMM)

MicroDIMM

71
Q

Type of memory shown below

A

DIMM

72
Q

Two sticks of memory shown below look slightly different, but are both the same form factor. What is their form factor?

A

SODIMM

73
Q

Alternative to improving memory availabliity without installing more RAM

A

Using virtual memory (EG Swap file, paging file)

74
Q

What is the swap space on a Microsoft system known as?

A

pagefile.sys

75
Q

How is virtual memory used by the CPU?

A

Virtual memory cannot be used directly from the hard drive; it must be paged into RAM as the oldest contents of RAM are paged out to the hard drive to make room.

76
Q

Cache Memory

A

Cache is a very fast form of memory.

Cache improves system performance by predicting what the CPU will ask for next and prefetching this information
before being asked.

77
Q

Cache on the motherboard is known as

A

External Cache because it is external to the processor

Also known as Level 2 Cache (L2 Cache)

78
Q

Cache built into the processor’s silicon wafer/die/core is known as

A

Internal Cache

Level 1 Cache

L1 Cache

79
Q

Cache that is located in a processor’s packaging, but not “on-die” is known as

A

Level 3 Cache

L3 Cache

80
Q

List the types of memory in order, from highest speed (with the highest storage capacity) to lowest speed (with the largest storage capacity)

A

L1 cache—Capacity: 64KB (32KB each for data and instructions)

L2 cache - Storage Capacity: 256KB
L3 cache - Storage Capacity: 4MB–12MB
RAM- Storage Capacity 4–16GB
HDD/SSD - Storage Capacity: 100s–1000s of GB

81
Q

What type of CPU socket is portrayed in this image, and what is the pin arrangement known as

A

Socket A

Or

Socket 462

The pin arrangement is known as the pin grid array (PGA)

82
Q

What type of CPU socket is portrayed in this image, and what is the pin arrangement known as

A

Socket T or Socket LGA 775

83
Q

Unlike other expanion slot technologies, PCIe uses ______ communication.

A

Serial Communication

84
Q

Which of the yellow rectangles represents an ATX power connector?

A

10

85
Q

Define Firmware

A

name given to any software that is encoded in hardware, usually a read-only memory (ROM) chip, and can be run without extra instructions from the operating system.

86
Q

What is stored on the BIOS chip?

A

BIOS system software that boots the system and allows the operating system to interact with certain hardware in the computer in lieu of requiring a more com- plex device driver to do so.

87
Q

Define POST

A

Power-On Self-Test

POST is a series of system checks performed by the system BIOS and other high- end components, such as the SCSI BIOS and the video BIOS.

+ verifies the integrity of the BIOS

+ verifies the integrity of the BIOS

+analyzes and catalogs other forms of hardware, such as buses and boot devices, as well as manages the passing of control to the specialized BIOS routines

88
Q

What does BIOS do immediately after a PC has passed the POST?

A

selects the boot device highest in the config- ured boot order and executes the master boot record (MBR) or similar construct on that device

89
Q

Define ‘Flashing the BIOS’

A

A BIOS upgrade

90
Q

What does CMOS stand for?

A

complementary metal oxide semiconductor

91
Q

Name some settings or data that the CMOS chip is responsible for keeping.

A
  • Date
  • Time
  • Hard drive/optical drive configuration Memory
  • CPU settings, such as overclocking
  • Integrated ports (settings as well as enable/disable) Boot sequence
  • Power management
  • Virtualization support
  • Security (passwords, trusted platform module settings, LoJack)
92
Q

Why does the CMOS chip require a CMOS battery?

A

The CMOS chip needs a constant source of power to retain information.

93
Q

Jumpers and DIP Switches on the motherboard aren’t commonly used much anymore. Name two examples of how they might be used though:

A

Older PCs required that you set the processor’s voltage using jumpers and DIP switches.

Still today, you use a jumper or a DIP switch to clear the CMOS memory

94
Q

Name these motherboard components.

A
95
Q

Name some of the common connections from the motherboard to the front panel of a PC

A

Power button

Power light

Reset button

Drive activity lights

Audio jacks

USB ports

96
Q

What is the gensis of the ‘reset’ button?

A

Allows the system to reboot at a hardware level, bypassing potentially stalled software.

Allows a reboot without switching the PC off, which prolongs the life of electronics affected by power cycling.

97
Q

What are the two largest PC-compatible CPU manufacturers?

A

Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)

98
Q

Name 3 major form factors for processors

A

PGA (Pin Grid Array)

LGA (Land Grid Array)

DIP (Dual In-Line Package) – No longer used for PC CPUs

99
Q

What is this processor form factor?

A

DIP

100
Q

What is this processor form factor?

A

PGA

101
Q

SMT

A

simultaneous multithreading

SMT takes advantage of a modern CPU’s superscalar architecture. Superscalar processors are able to have multiple instructions operating on separate data in parallel.

102
Q

Hyperthreading

A

Intel’s proprietary simultaneous multithreading (SMT) implementation used to improve parallelization of computations (doing multiple tasks at once) performed on PC microprocessors

103
Q

HTT-capable processors appear to the operating system to be _____

A

Two processors

104
Q

SMP

A

symmetric multiprocessing

Two or more processors use the same system resources.

Your operating system must support SMP in order to take advantage of HTT

105
Q

Describe a multicore architecture

A

Multiple completely separate processor dies in the same package.

The operating system and applications see multiple processors in the same way that they see multiple processors in separate sockets. As with HTT, the operating system must support SMP to benefit from the separate processors.

106
Q

Common examples of multicore architecture

A

Dual-core and quad-core processors

107
Q

Describe CPU throttling

A

Reducing the operating frequency of the CPU during times of less demand in order to:

Improve battery life

Decrease heat generation

108
Q

Processor speed in measured by its

A

Clock Frequency

(MHz, GHz)

109
Q

32- and 64-bit processors refer to the width of the set of data lines (either 32 or 64 bits) between what two components of the motherboard?

A

The processor and the primary memory

110
Q

Integrated GPU

A

Integrated Graphics Processing Unit

Instead of relying on a GPU placed on a graphics cards, the PC manufacturer integrates the GPU with the CPU.

111
Q

ECC

A

error-correcting code

ECC can detect single- and double-bit errors and actually correct single-bit errors.

112
Q

double-sided memory

A

Double-sided memory is essentially treated by the system as two separate memory modules. Motherboards that support such memory have memory controllers that must switch between the two “sides” of the modules and, at any particular moment, can access only the side they have switched to. Double-sided memory allows more memory to be inserted into a computer using half the physical space of single-sided memory,

113
Q

Define DRAM

A

dynamic random access memory

This is what most people are talking about when they mention RAM

When you expand the memory in a computer, you are adding DRAM chips. You use DRAM to expand the memory in the computer because it’s a cheaper type of memory.

114
Q

Why is DRAM memory cheaper to manufacture than other memory types?

A

DRAM memory chips are less complex

115
Q

SDRAM

A

Synchronous DRAM

Shares a common clock signal with the computer’s system- bus clock, which provides the common signal that all local-bus components use for each step that they perform.

Now called SDR SDRAM.

116
Q

SDR SDRAM

A

Single Data Rate SDRAM

With SDR SDRAM, every time the system clock ticks, 1 bit of data can be transmitted per data pin, limiting the bit rate per pin of SDRAM to the corresponding numerical value of the clock’s frequency.

117
Q

DDR SDRAM

A

Double data rate (DDR) SDRAM

“Double-pumps” data by transferring a bit per pin on both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal.

118
Q

DDR2 SDRAM

A

DDR2, like DDR, uses both sweeps of the clock signal for data transfer. Internally, DDR2 further splits each clock pulse in two, doubling the number of operations it can perform per FSB clock cycle.

119
Q

DRDRAM

A

Direct Rambus DRAM

Legacy proprietary SDRAM technology and most often associated with server platforms

120
Q

SRAM

A

Static random access memory

Unlike DRAM, SRAM does not require a refresh signal from the system clock to keep information ‘alive.’

SRAM is classically used for cache memory.

121
Q

ROM

A

read-only memory

Normally used to store a system’s BIOS

122
Q

Each motherboard supports memory based on the speed of _____

A

The frontside bus, measured in Mhz

123
Q

List 4 most popular form factors / memory packages for primary memory modules

A

DIMM

RIMM

SODIUM

MicroDIMM

124
Q

What memory types does the DIMM form factor house?

A

SDRAM. So,

SDR, DDR, DDR2, DDR3

125
Q

RIMM

A

A custom memory form factor that carries DRDRAM.

Assumed to stand for Rambus inline memory module but not really an acronym, RIMM is
 a trademark of Rambus Inc. and perhaps a clever play on the acronym DIMM, a competing form factor and by definition, what a RIMM actually is.
126
Q

SODIMM

A

Small Outline DIMM

Smaller memory form factor for laptops and mobile devices

127
Q

MicroDIMM

A

The MicroDIMM is an extremely small RAM form factor. In fact, it is over 50 percent smaller than a SODIMM.

Designed for the ultralight and portable subnotebook style of computer.

128
Q

What is the purpose of the front intake fan?

A

This fan is used to bring fresh, cool air into the computer for cooling purposes.

129
Q

What is the purpose of the rear exhaust fan?

A

This fan is used to take hot air out of the case.

130
Q

What is the location and purpose of the power supply exhaust fan?

A

Located at the back of the power pack.

Cool the power supply.

131
Q

What is the CPU fan attached to and what is its purpose?

A

To cool the CPU

Usually attacked to a heat sink

132
Q

What is the purpose of the chipset fan?

A

This fan aids in the cooling of the onboard chipset (especially useful when overclocking—setting the system clock frequency higher than the default).

133
Q

What is the purpose and location of the videocard chipset fan?

A

Located on the videocard.

Cools the videocard hardware

As video cards get more complex and have higher performance, more video cards have cooling fans directly attached.

134
Q

Why might you need a memory module fan?

A

The more capable memory becomes of keeping up with the CPU, the hotter the memory runs. As an extra measure of safety, regardless of the presence of heat spreaders on the modules, an optional fan setup for your memory might be in order.

135
Q

Unorthodox / Advanced cooling strategies include

A

Liquid Cooling

Heat Pipes

Peltier Cooling Devices

Phase-Change Cooling

Liquid Nitrogen & Helium Cooling

Undervolting

136
Q

Describe Liquid Cooling

A

Cooling method

Special water block is used to conduct heat away from the processor (as well as from the chipset). Water is circulated through this block to a radiator, where it is cooled.

Lowest temperature you can acheive is room temperature

Best benefit: Fewer fans needed, so PC runs quieter

Disadvantage: Water & electronics (duh), expensive, difficulty to install

137
Q

Describe Heat Pipes

A

Cooling Method

Pipe containing liquid. One end of the pipe connects to the element to be cooled. As liquid is heated by that element, it evaporates to the cool end of the pipe, condenses, and drops back down, cooling the element again.

138
Q

Describe Peltier Cooling Devices

A

Cooling method intended to complement air-cooling methods.

Device made of two materials intended to transfer heat away from one side (one material) to the other (another material).

139
Q

Describe Phase-Change Cooling

A

Expensive method of cooling.

A water- cooling system that chills the water below room temperature.

Noisest cooling solution available.

Most effective cooling solution available.

140
Q

Describe Liquid Nitrogen and Helium Cooling

A

An absolutly idioctic cooling method that uses liquid nitrogen or helium to cool the processor.

The prcoessor will certainly fail after just a few seconds, given the extreme temperature changes between cool (-100 to -240C) and warm.

141
Q

Describe Undervolting

A

Cooling method wherein you simply don’t pump as much power through the PC equipment, thereby not generating as much heat.

SCIENCE!

142
Q
A
143
Q

CNR Slot

A

Communications and Networking Riser (CNR) slot that can be found on some older Intel motherboards was a replacement for Intel’s even earlier Audio Modem Riser (AMR) slot

CompTIA A+ (13 decks)

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