Chapter 3 Hardware Flashcards
Ethernet is:
a system of communication rules that allow computers to work together
What is known as baseband transmission?
Ethernet cables carrying small voltage pulses (1 is voltage, 0 is no voltage) over a single frequency
Ethernet cables are bidirectional which means:
hosts can send and receive data on one cable
What are the most common of the standard cabling grades?
Category 5e (CAT5e)
Category 6 (CAT6)
Category 6a (CAT6a)
The most common of standard cabling grades are suitable for use with:
standard 10BASE-T
Fast Ethernet network
The most common of standard cabling grades can be used for what if they pass compliance testing?
Gigabit Ethernet
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT3
10BASE-T Ethernet; Up to 10Mbps; Legacy, also supported Token Ring networks at up to 16Mbps
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT5
10BASE-T, 100BASE-T (Fast Ethernet); Up to 100Mbps; Uses 24-gauge wires
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT5e
10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet); Up to 1000Mbps; Enhanced version of CAT5
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT6a
10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, 10GBASE-T (10Gbps Ethernet); Up to 10Gbps; Enhanced version of CAT6
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT6
10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T (Gigabit Ethernet); Up to 1000Mbps (1Gbps); Often uses 22-gauge or 20-gauge wire pairs (both of which are thicker than 24-gauge wire)
Network Type(s) Supported; Supported Speeds; Notes
CAT7
10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1000BASE-T, 10GBASE-T (10Gbps Ethernet); Up to 10Gbps; Uses 12-connector GG45 connector (backward compatible with RJ-45)
There are two categories of TP cable in terms of fire rating:
Standard
Plenum
A Standard cable is suitable for:
patch cables between a NIC and a network jack or in a patch panel
A Standard cable typically has:
a PVC jacket, which can create a lot of smoke when burned
A Plenum cable is designed for:
use in space used for HVAC air exchanges such as ventilator shafts, under floors, or between suspended ceilings and the permanent ceiling
Plenum cables produce:
less smoke when burned,
a lower level of toxic chemicals when burned
Plenum cable jackets might be made from:
Teflon or from a modified version of PVC that produces less smoke when burned than standard PVC
What is the most common of the major cabling types?
Twisted-pair (TP) cabling
What is the physical construction of a Twisted-pair (TP) cable?
four twisted pairs of wire surrounded by a flexible jacket (unshielded TP, or UTP) or various types of metal foil or braid (shielded TP, or STP)
STP uses what connector as UTP?
RJ-45 connector
UTP and STP cable can be purchased how?
in prebuilt assemblies
UTP and STP can be built using what?
bulk cable and connectors
What is T568B (EIA-568B)?
The de facto wire pair standard for all types of Ethernet UTP cables
The wire order, from left to right when looking at the top of a T568B (EIA-568B) connector is:
Pin 1-Orange/white stripe
Pin 2-Orange
Pin 3-Green/white stripe
Pin 4-Blue
Pin 5-Blue/white stripe
Pin 6-Green
Pin 7-Brown/white stripe
Pin 8-Brown
The wire order, from left to right when looking at the top of a T568B or EIA-568B connector is:
Pin 1-Green/white stripe
Pin 2-Green
Pin 3-Orange/white stripe
Pin 4-Blue
Pin 5-Blue/white stripe
Pin 6-Orange
Pin 7-Brown/white stripe
Pin 8-Brown
The T568A (EIA-568A) standard swaps:
the positions or the orange and green wires used in T568B
Fiber-optic cabling transmits:
signals with light rather than with electrical signals, which makes it immune to electrical interference
Compare Fiber-optic with copper
more expensive than copper
requires more experience to install
longer distances for large amounts of data
can be used in areas where electrical interference would make copper cable problematic
Because of the expense, fiber is used primarily:
as a backbone between networks
Fiber-optic cable comes in two major types:
Single-mode fiber
Multi-mode fiber
Single-mode fiber cable has:
a thin core (between 8 and microns) and is designed to carry a single light ray long distances (up to 60km or farther)
Single-mode fiber cable uses:
a laser diode as a light source
Single-mode fiber cable is typically used by:
cable TV and telephone companies
Multi-mode fiber cable has:
a thick core (62.5 microns) than single-mode and carries multiple light rays for short distances (up to 10km)
Multi-mode fiber cable uses:
an LED light source
Multi-mode fiber cable is typically used in:
local area networks (LANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs)
Single-mode fiber cable carries:
less data up to 60km (36 mi) before the signal needs to be boosted
Multi-mode fiber cable carries:
much more data but only for about 10km (6 mi)
Fiber-optic devices and cables use one of several connector types. The most common include:
SC: Uses square connectors
LC: Uses square connectors
ST: Uses round connectors
Coaxial cabling data wires are surrounded by what?
wire mesh for insulation
What is the oldest type of network cabling?
Coaxial cabling
Why are coaxial cables not popular for network use today?
Because they must be run from one station directly to another rather than to or from a hub/switch
What are coaxial cables mainly used for?
most cable TV
cable Internet
satellite TV installations
CCTV cameras used for security
Coaxial cabling creates a:
bus topology
With an Ethernet bus topology, all:
network members are added to the same physical coaxial cable line to communicate with each other
A big disadvantage of an Ethernet bus topology is that:
if any part of the bus fails, the entire network fails
The oldest Ethernet standard is what?
10BASE5
The Ethernet standard 10BASE5 uses:
a very thick coaxial cable (RG-8) attached to a NIC through an AUI transceiver that uses a “vampire tap” to connect the transceiver to the cable
The Ethernet standard 10BASE5 is referred to as:
Thick Ethernet
Thicknet
The Ethernet standard 10BASE2 is referred to as:
Thin Ethernet
Thinnet
Cheapernet
The Ethernet standard 10BASE2 was used for:
low-cost Ethernet networks before the advent of UTP cable
The coaxial cable used with 10BASE2 is referred to as:
RG-58
The RG-58 coaxial cable connects to:
network cards through through a T connector that bayonet-mounts to the rear of the network card using a BNC connector
The arms of the T connecter are used to:
connect two cables, each running to another computer in the network
When will a terminating resistor be connects to one are of the T connecter?
If the workstation is at the end of a network
RG-59 coaxial cables are used in:
older cable TV or satellite TV installations as well as in CCTV security installations
RG-59 coaxial cables uses a:
22-gauge (AWG) center conductor and a single outer shield
RG-59 coaxial cables is designed for:
signals up to 50MHz
RG-6 coaxial cables uses:
the same connectors as RG-59 but has a larger diameter with dual shielding
an 18-gauge (AWG) center conductor, which can carry a signal farther than RG-59
RG-59 coaxial cables are used in:
cable TV/Internet, satellite Tv/Internet, fixed wireless Internet/TV service, and CCTV
What is the resistance of an RG-59 coaxial cable?
75-ohm resistance
What is the resistance of an RG-6 coaxial cable?
75-ohm resistance
RG-6 coaxial cables are also available in:
quad-shielded versions
RG-6 coaxial cables can carry:
signals up to 1.5GHz, making it much better for HDTV signals
BNC connectors are used for:
CCTV cameras and for some types of video projectors
How are BNC connectors connected to the coaxial?
they are crimped to the coaxial and use a positive-locking bayonet mount
F connectors are used for:
cable, satellite, and fixed wireless Internet and TV service.
How are F connectors connected to the coaxial?
they can be crimped or attached via compression to the coaxial cable
High quality F connectors use a:
threaded connector. However, some F connector cables use a push-on connect, which is not as secure and can lead to a poor-quality connection
A two-way splitter reduces:
signal strength by 50% (3.5dB) on each connection
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
VGA
Analog; 640x480 graphics, 720x480 text; 2048x1536; No; No; No
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
HDMI
Digital, Analog; VGA; 1920x1200; Yes; Yes; Yes
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
DVI
Digital, Analog; 1920x1200, 2560x1600; Varies; Yes; Yes
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
DisplayPort
Digital, Analog; VGA; 4K; Yes; Yes; Yes
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
BNC
Analog; VGA; 1080p; No; No; No
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
Composite
Analog; 480i; 480i; No; No; No
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
S-Video
Analog; 480i; 480i; No; No; No
Signal Type; Base Resolution; Maximum Resolution (60Hz refresh rate); HDCP Support; 3D Support; Audio
Component
Analog; 720p; 1080i; No; No; No
HDMI 1.0-1.3c has what maximum resolution?
1920x1200
HDMI 1.4b or higher has:
4k
3D support
DVI has what resolution when it is dual-link?
2560x1600
DVI has what resolution when it is single-link?
1920x1200
Video Graphics Array is largely:
a legacy technology, but you may still encounter it on older systems
A VGA port and monitor can:
display an unlimited number of colors, but practical color limits are based on the video card’s memory and the desired screen resolution
An enhanced version of VGA is:
Super VGA (SVGA), which typically refers to 800x600 VGA resolution
Most video cards with DVI ports use:
the DVI-I dual-link version
The DVI-I dual-link version provides:
both digital and analog output and supports the use of VGA/DVI-I adapter for use with analog displays
The least common DVI is:
DVI-A
DVI supports:
analog signals only
The maximum length for DVI cables is:
5m
What supports the standard known as HDMI?
Video cards and systems with integrated video that are designed for home theater use
HDMI has the capability to support:
digital audio as well as video through a single cable
HDMI ports are found on:
most late-model HDTVs
home theater hardware such as amplifiers
Blu-ray and DVD players
many laptop and desktop PCs running Windows or Linux
All versions of HDMI support:
HDCP and digital rights management (DRM) for copyright protection
What is the most recent HDMI standard?
version 2.1
HDMI 2.1 supports:
video resolutions and refresh rates including 8K60 and 4K120, as well as resolutions up to 10K
HDMI 1.4b supports:
1080p HDTV
48-bit color depths
various types of uncompressed and compressed digital audio
The most common HDMI port is:
Type A, which has 19 pins
Compare HDMI 1.3 (mini-HDMI) to HDMI Type A plug:
smaller
has the same 19-pin configuration
Describe HDMI 1.4 (micro-HDMI) connector to Type A plug:
same 19-pin configuration
connector the size of a micro-USB plug
DisplayPort was designed by:
Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) as a royalty-free digital interface to replace DVI and VGA
DisplayPort offers a:
maximum transmission distance of 3m over passive cable and in theory up to 33m over active cable
How many pins are in a DIsplayPort?
20 pins
DisplayPort cables can be up to:
15m long, but quality decreases with length
DisplayPort is currently available in three versions:
DisplayPort 1.1
DisplayPort 1.2
DisplayPort 1.3
Maximum data transfer rate of DisplayPort 1.1 is:
8.64Gbps
Maximum data transfer rate of DisplayPort 1.2 is:
17.28Gbps
Maximum data transfer rate of DisplayPort 1.3 is:
32.4Gbps
DisplayPort 1.2 introduces:
mini-DisplayPort connector
DisplayPort 1.2 supports
3D
DisplayPort 1.3 supports
4K, 5K, and 8K UHD displays
The Thunderbolt digital I/O interface is:
backward-compatible with mini-DisplayPort
The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) port is:
a digital video port that is used by many LED and LCD displays with a 25 in. or smaller diagonal measurement
the DVI-D supports only:
signals and is found on digital LCD displays
Older iOS devices (up through the iPhone 4 series and third-generation iPad) used:
the 30-pin connecter
What year did Apple standardize on the Lightning connector?
2012
Apple’s Lightning connector is an:
8-pin reversible connecter
Lightning connector data transfer rates are about the same as:
the USB 2.0 standard
Thunderbolt is a:
high-speed interface capable of supporting hard disk drives, SSDs, HDTVs up to 4K resolution, and other types of I/O devices
Thunderbolt includes:
PCIe and DisplayPort digital signals into a compact interface that runs from 2x to 8x faster than USB 3.0 and 2x to 4x faster than USB 3.1 Gen 2.
When did Intel introduce Thunderbolt?
2011
Thunderbolt is available in three versions that use two different port types:
Thunderbolt 1
Thunderbolt 2
Thunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use:
the same physical port as mini-DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 3, uses:
the same physical connecter as USB Type C
All versions of Thunderbolt support:
up to six Thunderbolt devices per port and use daisy chaining to connect devices to each other
Maximum Interface Speeds; Connection Type; Support Protocols; Maximum Cable Length
Thunderbolt 1
10Gbps; mini-DisplayPort; Thunderbolt 1, DisplayPort; 3m (9.8 ft.)
Maximum Interface Speeds; Connection Type; Support Protocols; Maximum Cable Length
Thunderbolt 2
20Gbps; mini-DisplayPort; Thunderbolt 1-2, DisplayPort 1.2; 3m (9.8ft.)
Maximum Interface Speeds; Connection Type; Support Protocols; Maximum Cable Length
Thunderbolt 3
40Gbps; USB Type C; Thunderbolt 1-3, DisplayPort 1.2, PCIe 3, USB 3.0, USB Power Delivery; 3m (9.8 ft.)
Because of Thunderbolt’s high bandwidth, it can be:
connected to docks that feature multiple port types
Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports have replaced:
PS/2 (mini-DIN) mouse and keyboard ports on recent systems and can be used for printers, mass storage, and other external I/O devices
Some form of USB port is also used by:
most mobile devices
game consoles
many network devices
cars and trucks
smart TVs
other electronics
The three standards for USB ports are;
USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed)
USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed); also known as USB 3.1 Generation 1
USB 3.1 (Superspeed+); also known as 3.1 Generation 2
A single USB port on an add-on card or motherboard is designed to handle up to:
127 devices through the use of multiport hubs and daisy chaining hubs
Plug and Play (PnP) are:
hot swappable (which means they can be connected and disconnected without running off the system)
You can add USB ports with any of the following methods:
Motherboard connectors for USB header cables
Hubs
Add-on cards
Some motherboards have USB header cable connectors, which enable you to:
make additional USB ports available on the rear or front of the computer
USB generic hubs are used to:
connect multiple devices to the same USB port, distribute both USB signals and power via the USB hub to other devices, and increase the distance between the device and the USB port
There are two types of generic hubs:
Bus-powered
Self-powered
A Bus-powered hub might be:
built into other devices, such as monitors and keyboards, or they can be standalone devices
A Self-powered hub has:
its own power source; it plugs in to an AC wall outlet
A Self-powered hub designed for USB 1.1 or 2.0 devices provides:
up to 500mA of power to each device connected to it
A Self-powered hub designed for USB 3.0/3.1 devices provides:
up to 900mA of power to each device
Compare a Self-powered hub with a Bus-powered hub:
supports a wider range of USB devices than a bus-powered hub
Add-on cards can be used to provide:
additional USB ports as an alternative to hubs
One advantage of an add-on card vs a hub is:
its capability to provide support for more recent USB standards
On desktop computers add-on cards for USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports connect to:
PCI slots
On laptop computers add-on cards for USB 3.0 ports connect to:
Express Card slots
On laptop computers add-on cards for USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports connect to:
CardBus slots
Express Card slots
On desktop computers add-on cards for USB 3.0 ports connect to:
PCIe x1 or wider slots
USB Version; Speeds Supported; Maximum Cable Length; Notes
USB
1.1 (legacy); USB; 1.5Mbps or 12Mbps; 3m; no notes
USB Version; Speeds Supported; Maximum Cable Length; Notes
Hi-Speed USB
2.0; 480Mbps; 5m; also supports USB 1.1 devices and speeds
USB Version; Speeds Supported; Maximum Cable Length; Notes
SuperSpeed USB
3.1 Gen 1 (also known as USB 3.0); 5Gbps; 3m is recommended, no max established; Also supports USB 1.1 and 2.0 devices and speeds
USB Version; Speeds Supported; Maximum Cable Length; Notes
SuperSpeed+ USB
3.1 Gen 2; 10Gbps; no max established; Also supports USB 1.1, 2.0, 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 devices and speeds
USB 3.1 is actually two standards in one. The two are:
USB 3.1 Gen 1
USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB cable adapter kits enable a single cable with replaceable tips to be used for the following tasks:
Type A male to female to extend a short cable
Type A female to Type B connectors to enable a single cable with multiple adapter tips to work with various types of peripherals
Serial means:
that the data bits flow in a line, one after the other, over the cable
Serial connections were designed for:
the relatively low speed of telephone modem communication but were also used for other devices such as keyboards, mice, and other peripheral devices
What were the most common devices to be connected with parallel ports?
Printers, but now they are connected with USB cables or via Ethernet cables on networks
Hard drive cables are built to:
carry data to and from the motherboard
At one time, hard drives were connected to motherboards with:
Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) cables
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) cables are:
next-generation serial cables that carry high-speed data
External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (eSATA) cables allow:
for external drives to be mounted at the same data rate
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) cables are used:
inside computer cases and offer not only the advantage of high speed but the benefit of better airflow inside the box
External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (eSATA) has better:
shielding to protect the cable and the data
An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) cable is a standard cable type for:
connecting devices to a motherboard inside a computer case
An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) cable has how many connectors?
3; One for the motherboard and then you can connect two hard drives to the motherboard
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) cables have been replaced by:
SATA cables inside computers
What does Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) require to connect to a hard drive?
an expansion card
An advantage of a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) drive system is that:
up to 7 (or sometimes 15) SCSI drives can be daisy chained together
A disadvantage of Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is:
SCSI is more expensive and complicated to configure
DVI to HDMI adapters usually only:
transmitted video but some newer graphics cards allow for HDMI audio over DVI transmission
DVI-I to VGA adapters enable:
VGA displays to work with DVI-I ports on video cards
Connector Description; Status;
RJ-11
Standard phone jack, smaller than RJ-45; Current
Connector Description; Status;
RJ-45
Standard Ethernet cable connector; Current
Connector Description; Status;
RS-232
Most commonly found in DB9 or DB15 connections on PCs for printers, mice and modems, mostly replaced by USB cables; In decline
Connector Description; Status;
Bayonet Neill Connector (BNC):
the make connector for 10BASE2 coax cables; Legacy
Connector Description; Status;
RG-59
Coax cable with 20AWG, common CCTV (non-broadcast); Current
Connector Description; Status;
RG-6
Coax with 18AWG; larger copper core than RG-59, so more signal and bandwidth, used for CATV (common cable TV); Current
Connector Description; Status;
USB
most common connector currently in use; Current
Connector Description; Status;
Micro-USB
about half the size of USB-A, common for external storage, cameras, and so on; Legacy but still in use
Connector Description; Status;
USB-C
Newest reversible USB connector, should replace other USB types; Current
Connector Description; Status;
DB9
9-pin serial connector once common on PCs, used for peripherals like mice and keyboards; Legacy but still in specialized use
Connector Description; Status;
Lighting
Apple mobile device connector used for data and power; Current
Connector Description; Status;
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
Used internally (hard drive) or externally (printers, storage, and so on); Legacy
Connector Description; Status;
eSATA
Used for connecting external storage; thicker than internal SATA cables; Current
Connector Description; Status;
Molex
Not a networking connector, delivers power from power supply to various drives and motherboard inside a PC; Legacy but still around, replaced by SATA
Installing more RAM improves:
transfers between the CPU and both RAM and hard drives
The contents of RAM are:
temporary
RAM is much faster than:
magnetic or SSD storage
RAM speed is measured in:
nanoseconds (billionths of a second)
magnetic and SSC storage is measured in:
milliseconds (thousandths of a second)
RAM Notes
RAM
Random Access Memory; Volatile memory not for storage
RAM Meaning; Notes
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory; Combines static RAM and dynamic RAM
RAM Meaning; Notes
SDR SDRAM
Single data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory; Legacy
RAM Meaning; Notes
DDR SDRAM
DDR(2,3,4) SDRAM
Double data rate single data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory; DDR 2 through 4 are currently in use in most computer
RAM Meaning; Notes
DIMM
Dual inline memory module; Form factor used in dekstops
RAM Meaning; Notes
SODIMM
Small outline dual inline memory module; Form factor used in laptops
When you upgrade a computer, you need to know a few important details:
form factor
memory speed
memory timing
Ram Pins (DIMM); Pins (SODIMM); Common Type; Speed; Defining Characteristic
DDR SDRAM
184; 200; PC3200; 400MHz/3200Mbps; Double the transfers per clock cycle compared to regular SDRAM
Ram Pins (DIMM); Pins (SODIMM); Common Type; Speed; Defining Characteristic
DDR2 SDRAM
240; 200; DDR2-800; 800MHz/6400Mbps; External data bus speed (I/O bus clock) is 2x faster than DDR SDRAM
Ram Pins (DIMM); Pins (SODIMM); Common Type; Speed; Defining Characteristic
DDR3 SDRAM
240; 204; DDR3-1333; 1333MHz/10,600Mbps; External data bus speed (I/O bus clock) is 2x faster than DDR2 SDRAM (4x faster than DDR SDRAM)
Ram Pins (DIMM); Pins (SODIMM); Common Type; Speed; Defining Characteristic
DDR4 SDRAM
288; 260; DDR4-2400; 2400MHz/19,200Mbps; External data bus speed (I/O bus clock) is 2x faster than DDR3 SDRAM (8x faster than DDR SDRAM)
Originally, all systems that used SDRAM were:
single-channel systems
Since RAM services the CPU, it would be best to have:
RAM with enough speed to match the processing the CPU performs
Some systems using DDR and most systems using DDR2 or newer memory technologies support:
dual-channel operations
Dual-channel operation is when:
two identical modules are installed in the proper sockets, the memory controller accesses them in interleaved mode for faster access
Dual-channel operation is why almost all:
RAM upgrades are done in pair of chips
Triple-channel RAM is designed to:
triple the speed of the RAM bandwidth
Some triple-channel motherboards use:
four sockets, but for pest performance, the last socket should not be used on these systems
Two methods have been used to protect the reliability of memory:
Parity checking
Error-correcting code or Error-correction code (ECC)
Both parity checking and ECC depend upon the presence of:
an additional memory chip over the chips required for the data bus of the module
Parity checking works like this:
Whenever memory is accessed, each data bit has a value of 0 or 1. The totaled value should be odd, called odd parity. If the total is even then there is probably a memory problem
Error-correcting code (ECC) enables:
the system to correct single-bit errors and notify you of larger errors
Error-correcting code (ECC) is recommended for:
maximum data safety
What should you do before working with any memory modules?
Turn off the computer and unplug it from the AC outlet
To install a DIMM module, follow these steps:
- Line up the modules’ connectors with the socket
- Verify that the locking tabs on the socket are swiveled to the outside (open) position
- Push the module straight down into the socket until the swivel locks on each end of the socket snap into place at the top corners of the module
When you install memory on a motherboard inside a working system, using the following tips to help your upgrade go smoothly and the module to work properly:
If the system is a tower system, consider placing the system on its side to make upgrade easier
Use a digital camera or smartphone set for close-up focusing so you can document the system’s interior before you start the upgrade process
Move the locking tab on the DIMM sockets to the open position before you try to insert the module
If an aftermarket heat sink blocks access to memory sockets, try to remove its fan by unscrewing it from the radiator fin assembly
Move power and drive cables away from the memory sockets so you can access the sockets
Use a flashlight to shine light into the interior of the system so you can see the memory sockets and locking tabs clearly
Use a flashlight to double-check your memory installation to make sure the module is completely inserted into the slot and locked into place
Replace any cables you moved or disconnected during the process before you close the case and restart the system
Optical drives fall into three major categories:
Those based on CD technology
Those based on DVD technology
Those based on Blu-ray technology
All three types of optical drives store data in:
a continuous spiral of indentations called pits and lands that are burned into the non-label side of the disc from the middle outward to the edge
All three types of optical drives use:
a laser to read the data
The difference between the storage capacities of Blu-ray, DVD, and CD is due to:
the differences in laser wavelengths
Shorter wavelengths enable:
more data to be stored in the same space
Blu-ray uses:
a blue laser with a shorter-wave length than DVD or CD
DVD uses:
a red laser with a longer wavelength than Blu-ray but shorter than that of CD
CD uses:
a near-infrared laser with the longest wavelength, which has the lowest capacity
CD-R and CD-RW drives use:
special media types and a more powerful laser than that used on CD-ROM drives to write data to the media
CD-R media is a:
“write once: media; that is, the media can be written to during multiple sessions, but older data cannot be deleted
CD-RW media can be:
rewritten up to 1,000 times
80-min CD-R media has a capacity of:
700MB
Older 74-min CD-R media has a capacity of:
650MB
CD-RW media is available in four types:
CD-RW 1x-4x
High-speed CD-RW 4x-12x
Ultra-speed CD-RW 12x-24x
Ultra speed+ CD-RW 32x
DVD-R and DVD+R media is:
recordable but not erasable
DVD-RW and DVD+RW media uses:
a phase-change medium similar to CD-RW and can be rewritten up to 1,000 times
DVD Notes:
DVD-R
A single-sided, single-layer, writable/nonerasable media to similar to CD-R; capacity of 4.7GB
DVD Notes:
DVD-R DL
A single-side writable/nonerasable media similar to CD-R, but with a second recording layer; capacity of 8.4GB
DVD Notes:
DVD-RW
A single-sided rewritable/erasable media similar to CD-RW; capacity of 4.7GB. DVD-RW drives can also write to DVD-R media
DVD Notes:
DVD+RW
A rewritable/erasable media; capacity of 4.7GB
DVD Notes:
DVD+R
A single-side, single-layer, writable/nonerasable media; capacity of 4.7GB
DVD Notes:
DVD+R DL
A writable/nonerasable media with a second recording layer; capacity of 8.4GB
Blu-ray disc (BD) technology is:
am enhancement of the DVD technology that offers greater storage capacity
Standard-capacity BD media types include:
BD-R
BD-R DL
BD-RE
BDXL
Blu-ray disc notes
BD-R
Recordable, not erasable; similar to CD-R, DVD+R, DVD-R; 25GB capacity
Blu-ray disc notes
BD-R DL
Dual-layer recordable media; similar to DVD+R DL, DVD-RW DL; 50GB capacity
Blu-ray disc notes
BD-RE
Recordable and rewritable; similar to CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 25GB capacity
Blu-ray disc notes
BDXL
supports multilayer 100GB and 128GB recordable media (BD-R 3.0) and multi-layer 100 GB rewritable media (BD-RE Revision 4.0)
Drive speeds are measures by:
an X-rating
Drive speeds
CD media:
1X equals 150KBps, the data transfer rate used for reading music CDs
Multiply the X-rating by 150 to determine the drive’s data rate for reading, writing, or rewriting CD media
Drive speeds
DVD media:
1X equals 1.385Mbps, the data transfer rate used for playing DVD-Video content
Multiply the X-rating by 1.385 to determine the drive’s data rate for reading, writing, or rewriting DVD media
Drive speeds
Blue-ray (BD) media
1X equals 4.5MBps, the data transfer rate for playing Blu-ray movie
Multiply the X-rating by 4.5 to determine the drive’s rate rate for reading, writing, or rewriting Blu-ray media
You can use the following methods to record files onto optical discs:
Built-in recording features in Windows or other operating systems
Third-party disc mastering programs
Third-party drag-and-drop programs
Hard drives are the most:
important storage devices used by personal computers
A hard drive stores:
the OS and loads it into the computer’s memory (RAM) at startup
store applications
system configuration files used by applications and OS
data files created by the user
A Solid-State Drive (SDD) is:
a flash memory drive with no moving parts
Because an SSD does not spin to:
retrieve data, it is much faster than a magnetic hard drive for storing and retrieving data
A typical SSD has:
a 2.5-inch form factor
While M.2 SSDs are currently more expensive, they have the potential to be both:
faster and lighter than standard SSDs
In BIOS, the M.2 drive can be enabled by:
locating the drive in the PCI drive settings
To install an SSD in a desktop with a new OS image follow these steps:
- Be sure the desktop has room for another drive, a bay to hold the drive and a SATA connection on the motherboard, and a Molex cable to power the SSD
- Gather a new SSD, adapter bracket and, if necessary, SATA cable
- Mount the bracket into the spare drive bay. Attach the SATA cable and Molex power connector
- Boot the computer and enter the BIOS to set the boot drive to the USB flash with the new OS
- Upon reboot, enter the BIOS and set the boot order to boot from the new SSD with the OS
SSDs are available in these form factors:
mSATA
M.2
PCIe card
mSATA is used by:
some high-performance laptops and desktops
M.2 are used in:
some of the high-performance desktops and laptops but increasingly popular as prices drop
PCIe card are used for:
high-performance desktops
SSDs use one of two types of flash memory:
multilevel cell (MLC)
single-level cell (SLC)
Compare multilevel cell (MLC) to single-level cell (SLC);
lower performance the SLC
doesn’t support as many write cycles as SLC
less expensive per gigabyte than SLC
Why should SSDs not be defragmented?
Because unnecessary writing to flash memory causes premature failure
Newer SSDs use a feature known as TRIM to:
automatically deallocate space used by deleted files and make it available for reuse
When Windows 8/8.1/10 detects and SSD, it enables:
TRIM (if the drive supports this command)
disables defragment
disables other utilities that are designed for use with traditional hard disks
M.2 is an SSD that can:
mount directly onto the motherboard or an expansion card, giving the drive more direct access to the CPU for much faster reading than is possible with an SSD
A solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD) combines a:
solid-state cache with magnetic capacity
A SSHD uses a:
memory manager to choose the most common files for the fast cache.
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
HDD
Least expensive; Highest; Slowest due to moving parts and magnetic storage; Moving parts that can wear over time
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
SSD
Most expensive but price is dropping; Lowest but improving; Fastest; no moving parts
Cost; Capacity; Speed; Reliability
SSHD
Midrange; Blends high HDD capacity with fast SSD cache for most used files; Blends fast solid-state cache with slower magnetic storage; Moving parts that can wear out but spins less than HDD
a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) is a protocol that allows:
SSD data to bypass the bottleneck that happens with HDD infrastructure
the protocol Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) uses:
a process called command queuing to send requested data to the controller and motherboard
For the Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) to work:
the computer’s BIOS/UEFI and hardware needs to be designed for the high traffic, so only newer computers can physically support NVMe
The speed at which hard disk media turns is called the:
spin rate
The spin rate is measured in:
revolutions per minute (rpm)
Low-performance hard disks typically spin at:
5400rpm
Mid-performance hard disks spin at:
7200rpm
High-performance hard disks spin at:
10000rpm
RPM Typical Use; Desktop Drive Example; Laptop Drive Example
5400
“Green” power-saving drives; WD Blue Seagate 4TB Desktop; WD Blue Seagate Laptop HDD
RPM Typical Use; Desktop Drive Example; Laptop Drive Example
7200
Midrange performance; WD Black Seagate Barracuda; WD Black Seagate Laptop Thin
RPM Typical Use; Desktop Drive Example
High performance; WD VelociRaptor,
RPM Typical Use; Desktop Drive Example
Servers and enterprise; Servers
Internal hard disk drives for desktops capacities range:
up to 8TB but most installed desktop drives in recent systems have capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB
Internal hard disk drives for desktops use what form factor?
3.5-inch
Internal hard disk drives or SSDs for laptops use what form factor?
SATA 2.5-inch
Internal hard disk drives or SSDs for laptops capacities ranges:
up to 3TB, but most laptop drives in recent systems have capacities ranging from 500GB to 1TB
In a hard disk, the cache is used to:
hold recently read information for reuse
Processor cache memory enables:
the CPU to read cache memory instead of slower main memory to reuse previously read information
Hard disks with larger buffers can:
reread recently transferred information more quickly from cache than from the drive’s magnetic storage
A Hybrid drive combines:
a standard SATA hard disk with up to 8GB of the same type of solid-state (SS) memory used in SSDs
In a hybrid drive, the SATA hard disk is used for:
most of the storage, but the recent files are kept in the SS cache for fast access
Hybrid hard disk drives are available in which form factors?
- 5-inch
3. 5inch
Flash memory is:
a type of memory that can retain its contents without electricity
Flash memory has no:
moving parts, so it is very durable
Standard flash memory is used in:
digital media players, memory cards for cameras and digital media devices, digital camcorders, and USB thumb drives
What is flash memory to SSDs?
the type of memory the SSDs currently use
A card reader enables:
flash memory cards to be used with a computer
Most card readers assign a:
separate drive letter to each slot
A common reason for adding storage is to:
create a fault-tolerant set of drives that will protect data in case a drive fails
Redundant array of independent (or inexpensive) disks (RAID) is:
a method for creating a faster or safer single logical hard disk drive from two or more physical drives
The most common RAID levels include:
RAID Level 0 (RAID 0)
RAID Level 1 (RAID 1)
RAID Level 5 (RAID 5)
RAID Level 1+0 (RAID 10)
In RAID Level 0:
Two drives are treated as a single drive, and both drives are used to simultaneously store different portions of the same file
RAID Level 0’s method of data storage is called:
striping
Striping boosts:
performance, but if either drive fails, all data is lost
In RAID Level 1:
two drives are treated as mirrors of each other, and changes to the contents of one drive are immediately reflected on other drive
RAID Level 1’s method of data storage is called:
mirroring
Mirroring provides:
a built-in backup method and provides faster read performance than a single drive
RAID Level 1 is suitable for use with:
program and data drives
In RAID Level 5:
Three or more drives are treated as a logical array, and parity information (used to recover data in the event of a drive failure) is spread across all drives in the array.
RAID Level 5 is suitable for use with:
program and data drives
In RAID Level 1+0 (RAID 10):
Four drives combine striping plus mirroring for extra speed plus better reliability
RAID Level 1+0 (RAID 10) is suitable for use with:
program and data drives
RAID Level 1+0 (RAID 10) is a:
striped set of mirrors
Systems that lack the desired level of RAID support can use:
a RAID add-on card
RAID Minimum # of Drives Required; Data Protection Features; Total Capacity of Array; Major Benefit over Single Drive; Notes
RAID 0
2; None; 2x capacity of either drive (if same size) or 2x capacity of smaller drive; Improved read/write performance; Also called striping
RAID Minimum # of Drives Required; Data Protection Features; Total Capacity of Array; Major Benefit over Single Drive; Notes
RAID 1
2; Changes to contents of one drive immediately performed on other drive; Capacity of one drive (if same size) OR capacity of smaller drive; Automatic backup, faster read performance; Also called mirroring
RAID Minimum # of Drives Required; Data Protection Features; Total Capacity of Array; Major Benefit over Single Drive; Notes
RAID 5
3; Parity information is saved across all drives; Capacity of smallest drive (where x equals the # of drives in the array; Full data redundancy in all drives; hot swap of damaged drive supported in most implementations
RAID Minimum # of Drives Required; Data Protection Features; Total Capacity of Array; Major Benefit over Single Drive; Notes
RAID 10
4; Changes on one two-drive array are immediately performed on the other two-drive array; Capacity of smallest drive x number of drives/2; Improved read/write performance and automatic backup; Also called striped and mirrored
A SATA RAID array requires:
Two or more drives (best to use same capacity, buffer size, and RPMs)
A RAID-compatible motherboard or add-on host adapter card
RAID arrays must be connected to:
a motherboard or an add-on card that has RAID support
If you are using the motherboard’s RAID interface:
start the system BIOS setup program and make sure the RAID function is enabled
To add a RAID array to a laptop, 2in1, or all-in-one PC, use:
an external RAID drive or drive enclosure that connects to a USB 3.0 (or greater), Thunderbolt, or eSATA port
Hot-swappable drives are drives that can:
be safely removed from a system or connected to a system without shutting down the system
In Windows, the following drives can be hot-swapped:
USB drives
eSATA drives
SATA drives
Flash memory drives
In most enterprise systems, the RAID drives are:
hot swappable
To safely eject a hot-swappable drive from a Windows systems, follow these steps:
- Open the Eject/Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media icon in the notification area
- Select the drive to eject from the menu
- When the Safe to Remove Hardware message appears, disconnect the drive
To safely eject a USB drive in macOS, follow these steps:
- Open Finder
- Click the up arrow next to the USB drive icon in the left pane
- When the drive icon is removed from the left pane of Finder, disconnect the drive
The Linux terminal command df can be used to:
list mounted devices
If the USB drive is not listed as mounted on Linux it can be:
removed immediately
In Linux if the USB drive is listed as mounted, you can use the following command:
sudo unmount /dev/sdb1 (Where sbd1 is the mounted USB drive)
Form factor refers to:
the size, shape, and other specifications of a motherboard
Computer chassis are designed to:
accommodate specific form factors
An ATX motherboard has the following characteristics:
a rear port cluster for I/O ports
Expansion slots that run parallel to the short side of the motherboard
Left-side case opening
There are three members of the ATX family:
ATX
mATX
mITX
Motherboard Max Width; Max Depth; Max # of Expansion Slots; Typical Users
ATX
12 in; 9.6 in; 7; Full tower
Motherboard Max Width; Max Depth; Max # of Expansion Slots; Typical Users
mATX
9.6 in; 9.6 in; 4; Mini tower
Motherboard Max Width; Max Depth; Max # of Expansion Slots; Typical Users
mITX
6.7 in; 6.7 in; 1; Mini tower
Motherboards use expansion slots to provide:
support for additional input/output (I/O) devices and high-speed video/graphics cards
The most common expansion slots are:
PCI Express (also known as PCIe)
A PCI slot mounts to the:
motherboard
A PCI slot is used for:
many types of add-on cards, including network, video, audio, I/O, and storage host adapters for SATA drives
PCI-X is a:
faster version of 64-bit PCI, running at speeds of 133MHz
A PCI-X bus supports:
two PCI-X slots, but if you install a PCI-X card into a PCI-X slot on the same bus as a PCI card, the PCI-X card runs at the same speed as the PCI card
PCI-X slots are typically used in:
servers and workstations
PCI slots found in desktop compuers is:
the 32-bit slot running at 33MHz
PCI-X 2.0 supports speeds of:
266MHz
533MHz
PCI Express (PCIe) slots are available in four types:
x1
x4
x8
x16
PCI Express (PCIe) x1 and x4 slots were designed to replace:
the PCI slot
PCI Express (PCIe) x8 and x16 slots were designed to replace:
the AGP and PCI-X slots
Riser cards are used to:
work around limited space in some systems
Riser cards can make:
multiple ports available from a single slot bracket or slot, or they can enable full-size cards to be mounted horizontally in low-profile systems
What are the differences between Intel and AMD processors?
Different processor sockets
Differences in multicore processor designs
Cache sizes
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 775
Intel; Prescott, Presler, Conroe, Wolfdale, Kentsfield, Yorkfield
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 1366
Intel; Bloomfield, Gulftown
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 1156
Intel; Clarkdale, Lynnfield
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 1155
Intel; Sandy Bridge, Ivy Bridge
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 1150
Intel; Haswell, Broadwell
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 2011
Intel; Sandy Bridge E, Ivy Bridge E
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 2011-v3
Intel; Haswell E
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket AM3
AMD; Thuban, Zosma, Deneb, Propus, Heka, Rana, Callisto, Regor, Sargas
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket AM3+
AMD; Vishera, Zembezi
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket FM1
AMD; Llano
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket FM2
AMD; Trinity, Richland
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket FM2+
AMD; Kaveri
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 1151
Intel; Skylake, Kaby Lake, Coffee Lake
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
LGA 2066
Intel; Skylake-X, Kaby Lake-X
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket AM4
AMD; Ryzen 7, 5, 3
Socket CPU Manufacturer; Compatible Processor Code Name(s)
Socket TR4
AMD; Ryzen Threadripper
All of the Intel processor sockets use what design?
Land Grid Array (LGA)
The Land Grid Array (LGA) design uses:
spring-loaded lands in the processor socket that connect to bumps on the backside of the processor
Processor code names refer to differences in the processor die design such as:
the size of the processor
location of cache memory
type of integrated memory controller
Starting with the Core i series and its offshoots, the ranking goes like this:
Celeron (slowest)
Pentium
Core i3
Core i5
Core i7 (fastest)
All AMD sockets use the:
micro Pin Grid Array (mPGA) design and have integrated memory controllers
the micro Pin Grid Array (mPGA) design uses:
pins on the backside of the CPU to connect to pins in the processor socket
To hold the CPU in place with the mPGA design a:
zero insertion force (ZIF) socket mechanism is used
Socket AM3 supports:
processors with dual-channel DDR3 or DDR2 memory controllers onboard
Desktop processors using Socket AM3 range in speed from:
as low as 1.8Ghz to as high as 3.7GHz
The motherboard’s Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connectors replaced:
IDE connectors, which were ribbon-like cables that were slower and more cumbersome and that needed to be assigned priority to hard drives
An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface connects:
the motherboard to drives like CD-ROM/DVD or a hard drive
Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface uses:
a ribbon cable that connects two devices with one cable
Typical motherboards feature one or more audio connectors designed for different purposes:
Front/top-panel audio
Music CD playback from optical drives
SPDIF header
Because front-panel leads are small and difficult to install, some motherboard vendors provide:
a quick-connect extender for easier installation
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is an:
essential component of the motherboard
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is also known as:
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is the first:
code run by a computer when it is booted
If any error occurs during bootup, the BIOS/UEFI will report it as part of:
the testing stage, known as the power-on self-test (POST)
The BIOS/UEFI resides on:
a ROM chip and stores a setup program that you can access when the computer first boots up
The changes to the BIOS are made using:
the BIOS setup program and then saved to the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip on the motherboard
The BIOS configuration program is stored in the:
BIOS chip itself
How do you access the BIOS program menu?
Just press the key or key combination displayed onscreen (or described in the manual) when the system starts booting
Compared to a traditional flash ROM, BIOS/UEFI has the following advantages:
Support for hard drives of 2.2TB and higher capacity
Faster system startup (booting) and other organizations
Larger-size ROM chips used by UEFI make room for additional features, better diagnostics, the ability to open a shell environment for easy flash updates, and the ability to save multiple BIOS configurations for reuse
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Boot Sequence
Hard drive, optical, USB, network ROM, order as wanted; To boot from bootable OS or diagnostic CDs or DVDs, place the CD or DVD drive before the hard drive in the boot sequence
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Memory Configuration
By SPD or Auto (default); manual settings, Fast R-2R turnaround, and so on; Provides stable operation using the settings stores in memory by the vendor
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
CPU Clock and Frequency
Automatically detected on most recent systems; Faster or higher settings overclock the system but could cause instability
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Hardware Monitor
Enable display for all fans plugged into the motherboard; Also known as PC Health on some systems, can be monitors from with the OS with vendor-supplied or 3rd-party utilities
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Onboard Audio, Modem, or Network
Enable or disable; Enable when you don’t use add-on cards for any of these functions, disable each setting before installing a replacement card. Some systems include two network adapters
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
USB Legacy
Enable when USB keyboard is used; Enables USB keyboard to work outside the OS
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Serial Ports
Disable unused ports, use default settings for port you use; Also known as COM ports. Most systems no longer have serial ports
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Parallel Port
Disable unused port, use EPP/ECP mode with default IRQ/DMA when parallel port or device is connected; Compatible with almost any parallel printer or device
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
USB Function
Enable; When motherboard supports USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB) ports, be sure to enable USB 2.0 function and load USB 2.0 drivers in the OS
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Keyboard
NumLock, auto-repeat rate/delay; Leave at defaults (NumLock On) unless keyboard has problems
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Plug-and-Play OS
Enable for all except some Linux distributions; When enabled, Windows configures devices
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Primary VGA BIOS
Varies; Select the primary graphics card type (PCIe or onboard)
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Shadowing
Varies; Select the primary graphics card type
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Quiet Boot
Varies; Disable to display system configuration information at startup
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Boot-Time Diagnostic Screen
Varies; Enable to display system configuration information
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Virtualization
Varies; Enable to run hardware-based virtualization programs such as Hyper-V or Parallels so that you can run multiple OS, each in its own window
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Power Management (Menu)
Enable unless you have problem with devices; Enable CPU fan settings to receive warnings of CPU fan failure
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
S1 or S3 standby
Enable S3; Use S1 (which saves minimal power) only when you use devices that do not properly wake up from S3 standby
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
AC Pwr Loss Restart
Enable restart or full on; Prevents the system from staying down when a power failure takes place
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Wake on LAN (WOL)
Enable when you use WOL-compatible network card or modem; WOL-compatible cards use a small cable between the card and the motherboard. Some integrated network ports also support WOL
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
User/Power-On Password
Blocks system from starting when password is not known; Enable when physical security settings are needed but be sure to record the password in a secure place
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Setup Password
Blocks access to setup when password is not known; Both passwords can be cleared on both systems when CMOS RAM is cleared
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Write-Protect Boot Sector
Varies; Enable for normal use, but disable when installing drives or using multiboot system
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
Boot Virus Detection
Enable; Stops true infections but allows multiboot configuration
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
SATA Drives
Varies; Auto-detects drive type and settings at startup time
Major CMOS/BIOS/UEFI Settings; Notes
SATA Drive Configuration
IDE, AHCI, RAID; IDE setting emulates now-obsolete PATA drives
Many BIOS firmware versions enable you to automatically configure your system with a choice of these options from the main menu:
BIOS defaults
Setup defaults
Enabling Fast Boot skips:
memory and drive tests to enable faster startup
Enabling Boot Up NumLock turns on:
the keyboard’s NumLock option
General steps to locate a flash BIOS update to install it:
- For major brands of computer, go to the vendor’s website and look for “downloads” or “tech support” links
- Locate the correct BIOS update for your system or motherboard
- Determine the installation media needed to install the BIOS image
- Be sure to download all files needed to install the BIOS image
- If you need to create bootable media, follow the vendor’s instructions to create the media and place the loader and BIOS image files on the media
- Installation
6a. To install from a bootable media, make sure the drive is the first item in the BIOS boot sequence
6b. For installation from Windows, close all Windows programs before starting the update process. Navigate to the folder containing the BIOS update and double-click it to start the update process - Remove the media and restart the system to use your new BIOS features
If the primary system BIOS is damaged, keep in mind that some motherboards venders offer:
dual BIOS chips on some products
A flash recover jumper is when:
the BIOS contains a “mini-BIOS” that can be reinstalled from a reserved part of the chip
To update a BIOS on a system with a write-protected jumper, you must follow these steps:
- Disable the write protection
- Perform the update
- Reenable the write protection to keep unauthorized people from changing the BIOS
Security features of various types are scattered around the typical system BIOS/UEFI dialogs. Features and their locations vary by system and might include:
BIOS password
Power-on password
Chassis intrusion
Boot sector protection
These features support drive encryption:
Trusted platform module (TPM)
LoJack for laptops
Secure Boot
The power-on password option in the BIOS prevents:
anyone without the password from starting the system
When intrusion detection/notification, also known as chassis intrusion, is enabled the BIOS displays:
a warning on startup that the system has been opened
The boot sector protection option in the BIOS protects:
the default system drive’s boot sector from being changed by viruses or other unwanted programs
The BIOS password option in the BIOS permits:
access to BIOS setup dialogs only for those with the password
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) protects:
the contents of any specified drive
Lojack consists of two components:
a BIOS-resident component
the Computrace Agent, which is activated by LoJack when a computer is reported as stolen
Secure Boot blocks:
installation of other OS and also requires the user to access UEFI setup by restarting the computer in a special troubleshooting mode from within Windows 8 or later
Use the SATA configuration options to enable or disable:
SATA and eSATA ports and to configure SATA host adapters to run in compatible (emulating PATA, native (AHCI) or RAID modes
AHCI supports:
native command queuing (NCQ) for faster performance and permits hot swapping of eSATA drives
The CMOS battery provides:
power to maintain the contents of the CMOS chip
a low CMOS battery can cause:
problems with drivers and sometimes booting
To clear CMOS on most systems:
place a jumper block over two jumper cables
A processing core is the part of the CPU that:
gets instructions from software and performs the calculations for output
Two or more physical processors in a system enable:
it to perform much faster when multitasking or running multithreaded applications
Multicore processors provide:
virtually all the benefits of multiple physical processors and are lower in cost and work with any operation system that supports traditional single-core processors
Virtualization technology enables:
a host program (known as a hypervisor) or a host operating system to support one or more guest operating systems running at the same time in different windows on the host’s desktop
Hardware-assisted virtualization enables:
virtualized operating systems and applications to run faster and user fewer system resources
Hyperthreading technology enables:
processing two execution threads within a single processor core
The term bus speeds refers to:
the speeds at which different buses in the motherboard connect to the different components
On a motherboard, the bus is:
the path data takes between the internal components of the computer
Overclocking refers to:
the practice of running a processor or other components, such as memory or the video card’s GPU, at speeds higher than normal
Overclocking methods used for processors include:
increasing the clock multiplier or running the front side bus (FSB) at speeds faster than normal
Increasing the front side bus (FSB) can lead to:
greater system instability than changing the clock multipliers
What are the cost of Overclocking?
Excessive heat can cause problems with the CPU and shorten its life, so it is not a good idea for critical tasks
To monitor system clock and bus speed settings, check:
the processor and memory configuration dialog typically available on gaming-oriented systems or others designed for overclocking
Intel uses three different names to refer to its processor-integrated graphics:
HD Graphics refers to base-level 3D graphics in any given processor family
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
Intel UHD Graphics 630
In the Pin Grid Array (PGA) form factor:
the contact pins that insert into the socket are mounted to the CPU itself
The basic requirements for proper CPU cooling include:
the use of an appropriate active heat sink (which includes a fan)
the application of an appropriate thermal material (grease, paste, or pre-applied thermal or phase-change compound
A traditional active heat sinks includes:
a cooling fan that rests on top of the heat sink and pulls air past the heat sink in a vertical direction
A passive heat sink does not include:
a fan but has more fins than an active heat sink to help dissipate heat
One typical use for fanless heat sinks is on:
low-power processors that are soldered in place on Mini-ITX or similar small form factor motherboard designs
Every processor requires a:
heat sink
A heat sink is a:
finned metal device that radiates heat away from the processor
What the been the most common material used for heat sinks?
Aluminum
What is better material than aluminum for heat sinks?
Copper because it has better thermal transfer properties, and many designs mix copper and aluminum components
Before installing a heat sink bundled with a processor, remove:
the protective cover over the pre-applied thermal material (also known as phase-change material) on the sink
Before you remove a heat sink, be sure to remove all:
residue from both the processor and heat sink using isopropyl alcohol and apply new thermal paste or other thermal transfer material to the top of the CPU
A liquid cooling system involves:
attaching a liquid cooling unit instead of an active heat sink to the processor and other supported components
In a liquid cooling system, a pump:
moves the liquid through the computer to a heat exchanger, which uses a fan to cool the warm liquid before it is sent back to the process
Liquid cooling systems are designed primarily for:
high-performance systems, especially overclocked systems
A good video card has a:
separate processing chip and a cooling system that takes the load of CPU and frees up space for the CPU to run more efficiently
The installation process for a video card includes three phases:
- Configuring the BIOS for the video card being installed
- Physically installing the video card
- Installing drivers for the video card
Video cards interact differently depending on:
the motherboard and BIOS settings
When adding a video card, it may be necessary to enter BIOS to:
disable the onboard video, and some other systems allow both video systems to interact for better efficiency
These are the basic steps for BIOS configuration for video cards:
- Check and adjust the primary VGA BIOS setting as needed
- Choose PCIE or PCIE>PCI if you use a PCIe video card
- Choose PCI or PCI>PCIe if you use a PCI video card
To delete an old video driver in Windows:
open Control Panel
click Device Manager and delete the listing for the current video card
select Uninstall a Program
uninstall the driver or configuration apps used by the current video card
Follow these steps to remove an old video card (if present):
- Shut down the computer and disconnect it from AC power
- Turn off the display
- Disconnect the data cable attached to the video card
- Open the case
- Disconnect any power cables running to the video card
- Remove SLI (NVIDIA) or CrossFire (AMD) cables connected to any card(s) you are removing
- Remove the old video card(s) by removing the screw holding a card bracket in place and releasing the card-retention mechanism that holds video card in place
Follow these steps to install the new video card:
- Insert the new video card into a PCIe x16 slot
- Lock the card into position with the card retention mechanism and with the screw for the card bracket
- If the card uses power, connect the appropriate PCIe power connector to the card
- If the card is running in multi-GPU mode and uses SLI or CrossFire, connect the appropriate bridge cable between the new card and a compatible existing card in the system
- Reattach the data cable from the display to the new video card
Driver installation takes place when the system is restarted:
- Turn on the display
- Reconnect power to the system and turn on the computer
- Provide drivers as requested; you might need to run an installer program for the drivers
- If the monitor is not detected as a Plug and Play monitor but as a default monitor, install a driver for the monitor
Before installing a sound card, be sure to:
disable onboard audio with the system BIOS setup program and uninstall any proprietary mixer or configuration apps used by onboard audio
To install a sound card, follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer and disconnect it from AC power
- Open the case to gain access to the PC’s expansion slots
- Select an empty PCIe or PCI expansion slot that is appropriate for the form factor of the sound card to be installed
- Remove the corresponding bracket from the back of the case
- Insert the card into the slot
- Secure the card bracket into place, using the screw or locking mechanism removed in step 4
- Connect any header cables as needed
- Connect speakers, microphone, and line-in and line-out cables as needed to support your audio or home theater subsystem
- Close the system
- Reconnect AC power and restart the system
- Install the driver files provided with the sound card or install updated versions provided by the vendor
- If not already installed in Step 11, install the mixer and configuration utilities provided with the new sound card
To install a USB audio device, follow these steps:
- Turn off the computer
- Connect the USB audio device to the computer’s USB 2.0 or USB 3.0
- Turn on the computer and then turn on the device. The computer installs audio drivers automatically
- Install additional or updated drivers downloaded from the vendor’s website or provided with the device, if needed
To configure a sound card, onboard audio, or USB audio with Windows:
- Type Sound settings in the search box
- Select the Sounds icon in Control Panel
- Select the Playback tab and adjust the settings
- Select the Recording tab and adjust the settings
- To specify sounds to play during Windows events (startup, shutdown, errors, and program events), use the Sounds tab
- Click Apply and then click OK to accept changes
To configure a sound card, onboard audio, or USB audio with macOS:
- Open the Apple menu
- Open the System Preferences
- Select the Sound icon
- Select the Output tab
- Select the device to use for sound output
- Adjust the balance and volume and then close the window
To configure a sound card, onboard audio, or USB audio with Linux:
- Open System Settings
- Open Sound
- Select the Output tab
- Select the device to use for sound output
- Adjust the balance and volume
- Select the speaker mode (stereo or surround options)
- Click Test Sound to verify proper operation
- Close the window to save the changes
To install a Plug and Play (PnP) network card, follow these steps:
- Shut down the computer, disconnect it from AC power, and remove the case cover
- Locate an available expansion slot that matches the network card’s design
- Remove the slot cover and insert the card into the slot
- Reconnect power to the system, restart the system, and provide drivers when requested by the system
- If prompted to install network drivers and clients, insert the operating system disc
- Connect the network cable to the card
- Test for connectivity and then close the computer case
Adding a USB 3.2 card is a quick way to upgrade a system with a spare PCIe slot but no USB 3.2 ports so it can connect to external storage devices at full speed. Here’s how:
- Shut down the computer, disconnect it from AC power, and remove the case cover
- Locate an available PCIe or wider expansion slot
- Remove the slot cover and insert the card into the slot. Secure the card in the slot
- Connect power to the card
- Reconnect power to the system, restart the system, and provide drivers when requested by the system
- Connect a USB device to the card
- After verifying that the device works, close the case
The vast majority of desktop and laptop computers in use rely on the Serial ATA (SATA) interface to:
connect to internal hard disk drives, SSDs, and optical drives
Location; Interface Speeds, Also Known As; Drive Types Supported
eSATA
External; 1.5Gbps, 3Gbps; 6Gbps; —; Hard disk drives, SSDs
Location; Interface Speeds, Also Known As; Drive Types Supported
SATA1
Internal; 1.5Gbps; SATA 1.5Gbps, SATA Revision 1.0; Hard disk drives, optical drives, RAID arrays, SSDs
Location; Interface Speeds, Also Known As; Drive Types Supported
SATA2
Internal; 3Gbps; SATA 3Gbps, SATA Revision 2.0; Hard disk drives, optical drives, RAID arrays, SSDs
Location; Interface Speeds, Also Known As; Drive Types Supported
SATA3
Internal; 6Gbps; SATA 6Gbps, Revision 3.0; Hard disk drives, RAID arrays, SSDs, backward compatible with SATA1, SATA2
Laser printers are common in:
businesses
Inkjet printers are common in:
homes
Automatic document feeder (ADF) scanners are use to:
create digital documents from printed documents
An automatic document feeder (ADF) scanner can:
process a stack of several documents automatically
Flat-bed scanner can process:
one sheet at a time
Some scanners use OCR technology, which:
scan to a .pdf file, which then becomes searchable data
Scanners for documents and photos are available in the following form factors:
Almost every multifunction print/scan/fax/copy device includes a flatbed scanner with resolution up to 2,400dpi
Scanners made for photos typically support resolutions up to 4,800dpi or greater
Scanners made for travel scan a single sheet at a tie and might weigh as little as 1 pound
Barcode readers and QR scanners are used:
in variety of point-of-sale (POS) retail, library, industrial, medical, and other environments to track inventory
A barcode reader uses one of the following technologies:
Pen-based readers use a pen-shaped device that includes a light source and photo diode in the tip
Laser scanners are commonly used in grocery and big-box stores
CCD or CMOS readers use a hand-held gun-shaped device to hold an array of light sensors mounted in a row
Camera-based readers contain many rows of CCD sensors that generate an image of the sensor that is processed to decode the barcode information
Quick response (QR) codes are:
a special type of barcode that are two dimensional and can be read by a scanner on a mobile phone
Monitors are used to:
display the output of data and video information
The immersion effect provided by a VR experience is usually:
delivered via a head-mounted device (HMD) that covers the eyes, closing off the external world
The head-mounted device (HMD) can monitor:
head movements, and a special gaming glove can add hand inputs, so the user can move around the 3D environment
A computer mouse is:
device that moves the cursor on a display screen, allowing the user to interact with the computer
To pair a Bluetooth mouse computer from the desktop:
- Click the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar
- Click Open Settings
- Enable Discovery
- Enable Allow Bluetooth Devices to Connect to This Computer
- Open the Bluetooth icon in the taskbar and click Add a Device
- Press the Connect button on the mouse
- Select the mouse from the list of Bluetooth devices and click Next
- After the mouse is detected and the drivers have been installed, click Close
- To prevent connections from unauthorized Bluetooth devices, disable discover until the next time you want to add a Bluetooth device
Keyboards are part of the:
human interface device (HID) category in Device Manager, and Windows installs HID drivers after a keyboard is connected
Touchpads perform most:
of the functions of a mouse, with finger motions across the pad guiding the cursor
Signature pads are used in:
banking, medical, retail, and other environments where signature verification is required
Game controllers are usually:
handheld devices used to control the interaction with a game on the computer
Game controllers include:
joysticks
keyboards
mice
controllers controlled by feet for exercise or in-flight games
To find the microphone volume control in macOS:
open System preferences> Sound> Input
To find the microphone volume control in Linux:
open System Settings> Sound> Input
To install a microphone on a PC with a sound card or integrated audio, follow this procedure:
- Connect the microphone to the microphone jack, which is marked with a pink ring or a microphone icon
- If you see a dialog that asks you to confirm the device you have plugged into the microphone jack, select Microphone from the list of devices
- If the microphone has an on/off switch, make sure the microphone is turned on
To verify that the microphone is working in Windows, follow this procedure:
- Open the Sounds icon in Control Panel
- Click the Recording tab
- Make sure the microphone you installed is enabled and selected as the default device
- Click Configure
- In the Speech Recognition menu that opens, click Set Up Microphone
- Select the microphone type, and click Next
- Adjust the microphone position and click Next
- Read the onscreen text when prompted and click Next when finished
Click Finish
You can connect speakers to a computer in several ways:
3.5mm speaker mini-jack
SPDIF digital audio port
Proprietary sound card header cable
HDMI digital A/V port
USB surround audio external device
To use a digital speaker or audio output in Windows follow these steps:
- Click or tap Hardware and Sound
- In the Sound category, click or tap Manage Audio Devices
- Click or tap a playback device on the Playback tab
- To make the selected device your default, click or tap Set Default
- Click Apply and then click OK to use your new selection
The brightness of an LCD display is measured in:
candelas per square meter (cd/m^2) sometimes referred to as “nits”
The brightness of a projector is measured in:
lumens
A keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch enables:
a single keyboard, display, and mouse to support two or more computers
keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switches are popular in:
server rooms and are also useful in tech support environments
The simplest KVM switch is a:
bow with input connectors for USB or PS/2 mouse and keyboard and VGA or other display and two or more sets of cables leading to the corresponding I/O ports and video ports on the computers that will be hosted
KVM switches for server rooms and data centers are known as:
local remote KVM and typically use CAT5 or higher-quality cables to run to special interface devices on each server
To install a KVM switch, follow this procedure:
- Shut down the computers and display
- Connect the keyboard and mouse and other shared connectors (such as speakers) to the KVM switch
- Connect the KVM switch to the computers
- Start the computers
- Install drivers, if necessary
The chip on a chip cards adds:
a layer of authentication not provided by a magnetic stripe
Near field communication (NFC) enables:
two devices to wirelessly talk to each other when they’re close together
The power supply is so named because:
it converts power from high-voltage alternating current (AC) to low voltage direct current (DC)
Power supply capacity is rated in:
watts
Most power supplies are designed to handle two different voltage ranges:
115-120V/60Hz
220-240V/50Hz
(These are known as dual voltage)
Almost all power supplies sold today have:
a 24-pin connector
the 24-pin power connector is used by recent:
ATX/microATX/Mini-ITX motherboards requiring the ATX12V 2.2 power supply standard
Most motherboards, use power supplies that feature several additional connectors to supply added power,, as follows:
Some high-voltage power supplies with 20-pin connectors might also include a 20-pin to 24-pin adapter
The four-wire square ATX12V connector provides additional 12V power to the motherboard
Most recent power supplies use the 4/8 pin + 12V (EPS12V) connector instead of the ATX12V power connector
Some very old motherboards use a 6-wire AUX connector to provide additional power
The power supply also powers various peripherals, such as:
Hard disks and CD/DVD/BD optical drives
Case fans that do not plug into the motherboard and that use a 4-pin Molex power connector
An L-shaped 15-pin thinline power connector for Serial ATA (SATA) hard disks
A PCI Express 6-pin or 8-pin power cable (PCIe 6/8-pin) for high-performance PCI Express x16 video cards that require additional 12V power
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
Molex
Yes; Yes; No; Used today primarily for case fans that do not connect to the motherboard or that can be adapted to SATA drives
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
Berg
Yes; Yes; No; Some add-on cards use this connector for power
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
SATA
Yes; Yes; Optional; Use Molex to SATA power connector if power supply lacks adequate SATA connectors
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
PCIe 6-pin
No; Yes; No; Midrange PCIe video cards
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
PCIe 8-pin
No; Yes; No; High-performance PCIe video cards
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
ATX12V
No; Yes; No; Most recent and current motherboards except those use EPS12V
Power Levels for Different Connector Types:
+5V; +12V; +3.3V; Notes
EPS12V
No; Yes; No; Split into two ATX12V-compatible sections
If your power supply doesn’t have enough connectors, you can add:
Y-splitters to divide one power lead into two, but these splitters can short out and can also reduce the efficiency of the power supply
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Red
+5V
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Yellow
+12V
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Orange
+3.3V
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Black
Ground (earth)
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Purple
+5V (standby)
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Green
PS-On
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Gray
Power good
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
White
No connection (24-pin); -5V (20-pin)
Standard power supply wires are color-coded thus:
Blue
-12V
If your wattage calculations or your test agree that it’s time to replace a power supply, make sure the replacement meets the following criteria:
Has the same power supply connectors and the same pinout as the original
Has the same form factor (shape, size, and switch location) as the original
Has the same or higher wattage rating as the original; a higher wattage rating is highly desirable
Supports any special features required by your CPU, video card, and motherboard
When replacing a power supply, make sure:
the new one is robust enough to handle any extra work from upgrades in the past or planned upgrades in the future
Power supplies are best:
in the middle of their wattage range, and a PC that is underpowered can have many problems that are difficult to diagnose
To determine the wattage rating needed for a replacement power supply:
add up the wattage ratings for everything connected to your computer that uses power supply. If the total wattage used exceeds 70% of the wattage rating you should upgrade to a larger power supply
If you have amperage ratings instead or wattage ratings:
multiply the amperage by the volts to determine wattage
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Multicore processor
Fast rendering of 3D or 2D graphics; 4.0GHz or faster, six cores or more, large cache (8MB or more total cache), 64-bit support; Fastest multicore CPUs available from Intel or AMD
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
High-end video
Faster rendering of 3D or 2D graphics on applications that support GPU acceleration (AutoCAD, Photoshop CC, and others); PCIe CAD/CAM or 3D cards with 2GB or more RAM optimized for OpenGL 4.x, DirectX 11 or 12, support two or more displays; Fastest GPUs available from AMD or NVIDIA, More GPU RAM provides faster performance when rendering large 3d objects
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Maximum RAM
Reduces swapping to disk during editing or rendering; 16GB or more DDR3 or DDR4, Use matched memory modules running in multichannel configurations; System should be running 64-bit version of the OS
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Specialized audio card
higher sampling rates and higher signal-to-noise ratios for better audio quality; 24-bit, 192KHz or better audio performance; upgradable operational amplifier sockets, PCIe interface; PCIe interface is preferred because it is faster than PCI
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Specialized video card
Faster performance when rendering video; No recommendations; Fastest GPUs on market, HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI interfaces
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Large, fast hard drive, SSD if possible
Faster writes during saves, faster retrieval of source material during media editing and creation; No recommendations; If an SSD is used as the main drive, use a fast hard disk drive or hybrid drive for temporary files
Graphic CAD/CAM Design Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Dual monitors
Editing software menus and playback can be on separate screens, Can render and edit while using secondary display for other applications; 27-inch or larger from many vendors; HDMI or DisplayPort, interfaces recommended, DVI acceptable, avoid VGA-only displays
AMD, Intel, Microsoft, and third-party vendors provide various tools to help determine details about a processor, including whether a system supports hardware-assisted virtualization:
AMD Virtualization Technology and Microsoft Hyper-V System Compatibility Check Utility
CPU-Z
Intel Processor Identification Utility
Microsoft Windows Hardware-Assisted Virtualization Detection Tool
Gibson Research Corporation’s SecurAble
Virtualization Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Maximum RAM
By increasing RAM well above the recommended level for a system running a single OS you help ensure sufficient RAM for each VM in use; 16GB or more RAM (64-bit system); Systems running 32-bit versions of Windows cannot use more than 4GB of RAM
Virtualization Workstation Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Maximum CPU cores
Multiple VMs use more execution threads than a single operation system, so a multicore CPU helps VMs perform better; 3.0GHz or faster, 6-8 cores or more, 8MB or more total cache, 64-bit support; Fastest and most powerful Intel or AMD CPU
Gaming PC Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
SSD
so much faster performance than HDD; no recommendations; 2TB SSD available in both M.2 and SATA SSD
Gaming PC Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Power processor
High performance for maximum frame rates, 3D rendering, and audio performance on games where CPU performance is most significant factor; 4GHz or faster, six cores or more, 8MB or more total cache, 64-bit support; Although multicore CPUs are also the fastest CPUs available from Intel and AMD, many games are not yet optimized for multicore processors
Gaming PC Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
High-end video/ specialized GPU
High performance for maximum frame rates in 3D rendering where GPU performance is most significant; PCIe 3D cards with 2GB or more RAM optimized for OpenGL 4.x, DirectX 11, support for two or more displays; Fastest available GPUs available from AMD and NVIDIA
Gaming PC Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
Better sound card
5.1 or 7.1 surround audio for realistic, high-performance 3D audio rendering; 24-bit, 96KHz or better audio performance, PCIe interface, hardware acceleration; PCIe sound cards provide faster performance than PCI sound cards
Gaming PC Features
Benefits; Recommendations; Notes
High-end cooling
Overclocking is common to reach highest system speeds, overclocked systems can overheat if OEM cooling is not supplemented or replaced by more powerful cooling solutions, Heat-pipe based CPU cooler for fan or liquid cooling, heat sinks on RAM, dual-slot video card with high-performance cooler, all optional fan bays on chassis equipped with fans; Be sure to verify compatibility with CPU, clearance around CPU socket, and power requirements for a particular system
Network-attached storage (NAS) us an:
inhouse backup and storage solution that consists of a storage server with multiple drive bays that hold large hard drives that are accessible on a network
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
Number of hard drive disks
1 SSD; 2SSDs; 2-8SSDs
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
Network medium
Wired/wireless; Wired; Wired/Gigabit NIC
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
Connection
SATA/Ethernet/USB 3.0; Ethernet/USB 3.0; Ethernet/USB 3.0
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
RAM
8GB; 16GB; 32GB ECC
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
Processor
Multicore 64-bit; Multicore 64-bit; Multicore 64-bit
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
RAID
Not required; Recommended; Yes
NAS Requirements
Personal; Home Media Streaming; Business
Gigabit NIC
Not required; Recommended; Yes
Standard Thick Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Desktop applications
Perform a broad range of office procedures (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, database, email, and calendaring); Current versions of Microsoft Offices, OpenOffice or WordPerfect Office; For maximum compatibility with other office apps and data sources, install office apps with options enabled
Standard Thick Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Meets recommended requirements for selected OS
Good performance with basic office tasks; —-; Some older systems might require memory upgrades to meet recommended requirements
Standard Thick Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Account settings
Local access or domain account access; Local login;—-
Thin Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Basic applications
Perform basic office procedures (web browsing, word proccing, spreadsheets); Current version of Edge, Firefox, Chrome, or other web browser, Microsoft Office Word and Excel or OpenOffice; For maximum compatibility with other office apps and data sources, install office apps with all options enabled
Thin Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Meets minimum requirements for using selected OS
Runs OS at basic performance levels; —-; Some older systems might require memory upgrades to meet minimum requirements for desired OS
Thin Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Network connectivity
Fast network connection because server handles most computational tasks; Wired: Gigabit Ethernet or faster, Wireless: Wireless-AC; Routers and switches must also support Gigabit Ethernet or Wireless-AC standards
Thin Client Features
Benefits; Implementation; Notes
Account settings
Secure authentication; Managed by network administrator; Normal security rules apply
To customize the settings on a touchpad in Windows 10 follow these steps:
open Windows Settings
click (or tap) on the Devices icon to open the Bluetooth & Other Devices window
select Touchpad from the left column
To customize the settings on a touchpad on a Mac follow these steps:
access the settings by clicking the Apple icon in the top-left corner
select System Preferences
A touchscreen can easily be recalibrated if it is not responding properly. To do this follow these steps:
- Open Control Panel and select Tablet PC Settings
- Click the Calibrate button and then choose your option for calibrating the screen for pen or touch input
- Follow the instructions to perform the calibration
- If you a happy with the settings, click Yes to save the settings
The many types of applications have different requirements and procedures. But a few basic steps apply to all applications:
- Determine if the PC has enough resources to efficiently run the application
- Find the .exe file for the downloaded application
- Double-click the .exe file to run the Setup program and see a dialog box asking for storage and shortcut preferences
- Follow the instructions to complete the install and then reboot if necessary
Synchronization is:
the matching up of files, email, and other types of data between one computer and another, with mobile devices, or with cloud storage and cloud applications to be used
We use synchronization to:
bring files in line with each other and to force devices to coordinate their data
When installing applications, setup and settings issues include:
updating passwords and other account settings, such as payment information for subscription services, depending on the functionality of the applications
Typical configuration options for printers or multifunction devices include:
Duplex (double-sided) printing
Collate setting
Orientation
Print quality
Most recent printers and multifunction devices include software with an integrated print server with support for Ethernet network printing. To configure them for sharing:
- Connect the printer or multifunction device to the network via an Ethernet (RJ-45) cable
- Configure the printer or multifunction device to use Ethernet
- Name the printer so it can be located on the network
- Specify whether the printer or device will get an IP address from a DHCP router
- If you need to configure the printer’s or device’s IP address manually, determine which IP addresses on the network are not in use by DHCP and manually assign the printer or device to one of those addressees
- Record the configuration information for reuse
The two major network protocols used for wireless device is:
Bluetooth
802.11 (WiFi)
In ad hoc mode:
each device is connected directly to other devices. No router is used
Infrastructure mode supports:
WPA2 encryption
Ad hod mode supports:
only WEP encryption, making it unsuitable for secure networking
Ad hoc wireless networking in Linux is sometime referred to as:
an independent basic service set (IBSS) network
Cloud and remote printing require the following:
A printer or multifunction device that can be accessed from the cloud or remotely via the Web
An app that supports remote or cloud printing
A laser printer is:
a page printer that stores the entire contents of a page to be printed in its memory before printing it
The major components of a laser printer include:
Imaging drum
Developer
Fuser assembly
Transfer belt (transfer roller)
Pickup rollers
Paper separation pad (separate pad)
Duplexing assembly (optional)
A laser printer’s imaging drum applies:
the page image to the transfer belt or roller; frequently combined with the tones supply in a toner cartridge
A laser printer’s developer pulls:
toner from the toner supply and sends it to the imaging drum
A laser printer’s fuser assembly fuses:
the page image to the paper
A laser printer’s transfer belt (transfer roller) transfers:
the page image from the drum to the page
A laser printer’s pickup rollers picks:
up paper
A laser printer’s paper separation pad enables:
pickup rollers to pick up only one sheet of paper at a time
A laser printer’s duplexing assembly switches:
paper from the front to the back side so that the printer can print on both sides of the paper
A laser printer is an example of a:
page printer
a page printer does not start printing until:
the entire page is received
The laser printing process often is referred to as:
the electrophotographic (EP) process
Before the seven-step laser printing process can take place, the following events must occur:
a printer must receive an entire page before it can start printer
the printer pulls a sheet of paper into the printer with its feed rollers
The laser printer imaging process is:
- Processing
- Charging
- Exposing
- Developing
- Transferring
- Fusing
- Cleaning
The laser printer process
Processing
the printer’s raster image processing engine receives the page, font, text, and graphics data from the printer driver, creates a page image, and stores it in memory. If there is not enough memory to store the page image, a memory error is triggered
The laser printer process
Charging
the cylinder-shaped imaging drum receives an electrostatic charge of -600VDC (DC voltage) from a conditioning roller
The laser printer process
Exposing
a mirror moves the laser beam across the surface of the drum. The laser beam temporarily records the image of the page to be printed on the surface of the drum
The laser printer process
Developing
the drum has toner applied to it from the developer; because the toner is electrostatic. The toner stays on only the portions of the drum that have been reduced in voltage to create the image
The laser printer process
Transferring
while the sheet is being fed into the printer, it receives an electrostatic charge from a corona wire or roller; this enables it to attract toner form the drum, which is negatively charged
The laser printer process
Fusing
the printed sheet of paper is pulled through fuser rollers, using high temperatures (approx 350 degrees Fahrenheit) to heat the toner and press it into the paper
The laser printer process
Cleaning
toner that is not adhering to the surface of the drum is scraped from the drum’s surface for reuse
Color laser printers differ from monochrome laser printers in two important ways:
they include four different colors of toner (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black(
the imaging drum is separate from the toner
the major elements in laser printer maintenance include:
replacing toner
applying maintenance kits
calibration (color lasers only)
cleaning
The printer calibration process on a color laser printing adjusts:
image density settings to make up for changes caused by environmental differences or aging print cartridges
To keep the paper path and rollers clean, use cleaning sheets made for laser printers as follows:
- Insert the sheet into the manual feed tray on the laser printer
- Create a short document with Notepad, WordPad, or some other text editor and then print it on the sheet
What is the most popular type of printer in SOHO use?
Inkjet printers
Inkjet printers are character/line printers which means:
they print one line at a time of single characters or graphics up to the limit of the print head matrix
Inkjet printers use ink cartridges filled with:
liquid ink
An inkjet printer is only as good as:
its print head and ink cartridges
Inkjet printers use two major methods to create the ink dots that make up the page:
heat the ink to boiling and create a tiny bubble of ink that is allowed to escape through the print head onto the paper
a piezoelectric crystal to distribute the ink through the print head
The inkjet print process works as follows:
- The paper or media in a feed tray is pulled into position by a roller mechanism
- The print head is suspended on a carriage over the paper and is moved across the paper by a belt. As the print head moves across the paper, it places black and color ink droplets as directed by the printer driver
- At the end of the line, the paper or media is advanced, and the print head either reverses direction and continues to print or returns to the left margin before printing continues
- After the page is completed, the media is ejected
The major elements in maintaining an inkjet printer are:
ink cartridge replacement
calibration
nozzle check
head cleaning
jam clearing
Inkjet printers might require or recommend:
some type of printer calibration, most typically print head alignment
This process involves printing one or more sheets of paper and selecting the print setting that produces straight lines
Some inkjet printers can use two printing methods:
unidirectional
bidirectional
A unidirectional printing method is when the printer:
prints only when the print head is moving from left to right
A bidirectional printing method is when the printer:
prints when the print head is moving in either direction
A thermal printer uses:
heat transfer to create text and graphics on the paper
Thermal printers are available using three different technologies:
Dye sublimation for high quality printing
Thermal wax transfer, similar to laser quality
Direct thermal, the most common use of thermal printing, used in retail POS receipt printing
Thermal transfer printers use:
wax or resin-based ribbons, which are often bundled with paper made especially for the printer
The basic process of thermal printing works like this:
- The print head has a matrix of dots that can be heated in various combinations to create text and graphics
- The print head transfers text and graphics directly to heat-sensitive thermal paper in direct thermal printing or to a ribbon that melts onto the paper in thermal transfer printing
- If a multicolor ribbon is used on a thermal transfer or dye-sublimation printer, each ribbon is moved past the print head to print the appropriate color
- When all colors have been printed, the paper is ejected
Direct thermal printers use:
special thermal (heat-sensitized) paper, and thermal transfer printers might use either standard copy paper or glossy photo paper, depending on their intended use
The elements of thermal printer maintenance include:
replacing the paper when it runs out
cleaning the heating element as directed
removing the debris from the heating element
rollers
For inkjet prints, many vendors recommend cleaning:
the print head after each roll of thermal transfer ribbon
What can you use to clean print heads?
isopropyl alcohol (wipes, pens, pads, and swabs)
the ribbon must be removed before using the alcohol
Impact dot-matrix printers have a number of parts moving in coordination with each other during the printing process. The steps are:
- The paper is moved past the print head vertically by pull or push tractors or by a platen
- The print head moves across the paper horizontally, propelled along the print head carriage by a drive belt, printing as it moves from left to right
- As the print head moves, the pins in the print head are moving in and out against an inked printer ribbon as the print head travels across the paper to form the text or create graphics
- The ribbon is also moving to reduce wear during the printing process
The most common types of print heads include:
9-pin
18-pin (two columns of 9 pins each)
24-pin (produces near letter quality NLQ)
The basic elements of impact printer mainenance are:
Replace ribbon
Replace print head
Replace paper
The term virtual printer aplies to:
any utility that is used as a printer by an app but creates a file instead of a printout
There are three major categories of virtual printers:
Print to file
Print to PDF or XPS
Print to image
Print to file is used to:
create a file that can be copied to a specific printer for output
Print to file contains:
not only the text and graphics but also specific printer control sequences and font references for the targeted printer
To print to a file in Microsoft Windows follow these steps:
- Open the Print dialog
- Select the printer
- Check the Print to File box
- Click Print
- You are typically prompted for a file location. The file is stored with the .prn file extension
Print to file is intended for use primarily with:
printers using the parallel (LPT) port and is not available with all apps
With macOS, use the Print dialog and open the PDF menu to select the type and destination for the PDF file, the types are:
Save as PDF
Fax PDF
Mail PDF
Save as PDF-X
Save PDF to iPhoto
Save PDF to Web Receipts
3D printing technically known as:
additive manufacturing (AM)
There are two basic types of 3D printing:
Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
Stereolithography
in the Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing process:
an object is created by adding layers of material to form a complete object
the most common material for the Fused deposition modeling (FDM) printing process is:
a strand of plastic filament that is fed from a spool to a moving printer head
The 3D printer extruder:
takes in the plastic filament and melts it
The 3D printer nozzle is:
a small spray hole that emits the melted filament
The 3D printer bed is:
the platform on which the object is created
The process of Fused deposition modeling (FDM)
is essentially:
- Design an object using computer-aided design (CAD) software
- Convert the model to an STL (printing code) format
- Set the print speed (slower speeds mean higher-quality printing)
- Ensure that the correct temperature is chosen, as different filaments (and even colors) can have variable melting points
The elements of maintaining 3D printers are:
Lubrications need to be heat resistant, or they may melt and become part of the printed object
Different brushes are needed to clean different parts; stiff brass brushes are good for cleaning the outside of nozzles, for example
Cleaning the filament between print jobs is important to ensure that the next job starts with filament that is clean and at the correct temperature
