Chapter 3 - Hardware Flashcards
Of the following fiber connectors, which are used for duplex (two strands instead of one)?
(Choose two.)
A. ST
B. SC
C. FC
D. LC
. A. F-type connectors are threaded and screw into place. F-type connectors are often found at
the end of an ISP’s cable connection. BNC connectors were once used in LAN wiring but are
now found in RF and video applications and test equipment such as oscilloscopes. The BNC
connector locks by twisting one-quarter turn. SC and FC connectors are for fiber-optic cable.
What twisted pair connectors are commonly used with telephone wire?
A. RJ- 45
B. Coaxial
C. RJ- 11
D. FC
C. RJ- 11 accommodates two pair of wires and is the standard for household or office wired
telephone connections. RJ- 45 is the four pair connector used for twisted- pair Ethernet.
Coaxial is a type of network cable and would have a BNC connector (with a locking mecha-
nism) or an F- type connector. FC is a type of fiber- optic connector.
Using the T568B wiring standard on both ends of a cable would produce what type of net-
work cable?
A. T568B on both ends is not a working network cable.
B. T568B is a telephone wiring standard.
C. T568B on both ends is a crossover network cable.
D. T568B on both ends is a straight-t hrough network cable.
D. A cable with the same T568 standard on both ends is a straight- through network cable.
These are used for patch cables and network drops. If you have a T568A on one end and a
T568B on the other, that’s a crossover cable.
You’re looking at a connector that has eight wires with colors in the order of green stripe,
green, orange stripe, blue, blue stripe, orange, brown stripe, brown. What type of cable
do you have?
A. Twisted pair, T568A standard
B. Twisted pair, T568B standard
C. LC
D. SC
A. The color code listed is the T568A standard. In the T568B standard the orange and green
are opposite. LC and SC are fiber- optic connectors.
You need to install a memory upgrade in a laptop computer. The computer’s documentation
says that the laptop uses DDR4 SODIMMs. How many pins will be on the SODIMM?
A. 262
B. 200
C. 204
D. 260
D. DDR4 SODIMMs have 260 pins, DDR3 SODIMMs have 204 pins, and DDR5
SODIMMs have 262 pins.
The most common RAM slots used in desktop and laptop computers, respectively, are what?
A. SODIMM and DIMM
B. Micro- DIMM and DIMM
C. DIMM and Mini- DIMM
D. DIMM and SODIMM
D. Desktop computers use dual inline memory modules (DIMMs), and laptops most com-
monly use small outline DIMMs (SODIMMs). Another potential laptop memory form factor
is the Micro-D IMM, which is used in super lightweight laptop computers.
Which laptop expansion port was designed as an industry standard to replace VGA and DVI
ports and is backward compatible with both standards?
A. DisplayPort
B. VideoPort
C. Thunderbolt
D. HDMI
A. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) introduced DisplayPort in 2008. It
was designed to be an industry standard and to replace VGA and DVI. It’s also backward
compatible with VGA and DVI by using adapters. A DisplayPort connection is intended for
video devices only, but like HDMI and USB, it can transmit audio and video simultaneously.
You have a MacBook Pro computer with a Thunderbolt 4 port. What is the maximum
throughput of a device plugged into this port?
A. 5 Gbps
B. 10 Gbps
C. 20 Gbps
D. 40 Gbps
D. The first version of Thunderbolt supported 10 Gbps data rates, which is fast. Thunderbolt
Which motherboard form factor measures 4.7″ × 4.7″?
A. Mini- ITX
B. Nano- ITX
C. Pico- ITX
D. Mobile- ITX
B. Nano- ITX motherboards are 4.7″ square, a mini- ITX motherboard is a 6.7″ square, pico-
ITX motherboards are 3.9″ × 2.8″, and mobile- ITX motherboards are 2.4″ square.
Which of the following statements are true regarding CPUs and operating systems?
(Choose two.)
A. A 32- bit OS can run only on a 32-b it CPU.
B. A 64- bit OS can run only on a 64-b it CPU.
C. A 64- bit OS can run on a 32- bit CPU or a 64- bit CPU.
D. A 32- bit OS can run on a 32- bit CPU or a 64- bit CPU.
B, D. A 64- bit OS will run only on a 64-b it processor.
A 32-b it OS can run on either a 32- bit or a 64- bit processor, although you will not be able to
fully utilize the 64- bit processor’s capabilities with a 32- bit OS.
The DC power supply (DCPS) within a laser printer converts AC power into what three volt-
ages? (Choose three.)
A. +5 VDC
B. –5 VDC
C. +24 VDC
D. –24 VDC
A, B, C. The DC power supply (DCPS) converts house current into three voltages: +5 VDC
and –5 VDC for the logic circuitry and +24 VDC for the paper- transport motors.
A technician is considering whether to buy a new LCD. Which type of LCD has faster
response times than the others?
A. TN
B. VA
C. IPS
D. Plasma
A. TN Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) have the fastest response times. The IPS is quick
enough for someone interested in gaming, but plasma displays would show significant blur
or lag when pushed to their limits by fast- moving gameplay. VA displays are slower than
IPS displays.
Which type of storage device is composed of a conventional magnetic hard drive and a sub-
stantial amount of solid- state storage?
A. SSD
B. HDD
C. Mesh
D. Hybrid
D. A hybrid hard drive is a combination of a conventional magnetic hard disk drive and
solid- state storage. The goal is to increase access speed for commonly accessed data while still
providing larger capacity similar to a conventional HDD.
You need to share printers on your network with multiple client operating systems, such as
Windows, macOS, and Linux. Which of the following services will best meet your needs?
A. Bonjour
B. AirPrint
C. TCP printing
D. Virtual printing
C. TCP printing allows clients with different OSs to send jobs directly to printers without
worrying about intra- OS conflicts. Bonjour and AirPrint are both Apple services, and virtual
printing allows you to print output to documents such as PDF files. Whenever sharing
printers for remote printing, be sure to set proper user authentication on the print device.
Which one of the following connector types are you most likely to find on the end of a
Cat 6a cable?
A. RJ- 11
B. RJ- 45
C. BNC
D. SATA
B. A Cat 6a cable is a twisted pair network cable, and you are most likely to find an RJ- 45
connector at the end of it. RJ- 11 connectors are for phone lines. BNC connectors are net-
work connectors but are typically used with coaxial cable. SATA connectors are used with
hard drives.
What type of printer technology will often use a roll of paper as opposed to
individual sheets?
A. Inkjet
B. Thermal
C. Laser
D. Fax machine
B. Thermal printers will often use a roll of paper as opposed to individual sheets. Impact
printers may also use rolls of paper but with tractor feed holes on the sides. Impact printers
generally use multipart forms, since printing on multiple copies at once is their unique ability.
Which of the following types of printers does not require the replacement of some sort of
ink or toner?
A. Laser
B. Thermal
C. Impact
D. Inkjet
B. Laser printers need toner cartridges, impact printers need ink ribbons, and inkjet printers
use ink cartridges. Thermal printers heat up paper to produce images.
You are working on repairing a defective laser printer. Which of the following is a true state-
ment regarding the imaging drum in a laser printer?
A. It can hold a high negative charge only when it’s not exposed to light.
B. It can hold a high negative charge only when it’s exposed to light.
C. It can hold a high negative charge regardless of light exposure.
D. It is not required to hold a charge.
A. An imaging drum is a photosensitive drum that can hold a high negative charge if it’s
not exposed to light. It is dark inside an electrophotographic (EP) printer, except when the
laser scanning assembly shines on particular areas of the photosensitive drum, reducing the
high negative charge to a much lower negative charge. Toner itself is negatively charged
and repelled by the highly negative charged areas but attracted to the areas with a very low
charge. The use of varying negative charges is what facilitates the printing process. When
replacing a photosensitive drum, it’s best to avoid exposing it to light.
What are the dimensions of a mini-I TX motherboard?
A. 12″ × 9.6″
B. 9.6″ × 9.6″
C. 6.7″ × 6.7″
D. 3.9″ × 2.8″
C. Mini-I TX motherboards are 6.7” square (or more precisely, 6.69″ square). ATX mother-
boards are 12″ × 9.6″. A micro- ATX motherboard is a 9.6″ square, and pico- ITX mother-
boards are 3.9″ × 2.8″.
When discussing video displays, what is the term used to describe the number of pixels used
to draw the screen?
A. Refresh rate
B. Frame rate
C. Aspect ratio
D. Resolution
D. Resolution is the number of pixels used to draw a computer screen. Refresh rate deter-
mines how many times per second the screen can be redrawn. Frame rate tells you how many
frames per second the original content was filmed in. Aspect ratio defines the dimensions
(width × height) of an image.
You have three hard disks, each 1 TB in size. After installing them as a RAID- 5 array in a
computer, how much usable storage space will you have?
A. 1.5 TB
B. 2 TB
C. 2.5 TB
D. 3 TB
B. In a RAID- 5 array, each stripe places data on n–1 disks, and parity computed from the
data is placed on the remaining disk. The parity is interleaved across all the drives in the
array so that neighboring stripes have parity on different disks. Said differently, you lose the
equivalent of one hard disk worth of storage to hold the parity information. RAID stands for
Redundant Array of Inexpensive (or Independent) Disks.
What hardware device is used to store encryption keys, making them safer because they are
never directly loaded into a server’s memory?
A. HSM
B. BIOS
C. ITX
D. TPM
A. The Hardware Security Module (HSM) is a piece of hardware that can be removed and
is used to hold encryption keys for a system. It differs from TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
implementations in that TPM is a chip on the motherboard, not a separate piece of hardware,
and TPM can also be software. TPM is used to encrypt hard drives. The BIOS (or UEFI) is
the program the CPU uses to start up the system after being powered on. ITX is a mother-
board form factor.
You need to enable clients to scan documents and place them on network accessible storage
regardless of the multifunction device’s location worldwide. Which service will best suit
your needs?
A. Bonjour
B. AirPrint
C. Virtual printing
D. Cloud services
D. Many modern multifunction devices have the ability to connect to a cloud and email and
store scanned documents and images directly from the device without requiring a connected
PC. The documents are made accessible worldwide via services such as Dropbox, Evernote,
or Google Drive.
What is the most important consideration when installing a network connected multifunction
device that is capable of directly scanning and emailing?
A. Print quality
B. Duplexing
C. Security
D. Speed
C. The ability of multifunction devices to email and scan without a PC means that these
devices need to be hardened the same way any other device with a network connection
would. Secure protocols need to be present to protect sensitive corporate information.
What protocol is often used when scanning documents from a large multifunction device and
sending them to the corporate server?
A. TPM
B. HSM
C. SNMP
D. SMB
D. Server Message Block (SMB) is the secure protocol used when scanning documents from
a multifunction device to a server. TPM and HSM are security encryption devices, not pro-
tocols. SNMP is Simple Network Management Protocol, used to gather information from
managed switches and other devices across a network.
What features are included in modern networked MFDs? (Choose all that apply.)
A. Email
B. Scanning
C. Printing
D. Faxing
A, B, C, D. While faxing is not used as often as it once was, it is still a feature available on
some MFDs. Email, scanning, and printing are also common features.
Which of the following connectors transmit analog signals? (Choose two.)
A. VGA
B. RJ- 45
C. RJ- 11
D. HDMI
A, C. VGA is an analog video connector, and RJ- 11 connectors are used with analog phone
lines and modems. Modems receive a digital signal from a computer, then modulate that
signal to analog to transmit over analog lines. On the other end, they demodulate the signal
into a digital one again that a computer or other digital device can understand. RJ-4 5 con-
nectors are used in networking, and HDMI carries digital audio and video signals.
You have a motherboard that supports up-p lugging. Which of the following statements
regarding PCIe are true? (Choose two.)
A. You can put an x1 card into an x8 slot.
B. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot.
C. You can put an x8 card into an x1 slot.
D. You can put an x16 card into an x8 slot.
A, B. With up- plugging, you can put a smaller PCIe card into a larger slot, even though it
does not fill it up completely. For example, you can insert an x8 card into an x16 slot. The x8
card won’t completely fill the slot, but it will work at x8 speeds. It’s important to note that
a motherboard doesn’t necessarily support this feature, so if you plan to use a smaller card
in a larger PCIe slot, make sure the motherboard supports up- plugging or the card will run
at 1x speed.
A technician needs to increase the fault tolerance of their computer’s storage system, and they
have two hard drives available. Which of the following options is their best choice?
A. Install both drives and configure them as separate volumes.
B. Install both drives and implement RAID- 0.
C. Install both drives and implement RAID-1 .
D. Install both drives and implement RAID-5 .
C. RAID- 1 is called disk mirroring; it writes data simultaneously to both drives. If one drive
fails, the other still has a working copy of the data. RAID- 0 is disk striping and does not
provide fault tolerance. RAID- 5 is striping with parity and provides fault tolerance, but it
requires a minimum of three hard disks.
During which step of the laser printer imaging process does a fluorescent lamp discharge the
photosensitive drum?
A. Cleaning
B. Charging
C. Exposing
D. Developing
A. During the cleaning step, a rubber blade inside the toner cartridge scrapes any toner left
on the drum into a used toner receptacle, and a fluorescent lamp discharges any remaining
charge on the imaging drum, making it neutral and ready to be charged again by the corona
wire (or charging roller).
What type of front- panel or top- panel connector uses a standard 3.5 mm jack to make
connections?
A. USB
B. Audio
C. FireWire
D. Thunderbolt
B. The audio connector on the front-p anel or top- panel will use a round, 3.5 mm connector.
You can plug speakers or a headset with a boom microphone into it.
The motherboard in your desktop computer supports dual- channel memory. Which of the
following statements regarding RAM in this motherboard are true? (Choose two.)
A. The RAM will work only if it’s installed in pairs.
B. The RAM will work only if it’s installed in pairs or if one double- sided RAM module is
used.
C. The RAM will work if only one module is installed but not in dual- channel mode.
D. The RAM will work in dual-c hannel mode if two identical modules are installed.
C, D. With most dual- channel motherboards, RAM will work just fine if one module is
installed. However, you will get better performance if you fill the entire bank. If there is only
one RAM module installed in one channel, then you can’t possibly take advantage of the
dual- channel architecture.
A customer wants you to upgrade their motherboard so that they can have the fastest video
connection possible. They want to know how fast PCIe 4 is. What will you tell them the data
rate of a single lane of PCIe 4 is?
A. 250 MBps
B. 500 MBps
C. 1 GBps
D. 2 GBps
D. There are five major versions of PCIe currently specified: 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. Each
version doubles the data transfer rate of the version before. For the four versions, a single
bidirectional lane operates at a data rate of 250 MBps, 500 MBps, approximately 1 GBps,
roughly 2 GBps, and nearly 4 GBps respectively. In any version of PCIe, there can be up to
16 lanes, so for example, in theory, a PCIe 4.0 x16 connector could transfer nearly 32 GB/s
(1.969 GB/s per lane, x 16 lanes). You might find it helpful in your studies to locate or create
a chart of the different versions and bandwidth for x1, x4, x8 and x16.
A technician needs to replace a failed power supply in a desktop computer. When choos-
ing a replacement power supply, which two specifications are most important to consider?
(Choose two.)
A. Wattage
B. Multiple rail
C. Dual voltage options
D. Number and type of connectors
A, D. When installing or replacing a power supply, always make sure that it has enough
wattage to power the components in the computer. In addition, it must have enough of the
right connectors to connect to all the components that require their own power. Multiple rail
and dual voltage are optional features.
You need to replace the magnetic hard drive in your manager’s laptop. They want a high-
speed, high- capacity drive. What are the most common issues associated with their request?
(Choose two.)
A. Increased battery usage
B. Increased heat production
C. Decreased component life span
D. Decreased space for other peripherals
A, B. Faster hard drives transfer more data than slower hard drives, but there is no specific
correlation between hard drive speed and its life span. The downsides to faster hard drives
can be increased battery usage and heat production.
A designer from the corporate office is visiting your field office. The user tries to print from
their MacBook Pro to a networked printer, but it does not work. Local users in the office
are able to print to the device using their Windows computers. What would most likely solve
the problem?
A. Select the Enable Mac Printing option in the print server configuration settings.
B. Select the Enable Bonjour option in the print server configuration settings.
C. Install a macOS printer driver on the print server.
D. Stop and restart the print spooler service.
C. Print servers need to have the appropriate drivers for all operating systems that will be
clients. It’s possible that this print server does not have the macOS driver installed.
Which of the following are advantages of using a CPU liquid cooling system over an air-
based system? (Choose two.)
A. Easier to install and maintain
B. More efficient
C. Quieter
D. Safer for internal components
B, C. Liquid cooling systems are generally quieter than air- based systems that use fans, and
they are more efficient at cooling the processor. However, they are more complex to install,
and if the liquid were to leak out, it could cause damage to internal components.
You need to perform preventive maintenance on an impact printer. What are two areas you
should examine that you would not need to on most inkjet printers? (Choose two.)
A. Ink cartridges
B. Output tray
C. Printhead
D. Tractor feed mechanism
C, D. Impact printers create images by physically striking the paper, which can wear
down the printhead. Always check that. Also, impact printers most often use tractor- feed
mechanisms to load the paper, and they can wear down or get bogged down by paper
debris as well.
Which expansion bus technology uses lanes, which are switched point- to- point signal paths
between two components?
A. PCI
B. PCI- X
C. PCIe
D. Mini- PCI
C. PCIe uses lanes. Each lane between any two intercommunicating devices consists of a sep-
arate pair of wires, one for each direction of traffic, which dramatically increases speed.
A large display with a wide viewing angle is needed for a small conference room. Which type
of LCD would be best?
A. VA
B. IPS
C. LED
D. Plasma
B. Of the liquid crystal display (LCD) choices given, IPS have the better viewing angle. LCDs
can be twisted nematic (TN), in- plane switching (IPS), or vertical alignment (VA). VA has a
greater contrast ratio, but it has a narrower viewing angle than IPS. TN is legacy technology.
LED refers to a type of backlighting, and plasma displays are not a type of LCD.
You have a user who needs recommendations for installing a home server PC. They want
their family to be able to share files and videos on their home network. They also want their
data to be protected in the event of a hard drive failure. Which components do you recom-
mend the system include? (Choose two.)
A. Dedicated print server
B. RAID array
C. Gigabit NIC
D. Dual processors
B, C. A home server PC should be able to handle media streaming as well as file and printer
sharing. A dedicated print server is not likely needed, though, as the operating system can
function as a print server. A gigabit NIC will be helpful to manage the network traffic, and a
RAID - 1 or RAID 5 array can help recover from hard drive failure.
Your motherboard has 3 PCIe x16 v 4.0 slots and the motherboard does not support up-
plugging for PCIe adapter cards. Which of the following statements is true?
A. You can’t put an x8 card into an x16 slot.
B. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, but it will run at x1 speed.
C. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, and it will run at x8 speed.
D. You can put an x8 card into an x16 slot, and it will run at x16 speed.
B. The x8 card won’t completely fill the x16 slot, but it will work at x8 speeds if up- plugging
is supported by the motherboard. Otherwise, the specification requires up- plugged devices to
operate at only the x1 rate.
Which system component enables the use of Secure Boot technology?
A. BIOS
B. UEFI
C. AMI
D. SATA
B. Secure Boot is an option enabled in system firmware. BIOS is not technically advanced
enough to manage Secure Boot, but its successor UEFI is. AMI (American Megatrends) is a
BIOS manufacturer, and SATA is a type of hard drive technology.
Motherboard documentation for a desktop computer mentions 240- pin DIMM slots. What
type of DIMM is used on this motherboard?
A. DDR3
B. DDR4
C. DDR5
D. SODIMM
A. DDR3 DIMMs have 240 pins. DDR4 and DDR5 DIMMs have 288 pins, but they are not
interchangeable and have notches (module keys) in different locations to prevent installing
the incorrect modules into a motherboard. SODIMMs are laptop RAM, not desktop RAM.
DDR4 and DDR5 DIMMs have the same number of pins. How, then, can you tell the
difference between the two?
A. Placement of the module key (notch).
B. Color of the module.
C. Size of the module.
D. DDR5 have heat sinks; DDR4 don’t.
A. The module key, also called a notch, on a DDR5 DIMM is at the center of the module
whereas the DDR4 DIMM is slightly off center. Both are sold with heat sinks attached and
come in multiple colors. Physically, they’re the same size.
Which CPU technology allows for the assignment of two logical cores for every physical
core present?
A. Multicore
B. 32- bit vs. 64- bit
C. Integrated GPU
D. Multithreading
D. Multithreading is a feature of processors that divides physical processor cores into logical
cores, and software processes into multiple threads that can be run concurrently on those
logical cores. As a result, the operating system can schedule two processes at the same time
on each physical core. Intel’s implementation of multithreading is called hyperthreading.
You are adding paper to a printer that uses tractor- feed paper, which requires lining the holes
up with pins on the paper- forwarding mechanism. What type of printer are you maintaining?
A. Impact
B. Thermal
C. Laser
D. Inkjet
A. An impact printer typically requires paper that always feeds at a consistent rate. To
achieve this, the paper will have holes on the outside edges, which is fed into the printer
using a tractor- feed mechanism. Thermal printers use special paper and heat to create images,
whereas laser printers use the electrophotographic process. Inkjet printers spray drops of ink
onto paper.
Which motherboard form factor is common in desktop computers and measures 12″ × 9.6″?
A. ATX
B. MicroATX
C. Mini- ITX
D. ITX
A. ATX motherboards are common in desktop computers and measure 12″ × 9.6″. They are
the largest motherboards commonly used in personal computers today.
An inkjet printer doesn’t seem to be moving the printhead to the right area. What two com-
ponents within an inkjet printer are responsible for moving the printhead into proper posi-
tion and therefore could be the problem?
A. Carriage and belt
B. Roller and belt
C. Carriage motor and roller
D. Carriage motor and belt
D. The motor that makes the printhead carriage move is also often called the carriage motor
or carriage stepper motor. It has a belt attached to it, the carriage belt, which moves the
printhead carriage back and forth.
You need to configure Hyper- V on one of your Windows- based desktop computers with an
Intel processor. Which of the following must be true? (Choose three.)
A. The CPU must have SLAT.
B. The CPU must have Intel VR.
C. The processor must be 64-b it
D. You need to enable virtualization in the BIOS/UEFI.
A, C, D. The CPU must support VM Display Mode Extension; on an Intel processor, it’s
called Virtualization Technology (Intel VT). The processor must be 64- bit and have second-
level address translation (SLAT). Virtualization also requires the Windows Pro edition or
better. Virtualization must be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI and may be found under different
names depending on the motherboard manufacturer.
An analog LCD is most likely to have what type of connector?
A. DisplayPort
B. RCA
C. VGA
D. BNC
C. The most common analog video connector is a VGA connector. It is usually blue in color,
arranged in a D shape with 15 pins arranged in 3 rows.
You have a peripheral that needs a data speed of 20 Gbps and 9 W of power to be supplied
by the connection to the PC. Which PC peripheral connection type is it most likely to use?
A. Thunderbolt
B. USB 3.0
C. eSATA
D. DisplayPort
A. Thunderbolt v1 and v2 both provide 20 Gbps of data bandwidth. Thunderbolt 3 doubles
the data rate to 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 can also provide the power the
device needs. USB 3.0 can only provide about 5 W of power and is much slower at 5 Gbps.
eSATA is also slower and doesn’t provide power, although eSATAp does. DisplayPort is also
slower and provides no power, unless it’s DisplayPort over USB.
In the laser printer imaging process, which step immediately follows the exposing step?
A. Charging
B. Fusing
C. Developing
D. Transferring
C. The order of steps is processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing,
and cleaning.
What are the two power requirements that a PCI expansion bus may have in a desktop com-
puter? (Choose two.)
A. 1.7 V
B. 3.3 V
C. 5 V
D. 6.6 V
B, C. PCI slots and adapters are manufactured in 3.3 V and 5 V versions. Adapters are keyed
to fit in a slot based on their voltage requirements. Universal adapters are keyed to fit in slots
based on either of the two voltages. PCI has largely been replaced by PCIe, but there are still
implementations of it, and it is still on the CompTIA A+ exam objectives.
Which of the following is a standard for a secure cryptoprocessor that can secure hardware
(and the system boot process) using cryptographic keys?
A. TPM
B. LoJack
C. Secure Boot
D. BitLocker
A. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is an international standard for a dedicated security
coprocessor, or cryptoprocessor. Coupled with a BIOS/UEFI, it can be configured to boot the
system only after authenticating the boot device. LoJack is a feature for locating stolen or
missing devices, Secure Boot is designed to prevent malicious software from loading before
a PC boots, and BitLocker is a feature of Windows Pro and higher editions that is used to
encrypt entire storage drives.
In a laser printer, what is the function of the transfer corona assembly?
A. It transfers a positive charge to the paper.
B. It transfers a positive charge to the imaging drum.
C. It transfers the toner from the imaging drum to the paper.
D. It transfers the image from the laser to the imaging drum.
A. The transfer corona assembly is given a positive charge, which is transferred to the paper,
which in turn pulls the negatively charged toner from the photosensitive imaging drum. This
is the transferring phase of the laser printer imaging process.
A technician has installed a printer driver on a Windows client computer. What is the best
next step the technician can take to ensure that the printer is installed properly?
A. Ping the printer’s IP address.
B. Check the printer status and ensure that it says “Ready.”
C. Stop and restart the spooler service.
D. Print a test page.
D. After installing a new printer, it’s good practice to print a test page to ensure functionality.
Which component within a laser printer converts AC current into usable energy for the
charging corona and transfer corona?
A. LVPS
B. HVPS
C. ACPS
D. Transfer corona assembly
B. The high- voltage power supply (HVPS) provides the high voltages used by both the charg-
ing corona and the transfer corona during the laser printer imaging process. The printer will
likely have a second power supply that provides power to the circuit boards. Caution needs
to be observed when working inside any laser printer because of the danger inherent in the
two power supplies.
You have been asked to install and configure a RAID- 10 storage array for a computer. What
is the minimum number of hard disks required for this configuration?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
C. RAID- 10 (also known as RAID- 1+0) provides fault tolerance to RAID- 0 through the
RAID- 1 mirroring of each disk in the RAID- 0 striped set. It requires a minimum of four
hard disks.
A graphic designer in your office needs two displays to do their work. Which of the following
should you install to set up their desktop computer for this configuration?
A. A video splitter
B. A second video driver
C. A second video card
D. A video replicator
C. To use a second display on a desktop computer, you need to install a second video adapter
or have one video adapter with two display interfaces. Laptops often have an external display
interface and are capable of providing video to the built- in screen and an external display at
the same time.
You have a motherboard designed to hold DDR3 1600 memory. What will happen if you
attempt to install DDR4 2400 memory into the motherboard?
A. It won’t fit.
B. It will operate at 667 MHz.
C. It will operate at 1133 MHz.
D. It will operate at 1600 MHz.
A. DDR3 and DDR4 memory slots are both keyed, but the keys are in different places.
DDR3 has 240 pins and DDR4 has 288 pins. Therefore, the memory will not fit into the slots
on the motherboard.
What happens during the transferring step of the laser printer imaging process?
A. The image is transferred to the imaging drum.
B. The toner is transferred to the imaging drum.
C. The toner is transferred to the paper.
D. A strong, uniform negative charge is transferred to the imaging drum.
C. During the transferring step, the positively charged paper pulls the negatively charged
toner from the photosensitive drum at the line of contact between the roller and the paper.
One of your users needs to print several copies of a 20- page document. They want to ensure
that the document’s pages are printed on both sides of the paper to conserve paper. Which
option do they need to set properly in their printer configuration settings?
A. Duplexing
B. Collating
C. Print Quality
D. Orientation
A. Duplexing is printing on the front and back. Other common options or settings include
orientation (portrait or landscape), collating (printing pages in sets such as 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3)
and print quality (such as draft or high resolution).
A technician needs to install an optical disk system with capacity to burn disks storing
about 60 GB of data at one time. What is the minimum technology required to get over this
threshold?
A. DVD- 10
B. DVD- 18
C. Triple BDXL
D. Quad BDXL
C. A Blu- ray Disc Extra Large (BDXL) can store up to 128 GB of data, (Quad BDXL)
although most for sale boast only 100 GB of storage (Triple BDXL). Blu- ray is the latest ren-
dition of optical disks, but DVDs are still available, and come in single layer (SL), dual layer
(DL), single side (SS) and dual side (DS) formats. DVD- 18 (DS, DL) hold approximately
16 GB of data. DVD- 10 (DS, SL) can hold approximately 9GB, and DVD- 9 (SS, DL) hold
approximately 8 GB of storage. DVD- 9 and DVD-1 0 can both be DVD+R or DVD-R format
but DVD- 18 can only be the DVD+R format.
Which home and office printing technology typically employs a reservoir of ink, contained in
a cartridge that sometimes needs replacing, as its medium to form images on paper?
A. Laser
B. Thermal
C. Inkjet
D. Impact
C. Inkjet printers typically use a reservoir of ink (also known as an ink cartridge), a pump,
and a nozzle to print images. Empty cartridges need to be replaced.
You have been asked to purchase new RAM for three workstations. The workstations call for
DDR4 3600 chips. What throughput will these modules support?
A. 450 Mbps
B. 1,800 Mbps
C. 3,600 Mbps
D. 28,800 Mbps
D. The number designation of 3600 in DDR4 3600 indicates bus speed of 3,600 MHz.
To find the throughput, multiply the bus speed by 8. DDR4 3600 therefore is the same as
PC4 28,800 with a peak transfer rate of 28,800 Mbps. (3,600,000 cycles per second x 8 =
28,800,000 bits per second. Divide by 1000 to get Mbps = 28,800).
A technician needs to purchase new RAM for a motherboard. The motherboard specifica-
tions call for 5,200 MHz DDR5 RAM. Which RAM modules should the technician use?
A. PC 5200
B. PC 41600
C. PC5 41600
D. PC5 5200
C. Multiply the 5200 bus speed by 8 to get the bits per second that can be transferred in and
out of the RAM module. The PC5 designation means that it is DDR5, and the 41,600 means
that it can (theoretically) transfer 41,600 Mbps (megabits per second).
On your network, users want to print easily from their iPads and iPhones. Which service sup-
ports this?
A. Bonjour
B. AirPrint
C. TCP printing
D. Virtual printing
B. iPads and iPhones can automatically detect AirPrint- enabled printers on their local net-
work and print to them without requiring the installation of a driver. Bonjour is a service that
works with both Macs and Windows devices but requires some configuration. TCP printing
uses an IP Address to connect to a printer. Virtual printing sends the output to something else
such as a .pdf file.
You have a new computer that needs to communicate with other computers on a wireless
network. What type of expansion card do you need to install?
A. WAP
B. NIC
C. KVM
D. WPA
B. To communicate with other computers on a network, you need a network interface card
(NIC). A wireless access point (WAP) is a wireless hub that many wireless devices commu-
nicate with, and WPA is a wireless security standard. A KVM switch allows you to have
multiple systems attached to the same keyboard, video, and mouse. Other types of expan-
sion cards (that could use the same slot as a NIC) include but are not limited to video cards,
sound cards, storage cards, TV tuner cards, and riser cards.
When printing, which component is responsible for converting the data being printed into
the format that the printer can understand?
A. PDL
B. Printer driver
C. Print queue
D. Print spooler
B. The printer driver uses a page description language (PDL) to convert the data being
printed into the format that the printer can understand. The driver also ensures that the
printer is ready to print. PDL stands for page description language, which specifies the
printed page layout. The print queue holds print jobs that are waiting to be printed, the print
spooler manages the printing process, including locating the right printer driver.
You’re installing a new printer and notice that the manufacturer has provided two drivers
with the printer. One is a PostScript driver and the other is a Printer Control Language (PCL)
driver. The user will mainly be printing graphics. Which driver should you install?
A. Allow Windows to install its default driver.
B. Install the PCL driver.
C. Install the PostScript driver.
D. Either driver will work equally well.
C. Windows comes with many drivers for different devices, but if the manufacturer has
provided a specific printer driver, it’s often best to install that printer driver first, then connect
the device. In this case, the user will be printing mostly graphics, so the PostScript driver will
provide better printing for them. PostScript drivers are not dependent on the hardware, so
the printed graphic will look the same regardless of what device it is printed on.
What type of printer driver is best to use if you’ll be printing mostly documents and want to
have the PC released to do other jobs more quickly?
A. Allow Windows to install its default driver.
B. Install the PCL driver.
C. Install the PostScript driver.
D. Driver choice won’t have an effect.
B. Printer Control Language (PCL) drivers depend on the printer hardware to create some of
the effects such as filling in areas and making underlines. The PC releases the print job to the
printer to finish, making the PC and application available to the user more quickly.
You notice that a fan on a power supply has stopped turning and you will need to replace it.
Which of the following statements best describes the function of a typical power supply fan?
A. It cools the power supply by blowing in air from outside the case.
B. It cools the power supply by blowing hot air out the back of the power supply.
C. It cools the computer by blowing in air from outside the case, through the power supply,
and into the computer.
D. It cools the computer by pulling hot air from inside the case, through the power supply,
and blowing it out the back of the power supply, which in turn draws cooler air in
through vents in the case.
D. The power supply fan is used to cool the power supply and the inside of the computer
case. This fan draws air from inside the case into vents in the power supply. This pulls hot air
through the power supply so that it can be blown out of the case, which also causes cooler
air to be drawn in through vents in the case.
A technician needs to install a new hard drive for their client. Access speed is far more impor-
tant to this client than disk space. What type of hard drive is best suited for this client?
A. SSD
B. HDD
C. SD
D. BD- R
A. A solid- state drive (SSD) is the best choice for a hard drive when access speed is the most
important characteristic. A conventional magnetic hard disk drive (HDD) is slower. Secure
Digital (SD) is a memory card format, not a hard drive type. BD- R is a Blu- ray disk format.
What is the maximum data rate for a USB 3.0 connection?
A. 12 Mbps
B. 480 Mbps
C. 5 Gbps
D. 10 Gbps
C. USB 3.0 supports 5 Gbps, USB 1.0 supports 12 Mbps, USB 2.0 supports 480 Mbps, and
USB 3.1 Gen 2 supports 10 Gbps.
A technician has been asked to install and configure a RAID- 10 array in a working computer
that contains one hard drive. How many additional hard drives, at a minimum, do they need
to bring to the job?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four
C. With RAID 10, drives are set up as mirrors, then those mirrors are striped. A minimum
of two drives are needed to create a mirror, then another two to stripe the data for a total
of four drives. The computer already has one drive in it. That drive would be mirrored,
then striped, so three more drives are needed. RAID 10 provides both extra speed and fault
tolerance.
You’ve been tasked with making a system faster, so you implement a RAID solution that does
only that. What level of RAID will you implement?
A. RAID- 0
B. RAID- 1
C. RAID- 5
D. RAID- 10
A. RAID- 0 uses a minimum of two drives, writing different bits of data to each drive at the
same time to improve speed, but it doesn’t offer any fault tolerance. RAID- 1 is disk mirror-
ing, which provides some fault tolerance but no speed improvement. RAID- 5 and RAID- 10
improve both speed and fault tolerance.
Which CPU architecture term describes a CPU with multiple physical processor dies in the
same package?
A. Multicore
B. 64- bit
C. Integrated GPU
D. Multiprocessor
A. A processor that exhibits a multicore architecture has multiple completely separate pro-
cessor dies in the same package. The operating system and applications see multiple proces-
sors in the same way that they see multiple processors in separate sockets. 64- bit refers to the
width of the data bus. An integrated GPU means that the graphics processor is also on the
CPU package, and multiprocessor refers to more than one physical socket on a motherboard.
Which of the following optical disk standards provides the highest capacity?
A. DVD- R SS, SL
B. DVD- R DS, SL
C. DVD- R SS, DL
D. DVD- R SS, TL
B. All are digital video disk (DVD) technologies. A single- sided, single- layer (SS, SL) DVD
provides about 4.7 GB of storage. A dual- sided (DS) disk will double that capacity to 9.4 GB.
Adding a second layer, or dual- layer (DL), adds more capacity, but the technology does not
double the capacity of a single layer. A single- sided, dual- layer (SS, DL) disk has a capacity of
about 8.5 GB. There is no DVD-R SS, TL, but a DVD+R DS, DL holds nearly 17 GB of data.
The - R refers to the encoding scheme. There is also a + R format. There are also number des-
ignations to identify how many sides and layers a DVD has. DVD- 9 is single side, dual layer,
DVD- 10 is dual side, single layer, DVD-1 8 is dual side, dual layer.
Your company recently shipped five desktop computers from Germany to the United States.
After switching the power cord to an American- style plug, you try to power one on and
it doesn’t work. You try the others and none of them power on either. What is the most
likely cause?
A. All of the computers were damaged during shipping.
B. German power supplies work only with German power cords.
C. The power supplies won’t work because they expect 50 Hz frequency from the wall
outlet and the United States standard is 60 Hz.
D. The power supply voltage switch needs to be moved.
D. Many power supplies have a two-p osition slider switch called a dual voltage switch. It
can be set for 110–120 V or 220–240 V, depending on what local power specifications are.
What are the dimensions of a mobile-I TX motherboard?
A. 9.6″ × 9.6″
B. 6.7″ × 6.7″
C. 3.9″ × 2.8″
D. 2.4″ × 2.4″
D. Mobile- ITX motherboards are 2.4″ square, MicroATX motherboards are 9.6″ square,
mini- ITX motherboards are 6.7″ square, and Pico-I TX motherboards are 3.9″ × 2.8″.
Which of the following printer types is an impact printer?
A. Laser
B. Inkjet
C. Dot- matrix
D. Thermal
C. Dot- matrix printers use printheads that strike an ink ribbon, which presses up against
the paper to make an image. Therefore, they are impact printers. Laser printers use a photo-
sensitive drum to create the image, inkjet printers use an ink reservoir (cartridge) and spray
nozzles to produce an image on paper using dots of ink, and thermal printers use heat to pro-
duce an image on special heat- sensitive paper.
Which two CPU sockets are capable of supporting Intel Core i9 processors? (Choose two.)
A. LGA1700
B. LGA2066
C. Socket AM3+
D. Socket FM2
A, B. Sockets that support Intel processors are currently named starting with the letters LGA,
such as LGA1700 and LGA2066. Socket names that start with AM or FM will support AMD
processors and not Intel processors.
You are discussing data storage needs with a client who is a videographer and media
producer. They need to store dozens of large files and need immediate access to them for edit-
ing. What is the most appropriate storage technology for them to use?
A. NAS
B. SSD
C. SD
D. BD- R
B. A solid- state drive (SSD) will provide them with the highest capacity of the four options
and also give them immediate access. Network attached storage (NAS) speaks to its con-
nection and availability, not capacity. If the client required file sharing as well, then using a
NAS would be the proper choice. Secure Digital (SD) is a memory card format and does not
offer the capacity or immediacy they need. BD- R is a Blu- ray disk format. It has good storage
capabilities, but not the immediacy for editing.
You are searching for a new display on the Internet and find a used digital LCD for sale.
What are the two most likely types of connector you will find on this display? (Choose two.)
A. Composite
B. DVI- D
C. HDMI
D. VGA
B, C. Digital displays will have a digital interface, such as DVI- D, HDMI, or mini- HDMI.
Composite connectors are rarely used on displays, and VGA is analog, not digital.
Which of the following are typical formats supported by virtual printing? (Choose three.)
A. Print to PDF
B. Print to XPS
C. Print to DOC
D. Print to image
A, B, D. The four virtual printing options are print to file, print to PDF, print to XPS, and
print to image.
A PCIe x1 v 3.0 lane provides how much data throughput?
A. 250 MBps
B. 500 MBps
C. 1 GBps
D. 2 GBps
C. There are five major versions of PCIe currently specified: 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0. For
the five versions, a single bidirectional lane operates at a data rate of 250 MBps, 500 MBps,
approximately 1 GBps, roughly 2 GBps, and nearly 4 GBps, respectively. Each PCIe slot can
have up to 16 lanes, the number of lanes being indicated by x1, x4, x8, x16. (The x is pro-
nounced as by.) Therefore, a PCIe 3 x1 slot can support up to 1 GBps of bandwidth.
The toner is falling off every paper that comes out of a user’s laser printer. Which component,
responsible for heating up and melting the toner into the paper, do you need to replace?
A. Transfer corona assembly
B. Pickup rollers
C. Exit assembly
D. Fuser assembly
D. Laser printers incorporate a fuser assembly, which uses two rollers that apply pressure
and heat to fuse the plastic toner particles to the paper.
During which step in the laser printer imaging process does a wire or roller apply a strong,
uniform negative charge to the surface of the imaging drum?
A. Charging
B. Conditioning
C. Exposing
D. Transferring
A. During the charging step, the charging corona uses a high voltage to apply a strong, uni-
form negative charge (around –600 VDC) to the surface of the imaging drum.
You are installing two new RAM modules into a dual- channel motherboard. Which of the
following is true?
A. Both RAM modules need to have the same parameters.
B. The RAM modules can be different sizes but must be the same speed.
C. The RAM modules can be different speeds but must be the same size.
D. The RAM modules can have different speeds and sizes, as long as they are the same type.
A. When installing dual- channel RAM, be sure that the RAM modules both have the same
parameters. In some cases, you might even need to make sure they come from the same
manufacturer. RAM for channeled motherboards is often sold in packs such as a pack of
two RAM modules for dual-c hannel motherboards, three modules for triple- channel moth-
erboards, and four modules for quad-c hannel motherboards.
Which of the following printer components is not found in a laser printer?
A. Fuser assembly
B. Imaging drum
C. Transfer roller
D. Carriage motor
D. Carriage motors are components in inkjet printers. Laser printer components include a
fuser assembly, imaging drum, transfer belt, transfer roller, pickup roller, separation pads,
and a duplexing assembly.
What type of common printer can potentially release harmful ozone into the atmosphere
and therefore may contain an ozone filter?
A. Laser
B. Inkjet
C. Thermal
D. Impact
A. A laser printer uses various high- voltage biases inside the case, and high voltages can
create harmful ozone.
There are four servers in your server closet. You need to access each of them, but not at the
same time. Which device will allow you to share one set of input and output devices for all
four servers?
A. Touchscreen
B. Docking station
C. Set- top controller
D. KVM switch
D. The purpose of a KVM switch is to allow you to have multiple systems attached to the
same keyboard, video display, and mouse. You can use these three devices with only one
system at a time, and the KVM switch will have a dial or buttons to allow you to switch
between systems.
A user on your network has a laser printer that is several years old with no Ethernet con-
nection. It’s connected to their computer and shared on the network for others to use. Now,
the user no longer wants the printer, but others still need to use it on the network. What
would be the best upgrade to install in this printer to allow others to send print jobs to it
directly over the network?
A. A network card
B. A print server
C. TCP/IP printing
D. AirPrint
B. To get this printer off of the original user’s desk, it probably needs to be its own print
server. Installing an integrated (or stand-a lone) print server with a network connection
should work well in this situation. Installing a network card wouldn’t take care of the
sharing aspect of the problem. You need a network connection before you can use TCP/
IP settings to connect to it. AirPrint is Apple’s wireless printing, which would also need to
have the printer connected to a wireless network.
A technician needs to perform maintenance on an inkjet’s dirty paper pickup rollers. What
should they use to clean them?
A. Rubbing alcohol
B. Mild soap and water
C. A dry, lint- free cloth
D. Compressed air
B. Clean pickup rollers (and other rubber rollers) with mild soap and water and not
alcohol. Alcohol can dry out the rollers, making them brittle and ineffective. A dry cloth
will not remove the dirt or debris, and compressed air would just blow the debris into other
internal printer components.
During which step in the laser printer imaging process is toner attracted to the
imaging drum?
A. Exposing
B. Transferring
C. Fusing
D. Developing
D. During the developing step, toner is attracted to areas of the drum where an image has
been written by the laser. Those areas have a slight negative charge (–100 VDC) as opposed
to unexposed areas of the drum and the developing roller (to which the toner is stuck),
which each have a charge of –600 VDC.
You are installing and configuring a magnetic hard drive and have several models to choose
from. Which hard drive is most likely to have the highest data throughput rates?
A. 500 GB, 7,200 rpm
B. 750 GB, 5,400 rpm
C. 750 GB, 10,000 rpm
D. 1 TB, 7,200 rpm
C. The primary factor in determining data throughput for a magnetic hard drive is the spin
rate, which is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). Higher spin rates will result in
faster data reads and writes and increase data throughput.
Your manager tells you to buy a high-c apacity magnetic hard drive with the highest data
transfer rate possible. Which hard drive parameter do manufacturers modify to increase
hard drive data transfer rates?
A. Read/write head size
B. Connector size
C. Spin rate (rpm)
D. Platter size
C. To make information available to the rest of the computer more quickly, hard drive
manufacturers increase the speed at which the hard drive platters spin, which is measured
in revolutions per minute (rpm). The downside of higher speed is usually more heat gener-
ated by the drive, so faster hard drives may require additional cooling in the case.
Three of these four motherboard form factors can be mounted in the same style of case.
Which ones are they? (Choose three.)
A. ATX
B. MicroATX
C. Mini- ITX
D. Nano- ITX
A, B, C. The ATX, MicroATX, and mini- ITX motherboard form factors can all be mounted
inside a standard ATX case. The mini- ITX will have only three of the four mounting holes
line up with the case, but the rear interfaces are placed in the same location as those on
ATX motherboards.
Which RAM feature can detect and possibly fix errors within memory?
A. Parity
B. Non- parity
C. ECC
D. Non- ECC
C. If memory supports ECC, check bits are generated and stored with the data. If one of
the eight memory bits is in error, ECC can correct the error. ECC tends to be more expen-
sive than non- ECC memory, so it is more often found in servers than in workstations.
You have a client who needs a hot-s wappable, nonvolatile, long- term storage technology
that lets them conveniently carry data from one location to another in their pocket. Which
technologies can you recommend? (Choose two.)
A. USB flash drive
B. Hybrid SSD
C. PATA
D. SD
A, D. USB flash drives and SD cards are hot swappable. (In the case of USB, be sure that
the flash drive does not contain key file system files needed for the computer to run!)
Hybrid SSDs might or might not be hot swappable and are larger than USB and SD drives.
PATA devices are legacy technology and not hot swappable.
You have been asked to assemble 20 new desktop PCs for a client. When you look at the
first motherboard, you see four memory slots. The one closest to the CPU is colored blue.
Then in order they are white, blue, and white. Which of the following statements are true?
(Choose two.)
A. This is a quad- channel motherboard.
B. This is a dual- channel motherboard.
C. For optimal performance, you should install RAM modules into the two slots closest
to the CPU.
D. For optimal performance, you should install RAM modules into the two blue slots.
B, D. Dual- channel motherboards have two banks of two RAM slots. They are usually
color- coded such that the two slots of the same color belong to different channels. For
best performance, a RAM module needs to be installed into each channel, so two can be
accessed at a time. It’s always best to refer to the motherboard manual for proper RAM
placement. Some motherboards will revert to single- channel mode if, for example, three
RAM modules were placed in a dual-c hannel motherboard with four slots. Channels are
typically marked with letters.
You have a computer running Windows 10. Every time you boot, the computer insists on
trying to boot from the USB drive. Where can you change the setting to have the system
boot to the hard drive first?
A. BIOS/UEFI
B. Windows Configuration
C. System Manager
D. Device Manager
A. The boot sequence of a computer is changed in the BIOS/UEFI settings.
Which of the following types of connectors are generally found on the front or top panel of
the computer? (Choose two.)
A. SATA
B. PCIe
C. Power button
D. USB
C, D. Typical front- or top- panel connectors include USB, audio, power button, power
light, drive activity lights, and the reset button. SATA and PCIe connectors are found inside
the case, on the motherboard.
Your manager is excited because they just purchased a fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 external hard
drive for their work team. They want to set it in the middle of the cubicles and let everyone
have access to it. Some of the cubicles are about 15 feet away from each other. What is the
recommended maximum cable length for this type of device?
A. 3 meters
B. 5 meters
C. 10 meters
D. 15 meters
A. The USB 3.0 standard doesn’t specify a cable length limitation, but it does recommend
a cable length of 3 meters or less. USB 2.0 cables can be up to 5 meters in length. USB4
cables should be only 0.8 meters. The manager will need a USB hub, and to extend the
distance the manager could purchase active USB cables, some of which have an external
power supply or extra USB A connector for extra power, or a Cat 5/Cat 6 USB extender.
A technician has just installed an automatic document feeder (ADF) on a laser printer. The
ADF was sold by the manufacturer and is compatible with the printer. However, the printer
doesn’t pull the papers from the feeder. What might resolve the issue?
A. Removing and reinstalling the duplexing assembly
B. Turning the printer off and back on
C. Upgrading the printer’s firmware
D. Stopping and restarting the spooler service
C. Depending on the printer, you may be able to update the printer’s information in
Devices and Printers; otherwise, a firmware update may be needed. Firmware upgrades can
offer newer features that are not available on previous versions.
A medical office needs to make all old records available electronically. What device can they
install on their printer to make scanning hundreds of documents go more quickly?
A. High- capacity paper tray
B. Flatbed scanner
C. Duplexing assembly
D. Automatic document feeder
D. An automatic document feeder (ADF) is a device that sits on top of a flatbed scanner. It
is used to pull a stack of papers through and scan them one at a time without user interven-
tion. Some MFDs will scan the front and back of the paper at the same time.
You have a desktop computer with three PCI expansion slots. What will happen when you
mix cards of different speeds on the same motherboard?
A. The cards will operate at their original speeds.
B. None of the cards will function.
C. The cards will all operate at the faster speed.
D. The cards will all operate at the slower speed.
D. PCI is a shared-b us topology, so mixing 33 MHz and 66 MHz adapters in a 66 MHz
system will slow all adapters to 33 MHz.
Which of the following statements accurately explains what happens during the exposing
step in the laser printer imaging process?
A. A laser reduces areas of the drum from a strong negative charge to a slight positive
charge.
B. A laser reduces areas of the drum from a strong negative charge to a slight negative
charge.
C. A laser increases areas of the drum from a slight negative charge to a strong negative
charge.
D. A laser increases areas of the drum from a slight positive charge to a strong positive
charge.
B. In the exposing step, the image is written to the photosensitive imaging drum. Wherever
the laser beam touches, the photosensitive drum’s charge is severely reduced from –600
VDC to a slight negative charge (around –100 VDC). As the drum rotates, a pattern of
exposed areas is formed, representing the image to be printed.
Which of the following is the defining characteristic of a passive heatsink cooling system
for a CPU?
A. It uses water.
B. It uses heat pipes.
C. It uses liquid nitrogen or helium.
D. It does not require a fan or power.
D. Passive cooling systems come in a variety of models, and some are very effective.
The defining characteristic is that they do not use a fan or require a power source. Their
advantage is that they are the ultimate in cooling system quiet because there is no fan or
pump running.
Which of the following system settings are configurable in the UEFI? (Choose three.)
A. Date and time
B. Enabling and disabling services
C. CPU fan speeds
D. Power- on password
A, C, D. The UEFI configures many hardware components and settings, such as system
date and time, boot sequence, enabling and disabling devices, clock speeds, virtualization
support, fans, and UEFI/Boot security.
Which level of cache is typically the smallest and closest to the processor die in a computer?
A. L1
B. L2
C. L3
D. L4
A. The typical increasing order of capacity and distance from the processor die is L1
cache, L2 cache, L3 cache, RAM, and HDD/SSD. The closest caches are located on the pro-
cessor die.
Which of the following are types of CPU sockets? (Choose two.)
A. LGA
B. CGA
C. IGA
D. PGA
A, D. A pin grid array (PGA) socket has holes to receive the pins that are on the CPU. The
land grid array (LGA) is a newer technology that places the delicate pins on the mother-
board instead of on the CPU.
Your office has a laser printer, and your manager asks if it can be upgraded to print on both
sides of the paper. What type of device can add this functionality?
A. Flipping assembly
B. Dual- paper feed assembly
C. Duplexing assembly
D. Rear paper feed assembly
C. A duplexing assembly is used for two- sided printing. After the first page is printed, it’s
fed into the duplexing assembly, turned over, and fed back into the paper feed assembly.
Which component in a laser printer is responsible for converting AC current into usable
energy for the logic circuitry and motors? (Choose two.)
A. LVPS
B. HVPS
C. DCPS
D. ACPS
A, C. The DC power supply (DCPS), also sometimes called the low voltage power supply
(LVPS), provides power for the logic boards and motors, whereas the high voltage power
supply (HVPS) provides higher voltages for the toner transfer process. The printer’s logic
circuitry and motors require low voltages, between +5 VDC and +24 VDC. The DC power
supply (DCPS) converts house current into three voltages: +5 VDC and –5 VDC for the
logic circuitry and +24 VDC for the paper- transport motors. This component also runs the
fan that cools the internal components of the printer.
The Acme company has a laser printer in its Chicago office that has been used for three
months. A technician needs to ship the printer to the Detroit office for use there. What, if
any, preparations should be made for the toner cartridge?
A. No preparations are needed for the toner cartridge before shipping.
B. Insert a toner blocker into the toner cartridge before shipping.
C. Seal the toner cartridge with tape before shipping.
D. Remove the toner cartridge from the printer before shipping.
D. Never ship a printer anywhere with a toner cartridge installed! The jostling that hap-
pens during shipping could cause toner to spill out of the cartridge and all over the inside
of the printer, and a toner spill is difficult to clean up. Remove the toner cartridge first. You
can put it in a sealed, airtight bag to ship if needed.
A client wants you to upgrade their desktop computer to have two video cards. You want
to be sure that this computer can support the extra adapter. What type of open internal
expansion slot should you look for?
A. PCIe
B. ISA
C. VGA
D. DVI
A. Most internal video adapters today are PCIe cards. You might still find PCI video cards
available. ISA is a legacy expansion slot type not used today. VGA and DVI are types of
display connectors, not expansion slot types.
Which step immediately precedes the cleaning step in the laser printer imaging process?
A. Processing
B. Transferring
C. Exposing
D. Fusing
D. The order of steps is processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing,
and cleaning.
Which of the following are services created by Apple to allow for the automatic discovery
of printers on local networks? (Choose two.)
A. Bonjour
B. AirPrint
C. TCP printing
D. Virtual printing
A, B. Apple created Bonjour and AirPrint. Bonjour helps many devices find each other on a
network, not just printers.
After installing a new print cartridge in an inkjet printer, what process must be run before
printing to the device?
A. Degaussing
B. Driver installation
C. Rasterizing
D. Calibration
D. Before you print to an inkjet printer, you must ensure that the device is calibrated. Cal-
ibration is the process by which a device is brought within functional specifications. For
example, inkjet printers need their printheads aligned so that they print evenly and don’t
print funny- looking letters and unevenly spaced lines.
Which type of printing technology might require replacing a heating element if it is no
longer making images on waxy paper?
A. Laser
B. Inkjet
C. Thermal
D. 3D printer
C. Thermal printers use a heating element. It heats up spots on special waxy, heat- sensitive
paper to form the image.
You have a laser printer that is displaying the message “Perform user maintenance.” What
should you do to resolve this situation?
A. Apply a maintenance kit and clear the message.
B. Use compressed air to blow out the inside of the printer and clear the message.
C. Turn the printer off and back on again to clear the message.
D. Replace the toner cartridge and clear the message.
A. When a laser printer requests maintenance, it’s because it has reached a certain page
count. Apply a proper maintenance kit (one recommended by the manufacturer) and then
clear the service message.
You need to create several UTP cables from a roll of bulk cable. Your company uses the
T568B standard. What is the correct order for wires in the connectors?
A. White/orange, orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown
B. White/orange, orange, white/green, green, white/blue, blue, white/brown, brown
C. White/orange, green, white/green, blue, white/blue, orange, white/brown, brown
D. Orange, white/orange, white/green, blue, white/blue, green, white/brown, brown
A. The correct order for a T568B cable is white/orange, orange, white/green, blue, white/
blue, green, white/brown, brown. In the T568A standard, the orange and green cables are
swapped. The blue and brown wires don’t change position between the two standards.
You are installing network cable that will support digital cable television signals. What type
of cable should you install?
A. RG- 6
B. RG- 8
C. RG- 58 A/U
D. RG- 59
A. Cable television installations typically use RG- 6 but may also use RG-5 9 cable. RG- 6 is
slightly thicker, can run longer distances, and supports digital signals. RG- 59 is suited only
for analog TV signals and is used for some security cameras.
You need to replace a faulty 250-f oot section of RG- 6 cable, but all you have available is
RG- 59. Which of the following statements is true?
A. The replacement cable will not work because the distance exceeds RG- 59 specifica-
tions.
B. The replacement cable will not work because RG- 6 and RG- 59 use different connec-
tors.
C. The replacement cable will not work because RG- 6 and RG- 59 have different imped-
ance.
D. If the replacement cable works, it won’t work as well. RG- 6 should be purchased.
D. RG- 6 is a better choice because it supports digital signals and has a longer range
(304 meters, or 1,000 feet). RG- 59 can run up to 228 meters (750 feet). Both have imped-
ance of 75 ohms, and both use BNC connectors or F- type connectors. RG- 6 is usually
better insulated and will have less signal loss. While the RG- 59 might work, if it doesn’t,
would you want to do the job over?
You have been asked to design a new network that requires 10 Gbps transmission speeds.
Which cable types will meet the minimum specifications? (Choose two.)
A. MMF
B. Cat 5
C. Cat 5e
D. Cat 6a
A, D. Multimode fiber (MMF) and unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Cat 6 and newer support
10 Gbps transmission speeds. Cat 5 supports up to 100 Mbps, and Cat 5e supports up to
1,000 Mbps.
What characteristic differentiates STP from UTP?
A. STP uses RJ-4 5s connectors instead of RJ- 45.
B. STP follows the T568A wiring standard.
C. STP does not produce poisonous gas when burned.
D. STP has a layer of foil shielding inside the cable insulation.
D. Shielded twisted pair (STP) cabling has a foil shield surrounding the wire pairs
to decrease electrical interference. Some STP cables also shield individual wire pairs.
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) does not have the shielding. Both types use RJ- 45 connec-
tors, can follow the T568A wiring standard, and can be produced as plenum- rated cable
that does not produce poisonous gas when burned.
While cleaning out a storage room, a technician finds several rolls of Cat 5e network cable.
The technician thinks they might be able to use it to create replacement cables for their net-
work. What is the maximum speed that this cable will support?
A. 100 Mbps
B. 1 Gbps
C. 10 Gbps
D. 20 Gbps
B. Cat 5e cable can support speeds of 1 Gbps. Cat 5 has a maximum of 100 Mbps. Cat
6 and newer can support 10 Gbps. Cat 8 cabling can support speeds around 40 Gbps,
but only for short distances. To run at a given speed, all components of the network must
support that speed, including NICs, cable, routers, and switches.
You are replacing cabling in a network. The existing cable was only capable of 100 Mbps
maximum speed. What type of cable are you replacing?
A. Cat 5
B. Cat 5e
C. Cat 6a
D. Single mode
A. Cat 5 UTP can transmit data at speeds up to 100 Mbps, for a distance of 100 meters.
Cat 5e is capable of 1 Gbps. Cat 6 and newer can support 10 Gbps. Single mode is a type
of fiber- optic cable and is very fast.
You are installing UTP network cable for a client. The client’s policies require that net-
work cables do not produce poisonous gas when burned. What type of cable do you need
to install?
A. Plenum
B. PVC
C. STP
D. Cat 5e or higher
A. Most network cables are coated with a plastic PVC coating, which produces toxic gas
when burned. Plenum- rated cables are coated with a Teflon- like material that is not poi-
sonous when burned.
You are trying to replace a hard drive in an older system. The connector has 68 pins, along
two rows. You believe from the printing on the motherboard that it is a 16- bit connection.
What type of drive do you have to replace?
A. SATA
B. ATA
C. SCSI
D. NVMe
C. The 16- bit SCSI drives were connected by a Molex type connector, two rows of pins,
totaling 68 pins.
A technician has a tablet whose documentation says it can connect to an HDMI display.
However, the tablet has a port far smaller than HDMI. What type of video connection
would be typical for this small form factor device?
A. USB- C
B. RS- 232
C. DB- 9
D. Mini- HDMI
D. On small form factor devices like tablets, the video- out connector is the small version of
HDMI: mini- HDMI. It resembles a USB-C but is still tapered on only one side. To connect
to an HDMI display, you would need a mini- HDMI- to- HDMI adapter.
What was the connectivity port/cable end Apple used to replace the 30- pin dock connector
beginning in 2012?
A. RS- 232
B. Mini- HDMI
C. Micro- USB
D. Lightning
D. Lightning was introduced in autumn 2012 and still works on the Apple 13, released
in 2021. RS- 232 is a type of serial connection that dates back to 1960. Mini- HDMI is a
smaller version of HDMI for smaller devices and will require a mini- HDMI- to- HDMI
adapter to plug in a display. MicroUSB is a type of USB connector that was popular
for a time.
With what connection standard is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable fully compatible?
A. USB- C
B. Mini- HDMI
C. Micro- USB
D. DB9
A. Thunderbolt 3 cables work as USB- C cables and are fully compatible. Thunderbolt 3 are
capable of transferring at 40 Gbps, but USB 3.1 (on USB- C) can only reach 10 Gbps. USB4
is able to reach 40 Gbps.
Which of the following connection types can be inserted or first flipped over and inserted?
A. DB9
B. RS232
C. Micro- USB
D. USB- C
D. USB- C is the only one of these that can be inserted correctly both as you try the first
time or flip over and try again. Micro- USB resembles USB- C but it is not “flippable”—o ne
edge is slightly tapered. DB9 and RS232 are legacy serial connectors.
What serial connector type was commonly used for communication, keyboards, mice, or
game controllers before USB became popular?
A. SCSI
B. PS/2
C. DB9
D. Lightning
C. DB9 was the “D” format, 9- pin serial connector type that was the standard format for
keyboards, mice, and other small peripherals. It was also used for communications between
a PC and some managed switches. Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) is a type of
drive connector and technology that would allow up to 15 drives on one daisy chain. The
PS/2 connector, also called a mini- DIN, is newer than a DB9 connector but older than USB.
It has 6 pins and was used for connecting mice (color- coded green) and keyboards (color-
coded purple). Lightning connectors are used on Apple devices.
Which of the following does not apply with triple channel memory?
A. Triple the 64- bit communication path to the CPU
B. Triple the speed with which memory is accessed
C. Requires installation of three matched memory modules
D. Triple the memory access latency
D. Triple channel memory is achieved when three matching memory modules are installed,
permitting data to be spread and memory accessed simultaneously. The effect is lower
memory latency, triple the access speed (compared to single channel), and triple the 64- bit
communication path.
What form factor for solid-s tate hard drives measures 22 mm wide with lengths varying
between 30 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, and longer?
A. NVMe
B. SATA
C. PCIe
D. M.2
D. M.2 is a solid-s tate hard drive form factor, measuring 22 mm wide. Its lengths vary
between 30 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, and 120 mm. NVMe is a storage protocol, not
a form factor. Many M.2 drives use the NVMe protocol. SATA and PCIe are bus interface
standards found on a motherboard.
What form factor for solid- state hard drives has dimensions that mirror the older, platter-
type magnetic drives?
A. M.2
B. mSATA
C. 2.5″
D. NVMe
C. Solid- state drives (SSDs) come in multiple form factors, such as a “stick” resembling a
memory module (M.2) or a 2.5″ box housed in metal. SSDs also come in 3.5″ form factor.
M.2 and mSATA are form factors for SSDs. NVMe is a protocol for storing data that is
commonly used with M.2 drives, although M.2 drives can also use the older Advanced
Host Controller Interface (AHCI).
You want to connect a 3.5″ external hard drive to your computer. What port is used to con-
nect external drives to the SATA bus?
A. NVMe
B. eSATA
C. M.2
D. mSATA
B. eSATA is external SATA, a type of connector for external SATA drives. Nonvolatile
Memory Express (NVMe) is a protocol and communications interface designed to connect
small SSD storage to the PCIe bus of a motherboard. The Advanced Host Controller Inter-
face (AHCI) technology preceded NVMe, and was much slower. M.2 and mSATA are form
factors for SSDs that connect directly to a motherboard. An mSATA drive looks similar to
M.2, but the connectors are slightly different and mSATA only connects to the slower SATA
bus using AHCI technology. M.2 drives can be either NVMe or AHCI, so checking docu-
mentation is important.
You wish to protect your system from someone not authorized to start the OS. What is
your best option?
A. Password- protect the locked screen.
B. Password- protect in the BIOS/UEFI settings.
C. Encrypt the hard drive.
D. Use a 12- character login password.
B. The system BIOS/UEFI settings include password protection to not allow system bootup
unless someone enters a password. This would prohibit the OS from loading upon boot.
What is used to ensure an efficient and effective heat exchange away from the CPU?
A. Thermal paste
B. High- tension clamps to heat sink
C. Dihydrogen monoxide coolant
D. Lower CPU speeds
A. Thermal paste is like a grease that ensures that the heat generated from the CPU is effi-
ciently conducted away and into the heat sink. New coolers (fan/heat sink combinations)
often come with thermal pads (paste) preinstalled. Lowering the CPU speed might result in
less heat generated, but it would obviously also result in degraded performance.
If you require more USB ports than your system can provide, what is your most cost-
effective option?
A. Install a USB expansion card.
B. Swap peripherals for those requiring different connectors.
C. Replace the motherboard for one with additional USB ports.
D. Swap out peripherals as you use them.
A. A USB expansion card would utilize an expansion slot on the motherboard to provide
two to four additional USB ports. Not included as an option, but a USB hub is a cost-
effective fix as well, and some will provide additional power for USB- powered devices.
What technology allows you to generate a tangible product from a computer- aided drafting
application?
A. Smartcard reader
B. 3D printer
C. Touchpad
D. VR headset
B. The 3D printer can be attached locally or, if allowed by the manufacturer, accessible
by shared network. There are many different methods and materials used for 3D printing,
but the CompTIA A+ objectives want you to know about the following two of them. 3D
printers use either an extruder and filament to create a 3D object by heating the plastic fila-
ment and extruding one layer at a time through a nozzle as the nozzle and print bed move,
or they use a vat of resin that is hardened with a laser, then the excess resin washed away
leaving the 3D object. A smartcard reader is used to integrate smartcards as an authentica-
tion factor for your system. A touchpad coupled with finger movement on it can be used to
replace mouse input. A VR headset is used for experiencing virtual reality.
You need to purchase RAM for a computer. Which factors determine the speed of memory
you should purchase? (Choose two.)
A. CPU speed
B. RAM speed supported by the motherboard
C. RAM speed supported by the processor
D. RAM speed supported by the TPM chip
B, C. The speed of RAM that a computer can use is limited by the speed of the mother-
board’s memory bus and the speed of RAM supported by the processor, especially now that
the memory controller is part of the processor. Even if faster RAM is purchased, it will run
at the slower speed of the memory bus or what the processor supports.
You installed a new motherboard because the previous one failed. Your new motherboard
doesn’t have a VGA display port; it has onboard HDMI. Your display only uses VGA. What
is the least expensive option to resolve this dilemma?
A. Purchase a new display.
B. Return the motherboard and choose a different one.
C. Purchase a video card with a VGA port on it.
D. Purchase an HDMI- to- VGA adapter.
D. Although the more fun answer is to purchase a new display, the question asks what
would be the least expensive, and that is to purchase an HDMI- to- VGA adapter. There are
adapters for almost everything on a computer system, so in a case like this, that would be
the quickest and least expensive solution.
What type of printer will most likely have an extruder as one of its components?
A. 3D printer
B. Impact
C. Thermal
D. Laser
A. There are several types of 3D printers. Material extrusion printers work by pushing
material through a nozzle as the nozzle and possibly a print bed move to place the material.
The materials used are as diverse as plastic, metal, and human tissue. Vat polymerization
3D printers use a light source to harden resin in a vat. When the liquid is drained away, the
Your company owns a 3D printer and has asked you to order the consumable materials
for it. It is an extrusion type printer that is used to make small plastic parts. What is the
material called that you’ll order for it?
A. Toner
B. Ink
C. Filament
D. Resin
C. Extrusion type 3D printers heat material called filament from a roll and force it through
a narrow nozzle while the nozzle is moved to the appropriate spot to build an object layer
by layer. Filament is available in different thickness and characteristics, so it’s important to
verify exactly what type of filament the printer uses before ordering it.
You’ve been asked to replace some UTP network cable with other UTP cable that is capable
of 10 Gbps. The longest drop is 75 meters from the network rack. What is the lowest cate-
gory of cable that can meet your needs?
A. Cat 5
B. Cat 5e
C. Cat 6
D. Cat 6a
D. Cat 6 and newer can support 10 Gbps, but Cat 6 can only go 55 meters at 10 Gbps.
To go 100 meters you’ll need Cat 6a. Cat 5e’s top speed is 1 Gbps, and Cat 5 is only
100 Mbps.
You need to update a twisted pair cable that runs between two networking closets. The
total distance is only 20 meters, and it needs to run at 10 Gbps. What is the lowest category
of cable that you can replace it with?
A. Cat 6
B. Cat 6a
C. Cat 7
D. Cat 8
A. Category 6 cable will work for the implementation described. It is capable of 10 Gbps
but only for a distance of 55 meters. Category 6a can go 100 meters at 10 Gbps. Cat 7
is not an IEEE standard, nor is it approved by TIA/EIA, and it doesn’t use a standard
RJ45 connector. Cat 8 is IEEE approved; it can support 10 Gbps over 100 meters and can
support 40 GBps, but only over very short distances (24 meters), which makes it good for
things like a storage area network (SAN). Cat 7 and Cat 8 are not on the CompTIA A+
objectives this time, so don’t spend too much time on them right now.
Your friend wants to run cable for a PoE WAP in their workshop, which is about 100
feet from the network connection in their house. They’re not sure how to go about it, but
they know that they don’t want to have wires overhead. They also want to make sure it is
shielded. What type of cable can you suggest that can go that far and has superior insula-
tion and a water blocking layer?
A. Cat 7
B. Direct burial STP
C. UTP Cat 10
D. Cat 6e
B. Direct burial cable is made to go underground without any kind of conduit around it.
The coating is made to be waterproof and block moisture vapor as well. A good cable will
also protect against degradation from sunlight.
What are advantages of UTP over STP? (Choose two.)
A. UTP is more flexible.
B. UTP can run faster.
C. UTP can be buried.
D. UTP is less expensive.
A, D. Shielded twisted pair (STP) has at least one extra layer of shielding to protect the
cable from crosstalk and interference. Some types of STP have shielding around each
wire. With all the extra material, STP tends to be less flexible and more expensive than
unshielded twisted pair (UTP). Being shielded or unshielded doesn’t affect the maximum
transmission speed of a cable, and UTP is not suitable for direct burial.
What type of network cable uses pulses of light to transmit data instead of an
electrical charge?
A. STP
B. Coaxial
C. Plenum
D. Fiber- optic
D. Only fiber- optic cables use pulses of light to transmit data. The other three listed are
types of copper cable that use electrical charges to transmit data signals.
What type of data cable transmits data only one bit at a time, but very fast?
A. Plenum
B. Serial
C. Parallel
D. Ethereal
B. Data transmissions can be parallel, meaning multiple bits at the same time in parallel
with each other, or they can be serial, meaning only one bit at a time. It would seem that
parallel transmissions should be faster, but they aren’t. In fact, modern peripheral and hard
drive cables all send data in series.
You have a motherboard that has 16 RAM slots. It is a quad- channel, with four RAM
slots for each channel. The slots are all black, but they are labeled A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2,
B3, B4, and so on. To take advantage of the quad- channel feature, how will you install the
RAM modules?
A. Any four slots will work for quad channel.
B. Install them all in the “A” slots.
C. Install them in A1, B2, C3, and D4.
D. Install them in A1, B1, C1, and D1.
D. Typically in a motherboard with multichannel support, the channels will be labeled
with a letter (A, B, C, D). To take advantage of the multichannel capabilities, you would
install one RAM module in each channel. Lowest numbered slots are usually filled first, so
you would use slot 1 (or zero, if numbering started there) of each channel. You should, of
course, always consult the motherboard documentation.
You’ve maxed out the physical RAM on a motherboard but need more to run a particular
app. The operating system will let you adjust a setting so that you can use some of the hard
drive as if it were physical RAM, and the OS will swap data between RAM and the hard
drive in a unit called a page. What type of memory are you using?
A. Virtual
B. DIMM
C. SODIMM
D. Cache
A. A part of the hard disk drive (or SDD) being used as if it was RAM is known as virtual
memory. Virtual memory works by moving a chunk of information, called a page, to a
file named pagefile.sys. pagefile.sys is literally the file on the hard drive where
information in virtual memory is stored. Because of this, virtual memory is sometimes
called the page file or paging file. It isn’t as fast to access as actual RAM, but it will allow
some programs to run that wouldn’t otherwise. DIMMs and SODIMMs and Cache are
types of physical memory. DIMMs are used in desktop computers, SODIMMs are used in
laptops, and cache resides on the processor die.
What is the purpose of a Molex connector?
A. Parallel data communications
B. Serial data communications
C. Power connections
D. Fan connectors on the motherboard
C. Molex connectors have a metal sleeve inside a plastic housing. Technically they can
come in any number of connections but those used most often in computer systems are 4
pin, 6 pin, 8 pin, and 20/24 pin. They are used to provide power to various devices and the
motherboard.
You have an extruder type 3D printer. What two components of the printer are likely to
move as the print job progresses? (Choose two.)
A. Extruder nozzle
B. Print bed
C. Platform
D. Resin tray
A, B. In many extruder type 3D printers, the print bed will move down as the print job
progresses and may move front to back during the printing of each layer, while the extruder
nozzle moves left to right, building the 3D object one layer at a time.
What type of drive is likely to be a 15,000 rpm drive?
A. NVMe
B. SSD
C. Blu- ray
D. Magnetic
D. NVMe and SSD drives don’t have platters that spin. Blu- ray optical discs spin, but their
spin speed is not how they are measured. Only magnetic drives are measured in rpms, and
15,000 would be a very fast magnetic drive.
What type of hard drives are not available in a 3.5″ form factor?
A. SSD
B. mSATA
C. SATA
D. Magnetic
B. SSDs and magnetic drives can both be found in the 3.5″ form factor that is used in
desktop computers, and often they connect via a SATA interface. mSATA and M.2 are
solid- state drives consisting of a very small circuit board that connects directly to the moth-
erboard via a slot with a screw or connector to hold it in place.
What keys are used for M.2 slots? (Choose two.)
A. A
B. B
C. E
D. M
B, D. M.2 drives are keyed with B or M or B+M keys. A and E keys are for Wi- Fi, Blue-
tooth, or cellular devices such as networking cards found in laptops. In computers, a key
is a device such as a notch, an indent on a circuit board, that ensures you can’t plug the
wrong type of device into something. Power connectors are keyed by shape, RAM modules
are keyed with notches in different places, CPUs will have keys, SATA connectors have an L
shape for a key, and M.2 drives are keyed as well. In an M.2, a B key is for PCIe x 2/SATA/
USB and so on, and an M key is PCIe x4/SATA.
Which version of SATA ties SATA drives into the PCIe bus on the motherboard, boosting
the data throughput far beyond 600 MBps?
A. SATA 1
B. SATA 2
C. SATA 3.2
D. SATA 4
C. SATA 3 had a speed of 6 Gbps and a data throughput of 600 MBps, but SATA 3.2 (also
called SATAe) ties compatible drives into the PCIe bus on the motherboard, decreasing
overhead and taking advantage of the PCIe bus speeds which makes the data throughput
multiple times better.
Which of the following are AMD socket types? (Choose two.)
A. Socket AM4
B. LGA 1200
C. Socket TR4
D. LGA 2066 Socket R4
A, C. Socket AM4 and Socket TR4 are only compatible with AMD processors. The two
LGA sockets listed are for use with Intel processors only.
A server motherboard has a processor on the right and a place for a second
processor to be inserted on the left. What term describes this type of motherboard?
A. Multicore
B. Multithreaded
C. Coprocessor
D. Multisocket
D. This is a multisocket motherboard, meaning that it has sockets for more than one pro-
cessor. The other three terms describe characteristics of processors. Multicore is more than
one core on a die. Multithreaded means each core can perform more than one string of
code at a time, and a coprocessor is usually a chip designed to perform a specific function
to help a processor be more efficient.
What type of motherboard may have multiple processors and plenty of RAM, and can
sometimes be found mounted in a networking rack?
A. Server
B. Workstation
C. Desktop
D. Mobile
A. Servers often perform more work than any other computer on a network, especially in
a virtualization environment. A server could be as simple as an ordinary desktop computer,
but more often the server will have extra processing power and loads of RAM, and be
rack- mounted for easy access by technicians in a corporate environment.
Which of the following processors are you more likely to find in a server than a worksta-
tion? (Choose two.)
A. Intel Atom
B. Intel Xeon
C. AMD EPYC
D. AMD Ryzen 3
B, C. Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC processors are designed to be high- end server proces-
sors. The Atom processor is a small form factor processor, and the Ryzen 3 is a desktop
processor.
What type of motherboard is designed to be very compact and is generally proprietary?
A. Server
B. Workstation
C. Desktop
D. Mobile
D. Motherboards found in smaller devices such as laptops and cell phones tend to be very
proprietary, meaning that if you can replace them, you must replace them with a board
made by the same manufacturer for that precise device.
Which of the following are true about ARM architecture? (Choose two.)
A. It’s licensed by ARM Holdings to many chip manufacturers.
B. It uses Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC).
C. It uses Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC).
D. It is only found in smartphones.
A, C. Arm Holdings, LTD. is the company that has developed the nine iterations of ARM
processors. ARM is famous for developing Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC),
and their intellectual property can be found in everything from embedded systems and
smartphones all the way up to servers. An ARM processor is considered a SoC (system- on-
a- chip) rather than a CPU because processors are built with various features around the
ARM processor.
You work in a secure environment and it’s your responsibility to ensure that no data leaves
the network. You’ve just received a batch of new computers in. What can you do in the
UEFI to help ensure users can’t copy data to a USB drive?
A. Look for a setting to disable USB ports and disable them.
B. Put USB ports first in the boot options.
C. Remove USB from the boot options.
D. Look for a setting to enable USB ports and enable them.
A. If you disable the USB ports, a user won’t be able to attach a USB drive to copy files.
Removing USB from the boot options will keep them from booting to it, but it won’t pro-
hibit someone from using a USB drive. You can also purchase USB drive locks, which are
little plugs for the USB ports. Just don’t lose your key!
You’re building a SAN for your company. Which of the following will you most likely need
to install in your server to attach the server to the SAN?
A. NIC
B. Modem
C. Fibre Channel HBA
D. WAP
C. A SAN (storage area network) is a separate network that has only storage devices on it,
but you still need a way to connect to that storage. Connecting can be done through a host
bus adapter (HBA) connected through the PCIe bus on a network server’s motherboard.
Since Fibre Channel (FC) networks are so fast, they are often used for SANs.
Your friend is looking over your shoulder as you work on a computer. They ask what all
the pins sticking up are. Some are labeled USB1, some USB2, and others are labeled front
panel. What is the generic term for these pins on the motherboard?
A. Ports
B. Pins
C. Standoffs
D. Headers
D. These pins are called headers. The ones mentioned connect the motherboard to the case
front, where you will find USB ports, power buttons, HDD status lights, and reset switches.
What type of CPU is considered long obsolete?
A. Single- core
B. Multicore
C. ARM
D. Intel
A. All modern CPUs are multicore processors, meaning they have more than one processor
on a die and can execute at least four threads at a time. ARM is a processor architecture
used in many devices, and Intel is a processor manufacturer.
You need a PC solution that is capable of accepting video footage from a gaming console
or video camera and saving it in a file. You also want to ensure that it won’t skip, lag, or
freeze. Which of the following would be the best solution?
A. Webcam
B. FireWire card
C. Capture card
D. Screen- capture software
C. A webcam would be very inefficient and difficult solution at best, and FireWire would
not be fast enough for today’s systems. While screen- capture software might work, the best
solution would be to install a capture card either as a discrete (external) unit or in a PCIe
slot on a motherboard. The capture card can take some of the workload off the processor,
making the video less likely to skip, lag, or freeze.
A business has a PC that a user needs to work with in a room that is not air- conditioned,
but the computer keeps shutting down because the processor is overheating. You’ve
checked the cooler and thermal paste and it’s fine. What can you do in this PC to help it run
cool enough?
A. Add case fans.
B. Add heat monitoring software.
C. Remove the chassis cover.
D. Set it inside a refrigerator.
A. Adding case fans can draw excess heat out of a case, and cooler air into the case. Most
processors won’t shut down until they reach 70 to 100 degrees Celsius (158 to 212 degrees
Fahrenheit), so if a person is working in that room, the ambient temperature won’t be that
high. Heat monitoring software lets you see what’s going on but won’t help cool the case.
Removing the chassis cover subjects the computer to debris and dust that can cause other
problems, and a refrigerator is likely to cause condensation, which can short out electrical
systems. Adding case fans is the best choice given. Using a water- cooled system or adding a
bigger heat sink to the processor might also help.
You are replacing the power supply in a computer system that uses a 24- pin P1 connector.
You have a few power supplies in the closet to choose from. Which one with the following
connections will work? (Choose two.)
A. 20- pin P1 connector and P4 connector
B. 20- pin+4- pin P1 connector
C. An ATX12V PSU
D. An ATX12VO power supply
B, C. Some power supplies will have a 20-p in+4- pin connector designed to connect to a
24- pin P1 motherboard connector. An ATX12V PSU is the perfect solution. A 20- pin P1
connector plus a P4 connector is the right number of pins, but the P4 connector is not com-
patible with the main motherboard power. ATX12VO is a 12 volt only connector that has
only 10 pins and that would not be compatible with this motherboard, unless it had other
connections.
You’re considering a power supply that has interchangeable cables that plug into and out of
the power supply so that you can have exactly the connectors you need and not have extra
cables taking up space in the case. What type of power supply is this?
A. ATX
B. ATX12V
C. Molex
D. Modular
D. A modular power supply allows you to use only the connectors you need by plugging
and unplugging compatible cables into the PSU.
You’re setting up a server that can’t possibly have downtime. Which of the items below do
you need to make sure you have connected to it?
A. HBA
B. Redundant power supply
C. Display
D. Dual rail power supply
B. If you have a system that can’t have any downtime, then you need to have redundant
everything. An HBA is a host bus adapter, which you only need if connecting external
devices. A display doesn’t have anything to do with redundancy. A dual rail power
supply can still fail. For this situation you would want redundant power supplies that are
hot- swappable.
Your new tech is unboxing a new printer and you see them open the top and flip the box
upside- down, then pull the box off the printer. What will you say? (Choose two.)
A. Great job, that’s exactly how I would do it.
B. That’s not the right way to unbox a printer.
C. It’s better to lay the box on its side and pull the materials out.
D. Please use a box cutter next time to cut the corners from top to bottom.
B, C. Whenever you get new equipment for the first time, the best choice is to check for
manufacturer’s directions. Lacking those, flipping a printer over and pulling the box off
of the printer may cause damage before you’ve even set it up! The best course of action is
to slide the contents gently out of the box. Using box cutters could damage the printer or
its cables.
You just purchased a network-e nabled multifunction device. Which one of the following
connection types are likely not built into it?
A. Bluetooth
B. Wi- Fi
C. Ethernet
D. RFID
D. Most modern network- enabled multifunction devices will have Bluetooth, Wi- Fi, and
Ethernet connections. They may also have AirPrint support for Apple devices. They are
not likely to have RFID as a connection type, although they may have an RFID reader for
secure print job authentication.
You have a client that wants to use carbonless, multipart forms with their new printer.
What type of printer will you recommend for them?
A. Laser
B. Inkjet
C. Impact
D. Thermal
C. The only type of printer that will print on all copies of multipart forms is an impact
printer, usually a dot-m atrix. It’s the only type of printer listed that makes a mark by phys-
ically striking the paper. These multipart forms are sometimes called NCR (No Carbon
Required) or carbonless multipart forms. The back of each page, except the last one, will
have a coating of microencapsulated ink or dye that produces an image when it is pressed
or written on.
The administrative assistant at your company needs to be able to choose between printing
on letterhead or plain paper for each print job. You’re training them how to do this. What
settings will you be showing them?
A. Orientation
B. Duplexing
C. Quality
D. Tray settings
D. If you have a printer with multiple trays, normally when you print there will be a setting
that allows you to choose which tray to print from. Letterhead can be in one tray and plain
paper in another. Orientation is whether the paper is printed in the taller or wider direction.
Duplexing means printing on both sides, and quality settings let the user choose either
faster or better printing.
Which types of printers require calibration as a part of maintenance? (Choose two.)
A. Laser
B. Thermal
C. Impact
D. Inkjet
A, D. Both laser and inkjet printers occasionally need to be calibrated. Exactly when
depends on the printer, but often for inkjet printers it’s after installing a new ink cartridge,
and for laser printers, when you need to adjust colors.
What printer feature will store documents on the printer and not print them until the user
enters a password or scans an ID card on the print device?
A. Secured prints
B. Snap prints
C. User authentication
D. Auditing
A. Secured prints is the feature described. Secure print jobs are retrieved at the device
based on user authentication by using either a password or a security badge, depending on
the printer. Auditing won’t prevent attacks, but it will show you when the printer is being
accessed and by whom, much like Event Viewer. Other security features might include
removable hard drives with the printer, overwriting documents following DoD (Department
of Defense) requirements, and data encryption.
What type of connectivity device is used to terminate network runs in a telecommunications
closet?
A. Punchdown block
B. Switch
C. Router
D. Terminator
A. A punchdown block can be found in a telecommunications closet mounted on a net-
working rack. Network drops from work areas are terminated (punched down) in the
back, and cables with RJ- 45 connectors connect the front to a switch or router. Punchdown
blocks provide a neat way to keep cables organized. Switches and routers are network con-
nectivity devices. A terminator is another name for a terminating resistor, which is some-
times needed at the end of a length of coaxial cable.
What two consumable materials are used by 3D printers? (Choose two.)
A. Resin
B. Paper
C. Filament
D. Extruder nozzle
A, C. Resin and filament are the consumable materials used by 3D printers to make the 3D
objects. The extruder nozzle will often last the life of the printer. There may be a tape or
base material that lines the print bed that is also replaced for each new print job so that the
print job can be easily removed from the print bed.
What are three communication interfaces that are used by SSDs to send data across a moth-
erboard? (Choose three.)
A. NVMe
B. SATA
C. PCIe
D. IDE
A, B, C. Nonvolatile Memory Express (NVMe), SATA, and PCIe are all communication
methods used by solid- state drives to connect to the motherboard for transferring data
between the drive and CPU. IDE is a legacy connection technology that was used with the
original ATA drives, parallel ATA (PATA).
What is the (approximate) maximum theoretical bandwidth of a PCIe x16 slot, version 5.0?
A. 500 MBps
B. 1,000 MBps
C. 64 GBps
D. 128 GBps
C. There are five major versions of PCIe currently specified: 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. For
the five versions, a single bidirectional lane operates at a data rate of 250 MBps, 500 MBps,
approximately 1 GBps, roughly 2 GBps, and nearly 4 GBps respectively. Each PCIe slot can
have up to 16 lanes, the number of lanes being indicated by x1, x4, x8, x16. (The x is pro-
nounced as by.) Therefore, a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot can support up to 64 GBps of bandwidth.
(16 x 4 = 64).
