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CompTia A+ 1101 > Computer Hardware > Flashcards

Computer Hardware Flashcards

1
Q

15 Pin, D-Shaped pin that transmits ANALOG video

A

VGA; Video Graphics Array

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2
Q

Transmits digital video & audio; often used to connect home theater equipment.

A

HDMI; High-Definition Multimedia Interface

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3
Q

Transmit digital audio & audio. Replacing DVI/ VGA on personal computers.

A

Display Port

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4
Q

Transmits digital OR analog video.

A

DVI; Digital Visual Interface

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5
Q

Transmits video, data & power on same port & cable. Popular w/ APPLE computers.

A

ThunderBolt 3

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6
Q

Connects to external home theater providing digital audio output & BEST sound quality.

A

S/PDIF; Sony/Philips Digital Interface

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7
Q

Connects dial-up phone lines to computers.

A

RJ-11; Registered Jack/ Modem port

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8
Q

Connects to wired networks w/ network cable.

A

RJ-45; Registered Jack/ Ethernet/ Network port

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9
Q

Largest & most important circuit board in computer.

A

Motherboard; “Heart”

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10
Q

Processes data & instructions for entire system.

A

CPU; Central processing unit/ “Brain”

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11
Q

Has metal fins that draws heat away.

A

Heat Sink

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12
Q

Circuit board that provides more ports than those provided.

A

Expansion/ Adapter Card

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13
Q

Ports coming off the motherboard.

A

Onboard Ports

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14
Q

Memory slot HOLDERS on motherboard.

A

DIMM; Dual In-line Memory Modules

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15
Q

Temporary storage for data & instructions processed by CPU.

A

Random Access

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16
Q

Permanent storage that holds data & programs (operating system & apps)

A

HDD; HARD DISK DRIVE

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17
Q

Receives & converts house current to AC/DC for components to use.

A

Power Supply

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18
Q

Dual- Voltage selector switch on back of case.

A

115V / 230V

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19
Q

Describes the size, shape, screw hole positions & major features OF computer case, power supply & motherboard.

A

Form factors “Atx”

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20
Q

Most common motherboard form factor used?

A

ATX; Advanced Technology eXtended

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21
Q

Power supply connector pins used on most motherboards?

A

24-Pins

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22
Q

Newer motherboards use:

A

8-Pin 12V connector (Provides extra 12V power to processor)

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23
Q

4-Pin power connector:

A

Molex; Pata/ IDE

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24
Q

Pins used for SATA power connector?

A

15 Pins

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25
Q

High-End PCI Express video card use how many Pins?
Peripheral Component Interconnect

A

6 or 8 Pins

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26
Q

Allows for smaller case size & reduces # of expansion slots. *Which reduces power supplied to board.

A

Micro- ATX; 9.6×9.6 (244mm×244mm)

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27
Q

Connector w/ pins that stick UP from motherboard?

A

Header

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28
Q

Wires leading from front of case to motherboard?

A

Front Panel Connectors

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29
Q

Round plastic/ metal pegs that separate motherboard from case?

A

Stand-Offs

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30
Q

Discovers & reports computer errors & conflicts when 1st turned on? *Before operating system starts.

A

POST; Power On Self Test CARD

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31
Q

Programs & data stored on motherboard:

A

Firmware

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32
Q

Example of firmware:

A

Bios/ Uefi; Basic Input/Output System - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

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33
Q

Routine that tests motherboard, memory, disk controllers, video, keyboard & other system hardware when 1st turning computer on?

A

POST; Power On Self Test

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34
Q

Measures output of each connector coming from power supply?

A

Power-Supply tester

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35
Q

Measures several characteristics of electricity in a variety of devices?
Voltage, Current, Resistance & Continuity

A

Multimeter

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36
Q

Fastest connection standard for hard, optical & tape drives?

A

SATA; Serial ATA

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37
Q

Connector that controls power to the motherboard & must be connected for PC to power up.

A

Power Switch ;SW

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38
Q

Drive activity light on front panel that lights up when SATA/ IDE is in use.

A

HDD LED

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39
Q

Controls power light & shows power is on.

A

Power LED+

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40
Q

Connector that is used to reboot computer.

A

Reset Switch; SW

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41
Q

Connects to a local wired network.
If laptop has failed/ missing network port

A

USB to Rj-45 dongle

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42
Q

Connects a laptop that doesn’t have wireless capability to a wireless network.

A

USB to Wi-Fi dongle

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43
Q

Local wireless network defined by IEEE 802.11?
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

A

Wi-Fi; Wireless fidelity

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44
Q

Cellular networks have cells controlled by towers called?

A

Base Stations

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45
Q

Uses radio waves to exchange data over short distances by connecting 2 devices in a small PAN?

A

Bluetooth

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46
Q

Provides ports to allow laptops to connect to full sized monitors, keyboards, AC power adapters etc?

A

Docking Station

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47
Q

Provides ports to allow laptops to connect to Peripheral devices (external monitor, projector, network, printer & keyboard, mouse/ speakers)

A

Port Replicator

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48
Q

Laptop warranties last for?

A

1 year

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49
Q

Opening case of laptop will:

A

Void warranty

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50
Q

Connector that requires little force insertion?

A

ZIF; Zero Insertion Force

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51
Q

Form Factor Dimensions:
Mini ITX
Micro ATX
ATX Full
Extended ATX

A

6.7×6.7 (170mm×170mm)
9.6×9.6 (244mm×244mm)
12×9.6 (305mm×244mm)
12×13 (305mm×330mm)

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52
Q

Set of chips that work closely with the processor to control memory, buses on motherboard & peripherals.

A

Chipset

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53
Q

Rectangular connector w/ pins & pads & mechanisms to hold CPU in place on the motherboard:

A

Socket

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54
Q

What on the motherboard determines what processors a board can supply?

A

Chipset & Socket

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55
Q

2 major chipset & processor manufacturers?

A

AMD & Intel

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56
Q

Blunt pins that project up that connects to bottom of processor?

A

LGA; Land Grid Array

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57
Q

Socket that has a lever to lift processor out of socket?

A

Zero insertion force

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58
Q

AMD call it’s high core count microprocessors that deliver high performance & greater efficiency @ high clock speeds? Part of AMD Ryzen high end processors

A

Theadripper

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59
Q

Older AMD processors used what socket with uniformed holes around socket?

A

PGA; Pin Grid Array

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60
Q

Circuits & paths on bottom of motherboard that enabled data, instructions & timing signals & power are called?

A

Traces

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61
Q

Pathways used for communication on motherboard that carried data, instructions & power is called?

A

Bus

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62
Q

Set of rules & standards for 2 entities communicating.

A

Protocol

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63
Q

Computer bus attached to motherboard using 32-Bit or 64-Bit data path & slots transferring @ 500Mb per second?

A

PCI; Peripheral Component Interconnect

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64
Q

PCI Express cards ×1, ×4, ×8, ×16 represent?

A

Lanes for data

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65
Q

PCIe slot transmitting the most data?

A

PCIe ×16

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66
Q

Ports coming off motherboard are called?

A

Onboard ports/ Integrated components

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67
Q

Plate for I/O ports on computer case?

A

I/O shield

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68
Q

Interface used by storage devices in servers & workstations?

A

SAS; Serial Attached SCSI-
Small computer system interface

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69
Q

Connector that uses PCIe, USB or SATA interface to connect a mini add-on to motherboard?

A

M.2

70
Q

Connects a cable from motherboard to USB ports on front of computer case?

A

USB headers

71
Q

Command to launch system info?

A

Msinfo32.exe

72
Q

Firmware on motherboard used to enable/ disable a connector, port or component. Controls frequency of CPU; manages security features, controls 1st boots, monitor & logs various activities on board.

A

Bios/Uefi; Basic Input/Output System Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

73
Q

Partitioning method for 4 TB hard drive?

A

GPT; Guid partition table

74
Q

Uefi features that prevent a system from booting w/ drivers or OS not digitally signed & trusted by motherboard/ computer manufacturer?

A

Secure Boot

75
Q

Predicts when hard drive is likely to fail?

A

S.M.A.R.T; Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology

76
Q

Where to go to change boot priority order & enable/ disable onboard devices?

A

Bios/ Uefi SetUp; Basic Input/Output System - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

77
Q

Programming contained in the Bios/Uefi code on motherboard to start up computer & search for server on network to provide a bookable OS?

A

PXE; Preboot Execution Environment

78
Q

Digital signature that belongs to motherboard/ computer manufacturer?
Authorizes turning secure boot on/off & updating KEK database

A

Platform Key; PK

79
Q

Bios/Uefi setting enables you to charge a USB device even while computer is off?

A

USB power share

80
Q

Running a processor, memory, motherboard, or video card @ higher speed than manufacturer recommends?

A

Over-Clocking

81
Q

Bit locker encryption chip that secures hard drive?

A

TPM chip; Trusted Platform Module

82
Q

Expansion card/ external device installed to a workstation/ server for encryption for hard drive?

A

HSM; Hardware Security Module

83
Q

Boot authentication that’s the most secure?

A

Full Disk Encryption

84
Q

Physical computer using software to create multiple virtual computers?

A

Virtualization

85
Q

Physical computer assigned virtual devices like virtual motherboard/ hard drive?

A

Virtual Machine; VM

86
Q

Small programs stored on hard drive that an OS uses to communicate w/ specific hardware devices?

A

Device drivers

87
Q

Remedy for system hanging @ odd times/ during boot?

A

Flash the Bios

88
Q

Before updating bios firmware you should?

A

“Back up” data on USB flash drive

89
Q

If bios/uefi update is interrupted or update creates errors you can?

A

Back flash

90
Q

2 small posts/ metal pins that stick UP on motherboard used to configure info?

A

Jumper

91
Q

Speed @ which processor operates internally & measured in Gigahertz?

A

Frequency

92
Q

Space between transistors printed on surface of silicone chip?

A

Processer “Lithography”

93
Q

2 processing units installed within a single processor executing 2 instructions @ a time?

A

Multiprocessing

94
Q

OS hands off a task to CPU is called? Might involve instructions

A

Thread

95
Q

Which Intel chips feature allow single processor to run threads in parallel?

A

Hyper- Threading

96
Q

Processor feature AMD calls Hyper- Transport?

A

Multithreading

97
Q

What Processor housing contains 2 or more processor cores that operate @ same frequency but independently of each other?

A

Multi-Core processing

98
Q

of Threads of quad- core processor?

A

4

99
Q

More than 1 processor on a motherboard creates?

A

Multiprocessor Platform/ Dual processor

100
Q

Processor memory located on processor chip/ die?

A

Level 1 Cache

101
Q

Memory in processor package but NOT on processor die?

A

Level 2 Cache

102
Q

Memory cache contained within processor housing?
Can hold data as long as power is available

A

Static Ram

103
Q

Memory used on motherboard & loses it’s data rapidly. Memory controller refreshes several thousand times a second

A

Dynamic Ram

104
Q

When power is out both Sram & Dram lose all data making them?

A

“Volatile” Memory

105
Q

What processor can process 32 or 64 Bits & known as ×86-64 bit processors?

A

“Hybrid” processors

106
Q

Biggest advantage of 64-Bit processors over 32-Bit processors?

A

Uses over 4GB of memory.

107
Q

Processor architecture that simplifies instructions set for computing? Reduced instruction set computing design

A

Arm; Advanced Risc Machine

108
Q

Placed between bottom of cooler heat sink & top of processor to draw away heat from CPU?

A

Thermal Compound/ Paste

109
Q

Where to go to verify that system is recognized by processor correctly?

A

Bios/ Uefi Setup

110
Q

Temporarily holds data & instructions.

A

Ram; Random access memory

111
Q

Current motherboards use memory modules called?

A

DIMM; dual in-line memory module

112
Q

What has independent pins on both sides of module’s edge connectors?

A

DIMM

113
Q

Pins Amount:
DDR2 & DDR3:
DDR4 & DDR5:

A

240
288

114
Q

Memory module that uses least power?

A

DDR5

115
Q

What allows the memory controller to communicate w/ 2 DIMMs @ the same time, efficiently doubling the speed of memory access?

A

Dual channel mode

116
Q

How many DIMMs can a quad channel motherboard access?

A

4

117
Q

Which memory modules support dual & quad channels?

A

DDR3 ,DDR4 & DDR5

118
Q

Unit that measures memory speed?

A

Megahertz

119
Q

Total bandwidth of data moving between the memory modules & processor?

A

PC Rating

120
Q

Which error detection technique also corrects the error?

A

ECC; Error Correction Code

121
Q

What can a DIMM use to hold data & amplify a signal before the data is written to the module?

A

Registers

122
Q

of clock cycles it takes to write/ read a column of data off a memory module?

A

Cas Latency; Column Address Strobe/ Signal

123
Q

Fastest memory?

A

CL3

124
Q

OS uses space on hard drive to enhance amount of RAM in system?

A

Virtual memory

125
Q

When OS uses hard drive though it were RAM. What Hidden file is used to store virtual memory?

A

Pagefile.sys

126
Q

Command for how much RAM is installed in system? Launch system info utility

A

Msinfo32.exe

127
Q

What sits on top of processor? Consists of fan & heat sink

A

Cooler

128
Q

Has metal fins that draw away heat away from processor?

A

Heat sink

129
Q

Cpu coolers are made of?

A

Cooper/ Aluminum

130
Q

A Cpu fan connector has only 3 pins & can still connect to a 4 pin header on motherboard but loses what function?

A

Controlling fan speed

131
Q

What fills the gap between the processor & cooling device also eliminateing air pockets & help draw heat away from processor?

A

Thermal paste

132
Q

What can be added to Chassis/ case to prevent overheating?

A

Case fan

133
Q

What can be used next to a high end graphics card to keep it cool?

A

PCI fan card

134
Q

Popular method for cooling overclocked processors?

A

Liquid cooling system

135
Q

What determines how much power a power supply can supply?

A

Wattage ratings

136
Q

Most used rail on power supply?

A

+12V

137
Q

ATX power supply wire Colors & Voltage:

A

0 V -Black (Ground)
+3.3V -Orange
+5V -Red
+12V -Yellow

138
Q

What includes detached power cables that plug into connectors on the side of units?

A

Modular power supply

139
Q

When using multiple video cards what must your power supply support?

A

SLI & Crossfire; Scalable Link Interface

140
Q

What uses 2 identical power supplies but only 1 is used @ a time. Yet both are capable of supplying the full power required by the equipment in the event that 1 fails the other will prevent disruption?

A

RPS

141
Q

What in a high gaming computer draws the most power?

A

Video Card

142
Q

A power supply should be rated how much higher than expected for each component?

A

30%

143
Q

6 steps for solving a problem/ troubleshooting:

A

1) Interview user & back up data.
2) Examine the system & establish a theory.
3) Test theory.
4) Plan fix & resolve problem
5) Verify fix & take preventative action
6) Document outcome

144
Q

What OS tool keep comprehensive logs about the computer system, hardware, software, apps & user activities?

A

Event Viewer

145
Q

Software that helps with troubleshooting?

A

Expert System

146
Q

Term for isolating a problem by dividing a large problem into smaller components & analyzing each component separately?

A

Divide & Conquer

147
Q

Name of error even processor overheats & system restarts?

A

Process Thermal Trip Error

148
Q

When the system locks up w/ error msg on blue screen?

A

BSOD; Blue Screen Of Death

149
Q

Single beep/ No beep

A

All POST Tests Passed

150
Q

Symptom of CMOS battery failing?

A

Time & Date lost

151
Q

Indication that inadequate power supply is the source of problem?

A

Power supply WHINES when 1st turning on.

152
Q

What is most likely failing when you hear a CLICKING noise?

A

HDD

153
Q

System reporting less memory than known to be installed?

A

Memory module has failed/ improperly seated.

154
Q

If you’re seeing smoke/ smelling a burning odor from computer what to do?

A

Unplug computer

155
Q

What to do if capacitors on motherboard are distended/ discolored?

A

Replace motherboard

156
Q

Where to change boot device priority order?

A

Bios/ Uefi setup

157
Q

1 long beep & 3 short beeps mean?

A

Video problem

158
Q

3 long beeps during post sequence mean?

A

Keyboard controller problem

159
Q

Single beep w/ blank screen means?

A

Monitor/ monitor cable problem

160
Q

Cpu is overheating may mean?

A

The fan is clogged w/ dust.

161
Q

What is NOT a solution for overheating?

A

Removing the covers from empty expansion slots.

162
Q

How to update firmware on motherboard?

A

By Flashing the Bios/ Uefi

163
Q

Battery packs in modern laptops use:

A

Lithium Ion

164
Q

When testing a laptops AC adapter power connector how close should the Voltage measured be to accepted voltageof laptop?

A

+/-5%

165
Q

What identifies a problem w/ memory or eliminate memory as problem source?

A

Memory diagnostic tools

166
Q

What OS 10/11 utility command prompt tests memory?

A

Mdsched.exe

167
Q

Best windows tool for managing potential hardware problems including device drivers?

A

Device Manager

168
Q

Where does windows store a copy of the driver software when 1st installing driver?

A

Driver store

169
Q

What restores many of windows files needed for a successful boot?

A

StartUp Repair

170
Q

What indicators represent a failing motherboard where capacitors have bulging heads/ crusty corrosion @ the base?

A

Discolored capacitors

171
Q

Order of how to take computer apart:

A

1) Back up data
2) Power down system & unplug
3) Press & hold down Power button
4) Plastic bag/ cup for screws
5) Open case cover
6) Clip ESD strap to side of computer case

172
Q

Essential tools used by I.T

A

1) Diagnostic Software
2) ESD strap
3) Antivirus Software On bookable USB flash drives
4) Flathead & Phillips-Head screwdrivers

CompTia A+ 1101 (1 decks)

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