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CompTia A+ - 220-801 > Hardware > Flashcards

Hardware Flashcards

1
Q

What voltage does an orange pin indicate?

A

Orange signifies +3.3 volts.

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2
Q

Which motherboard form factor measures 12 inches x 9.6 inches?

A

ATX boards measure 12 inches x 9.6 inches

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3
Q

Which Expansion bus uses lanes to transfer data?

A

PCIe (PCI Express) uses serial lanes to send and receive data.

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4
Q

<p>Whatdoes a PCIe x16 slot connect to on AMD systems and newer Intel systems?</p>

A

<p>PCIe x16 connects to the northbridge on AMD systems and older Intel systems. On newer Intel systems it connects to the processor.</p>

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5
Q

Which of these options are serial technologies?

USB, IEEE 1394, PCIe, PCI

A

USB, IEEE 1394 and PCIe. PCI is not a serial technology, it is a 32-bit parallel technology.

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6
Q

Which component supplies power to the CMOS when the computer is off?

A

The lithium battery supplies power to the CMOS when the computer is off. This is because the CMOS is volatile and would otherwise lose the stored settings when the computer is turned off.

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7
Q

To implement a secure boot process, which device should be listed first in the Boot Device Priority screen?

A

Hard Drive -To ensure that other users cannot boot the computer from removable media, set the first device in the Boot Device Priority screen to Hard Drive.

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8
Q

Which of the following is used by the CPU to communicate with system memory?

Southbridge
BIOS
Northbridge
PCIe

A

Northbridge is used by the CPU to communicate with system memory (RAM). Remember that on newer Intel motherboards, the Northbridge functionality is built into the CPU.

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9
Q

How can you reset a forgotten BIOS supervisory password?

A

Removing the battery (and possibly moving the BIOS configuration jumper) resets the BIOS passwords. You might also need to configure the BIOS configuration jumper.

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10
Q

You just rebooted a PC and it displays a black screen with a white blinking underscore on the top left. What is most likely the problem?

A

BIOS boot order is incorrect.

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11
Q

Before installing a motherboard, what should you do? (First step)

  • Install a Processor
  • Verify that it is compatible with the case
  • Employ ESD prevention methods
  • Test the motherboard with a multimeter
A

The first step is to employ ESD prevention methods before working with any components inside a computer.

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12
Q

Which of the following are possible reasons for motherboard failure?

  • Power surge
  • Manufacturer defect
  • CD-ROM failure
  • Incorrect USB device
A

Power surges and manufacturing defects are possible reasons for motherboard failure.

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13
Q

How can you tell if a lithium battery has been discharged?

A

Although there may be a Windows application that monitors the battery, the surefire way is to test the voltage of the lithium battery with a multimeter.

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14
Q

A PC reboots without any warning. You ruled out any chance of viruses. When you look at the motherboard, you see that some of the capacitors appear distended and out of shape. What should you do?

A

Replace the motherboard if it is damaged.

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15
Q

A computer you are troubleshooting won’t boot properly. When you power on the computer, the video display is blank, and you hear a series of beeps. What should you do?

A

Check the BIOS version and consult the documentation that accompanies the motherboard. You might need to go online for this info. You could also try using a POST card tester to discern the problem.

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16
Q

What is the speed of a CPU?

A

The internal clock speed

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17
Q

Which is the fastest cache memory?

  • L2
  • L3
  • HTTP
  • L1
A

L1 is the fastest cache memory and is located within the CPU’s core.

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18
Q

What does hyper-threading do?

A

Hyper-threading allows for an operating system to send two simultaneous threads to be processed by a single CPU core.

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19
Q

What seals the tiny gaps between the CPU cap and the heat sink?

A

Thermal Compound

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20
Q

What is the amount of power required to cool the computer?

A

TDP - Thermal Design Point is the amount of power required to cool a computer and is linked directly to the amount of heat a CPU creates.

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21
Q

What kind of socket incorporates “lands” to ensure connectivity to a CPU?

A

LGA (Land Grid Array) is the type of socket that uses “lands” to connect the socket to the CPU.

22
Q

What is the clock speed?

A

The clock speed, also known as clock rate, is the internal speed of the CPU

23
Q

When deciding on a CPU for use with a specific motherboard, what does it need to be compatible with?

A

The CPU needs to be compatible with the socket of the motherboard. There is no wattage range, but you should be concerned with the voltage range of the CPU.

24
Q

You are troubleshooting a CPU and have already cut power, disconnected the power cable, opened the case, and put on your antistatic strap. What should you do next?

A

Check connections - It’s quick, easy, and a common culprit

25
Q

You have installed the CPU and heat sink/fan assembly. What should you do next?

A

Plug in the fan to the appropriate connector on the motherboard.

26
Q

You just completed a CPU installation. However, when you turn on the computer, the POST sounds a series of beeps, and the system won’t boot. What is the most likely cause?

  • The mouse is not plugged in
  • The operating system is corrupted
  • The CPU is not properly seated
  • The fan is running to fast
A

The CPU is not properly seated, OR there could be a RAM problem. Keep in mind that the POST doesn’t look for operating system corruption, it is limited to hardware only.

27
Q

What technology divides the RAM slots into colours?

A

Dual-channel memory configurations have two RAM slots of a particular colour, each one of which is placed in a different channel; these are collectively known as banks.

28
Q

Which of these is the delay it takes for a memory module to start sending data to the memory controller?

  • DDR
  • Propagation
  • Latency
  • FSB
A

Latency is the delay between the memory module and the memory controller, usually rated as CL and a number.

29
Q

What is the transfer rate of DDR2-800?

A

DDR2-800 can transfer 6,400 MB/s

30
Q

Which of these would you find internal to the CPU?

  • DRAM
  • DIMM
  • SDRAM
  • SRAM
A

SRAM - One function of SRAM is to act as CPU cache.

31
Q

What is the transfer rate of DDR3-1600?

A

12,800 MB/s.

32
Q

Which chip designates where data will be stored in RAM?

A

The Northbridge, specifically the memory controller chip is in charge of storing and retrieving data to and from RAM.

33
Q

How many pins are on a DDR3 memory module?

A

DDR3 is a 240-pin architecture.

34
Q

Where can you view how much RAM you have in the computer?

A

BIOS displays what type of RAM you have and the amount. Windows has several locations in which you can discern how much RAM there is, including the Task Manager, System Properties, and System Information.

35
Q

How should you hold RAM when installing it?

A

Hold RAM by the edges to avoid contact with the pins, chips, and circuitry.

36
Q

You suspect a problem with a memory module; What should you do first?

  • Replace the module with a new one
  • Install more RAM
  • Clean the RAM slot ad memory module
  • Test the RAM with MemTest86
A

Clean the RAM slot and memory module. Consider using compressed air or a proper spray.

37
Q

You just upgraded a PC’s motherboard and CPU. However, when you turn the computer on, it will not POST. What should you do first?

  • Check that the system hasn’t overheated
  • Check if the RAM is properly seated
  • Check that the OS was installed properly
  • Check if the mouse and keyboard are connected properly
A

The first thing you should do is check if the RAM is seated properly.

38
Q

Which wire when tested should display 0 volts on a multimeter?

A

Ground wire

39
Q

What power connector would be used to power on an IDE hard drive?

A

Molex connectors power IDE devices.

40
Q

Which of the following uses a 24-pin main motherboard power connector?

  • ATX
  • ATX 12V 1.3
  • ATX 12V 2.0
  • ATX 5V 2.0
A

ATX 12V 2.0 combined the 20 pin and 4 pin connectors used in ATX 12V 1.3 into one 24-pin connector.

41
Q

What voltages are supplied by a molex power connector?

A

Molex connectors provide 12 volts and 5 volts. There are 4 wires: yellow is 12v, red is 5v, and two blacks which are grounds.

42
Q

Which of these is the delay it takes for the hard drive to access a particular sector on the disk?

  • Actuator
  • Latency
  • Lag
  • Propagation
A

Latency is the delay it takes for the hard drive to access the data; It is directly related to the rotational speed (RPM) of the disk.

43
Q

How many pins are there in a SATA drive’s data and power connectors?

A

The SATA drive uses a 7-pin data connector and a 15-pin power connector.

44
Q

What kind of cable does a floppy drive use?

A

The floppy drive uses a 34-pin ribbon cable to transfer data.

45
Q

In a two drive IDE configuration, drive 0 would be the _______, and drive 1 would be the ________.

A

In PATA IDE two-drive configurations, drive 0 woud be the MASTER and drive 1 would be the SLAVE.

46
Q

What is the standard connector for an external SCSI device?

A

External SCSI connections often have 68 pins.

47
Q

What two devices would use a SCSI cable? (select two best answers)

  • SSD
  • Tape drive
  • Floppy Drive
  • IDE drive
  • Hard Drive
A

The best answers are tape drives and hard drives.

48
Q

Which of the following has the largest potential for storage capacity?

  • CD-R
  • CD-RW
  • DVD-RW
  • Blu-Ray
A

Blu-ray - at a maximum of 50 GB has the largest storage capacity. CD’s top out just under 1 GB. DVDs have a maximum of 17 GB.

49
Q

What is the maximum capacity of a blu-ray disc?

A

Standard 12cm Blu-ray discs have a maximum capacity of 50 GB.

50
Q

If a user wants to write information more than one time to a DVD, which type should you recommend?

A

DVD+RW/DVD-RW are rewritable versions of DVDs.

51
Q

What kind of controller is built into a CF card?

A

An ATA controller is built into the CF card and many other sold state technologies.

CompTia A+ - 220-801 (8 decks)

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