Hardware Flashcards
What is the purpose of scalable link interface (SLI) technology?
It groups two video cards together to increase video performance
What is the main disadvantage of performing low resolution printing?
Low print quality
What does AGP stand for?
Accelerated Graphics Port
What does ACPI stand for?
Advanced Configuration Power Interface
What is the data transfer speed for USB 3.0?
5 Gbps
Which component of the motherboard stores the BIOS password?
CMOS chip
How many pins are in a USB connector?
4
What should you to do connect over a network to a locally attached printer?
Configure print sharing on the computer, then share the printer
After Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) became a standard, what was the maximum number of heads supported by a hard disk drive?
256
Which card can be directly connected to the motherboard on a PCI or ISA slot and has several slots to hold additional cards that work in parallel with the motherboard?
riser card
What is the default size of the L2 cache?
256 KB
Which port is used for connecting multiple peripherals?
USB (Universal Serial Bus)
How many types of print heads are there for an impact printer?
4
Which service tells the spooler to alter a job according to the document data type?
print processor
How is print resolution measured?
DPI (dots per inch)
What is the purpose of a dual rail power supply?
To split the power in the PSU and provide direct support for the CPU
How much data can be stored on a single side of a dual layer DVD disk?
8.5 GB
What is a disk array?
A system consisting of multiple drives that usually operate as a single entity
Which two wires from an AT power supply should be adjacent to each other on a motherboard?
black wires
What does a system run when a PC is first powered on?
POST (power on self test)
Which component of a dot matrix printer has a combination of pins that hit the ribbon, printing characters on a paper?
print head
What are the typical voltages output by the PSU in a PC?
- 3.3 V
- 5 V
- 12 V
Why can a dot matrix printer create carbon copies?
The printing process involves mechanical pressure
What are the three most common forms of impact printers?
- dot matrix
- daisy wheel
- line printer
Which inkjet printer part holds the print head and moves it to the appropriate location?
the carriage
What does BIOS stand for?
basic input / output system
How is information translated in digital communication?
Kinda vague, think basic
Binary (zero or one)
Which component on a motherboard supports slower devices, such as USB, IDE, and ISA slots?
South Bridge
Which two common types of IDE interfaces are used in a computer?
- Parallel
- Serial ATA (SATA)
What action will reduce printing time without compromising quality, when printing images from a color laser printer?
Upgrade the memory
What is the transmission speed of the Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF)
2-3 Mbps
Which data storage scheme uses multiple hard drives to share or replicate data among the drives?
RAID (Redundant array of independent disks)
Which printer uses a print head containing a number of metal pins?
Impact printer
What is the maximum recommended length for an IEEE 1394 FireWire cable?
4.5 meters or 15 feet
(F for Firewire, F our. F ive meters or F ifteen feet
How many pins do normal quality dot matrix printers have in the print head?
9
N ine, N ormal quality
Which printer produces raster images?
Laser printer
Which port type operates at 12 Mbps and is used to connect multiple devices to a computer?
USB 1.1
What should you do to operate a USB scanner or printer after connecting the device to a USB port?
Don’t overthink this one..
Connect the device to a power source
Which type of drives does not contain magnetic media?
SSD (solid state drive)
What does SATA stand for?
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
Which four pins of a 24 pin power supply connector are for handling higher current capabilities of the processor?
11, 12, 23, and 24
Which type of floor is an ideal environment to operate a laser printer?
Tile
What is the maximum cable length for a cable using USB 2.0?
5 meters
What is the name of the test that the computer performs at startup to test the memory and CPU?
POST (power on self test)
Why should you only use laser toner cartridges from the printer’s manufacturer?
Ensure optimal performance and prevent issues caused by third party cartridges
Which bus determines the amount of RAM a processor can access?
address bus
What should you do to prevent an alert regarding the cover being removed from displaying?
Disable chassis intrusion detection in the BIOS
Which software option is used to modify the page orientation when printing?
Page Setup or Print Setup
What are the two main categories of printers?
- Impact
- Non impact
Which hardware component may be installed using the Pin Grid Array architecture on a motherboard?
CPU (Central processing unit)
Which type of printer uses a drum as a component?
Laser printer
Which three computer components must support Ultra ATA?
- Hard drive
- Motherboard
- Operating System
What is used by video adapters to store video images while the images are processed by the video adapter?
Video RAM
Which component of an inkjet printer supplies power to the rollers and ensure that the paper moves at that precise speed at which a continuous image or text is printed out without any gaps or breaks in the printout?
The paper feed stepper motor
What is the minimum number of disk drives needed to implement RAID 0?
2
What are the dimensions of a micro-ATX motherboard?
9.6” x 9.6”
Where is the Master Boot Record (MBR) stored?
In a partition’s master boot sector, which is the first sector of a computer’s HDD
What is an RS-232 connection?
A 9 pin serial connection
When should the corona wire be cleaned normally in a laser printer?
When replacing the toner cartridge
In addition to +3.3, +5, and +12 volts, what voltages are found on an ATX power supply?
-12 and -5 volts
What is the primary purpose of a Graphics Processing Unit?
Processing… video… and graphics…
Which RAM characteristic is expressed in nanoseconds?
access or cycle time
How many IDE devices can be installed on a typical ATX computer?
4
Which component of a laser printer is responsible for transferring the toner to the paper from the drum?
transfer roller
What should you do to install a printer on a computer running Windows XP?
Run the Add New Printer wizard
Which motherboard component is used to hold multiple I/O cards in a computer?
riser card
Which feature acts as a dam, holding the data, and then releasing it at a speed the printer can handle?
print buffer
What does AUP stand for?
Acceptable Use Policy
Which processors can use LGA 2011 sockets?
- Core i7
- Xeon
Which printer has the lowest printing cost per page?
Impact printer
Which four types of print heads are there for an impact printer?
7, 9, 18, 24 pin
Which device is used to convert digital data to analog data for transmission over regular telephone lines?
Modem
Which powdery substance is used to print text in laser printers?
Toner
What are the four specifications of USB?
1.0, 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0
Which processor is referred to as processor 1?
This is a weird question
The second processor installed in the motherboard
The first processor is referred to as processor 0
What does NAC stand for?
Network access control
Which type of RAM is commonly used by a video adapter that does not share the memory bus of the computer’s RAM?
Video RAM (VRAM)
What does ASR stand for?
Automated System Recovery
How many Interrupt Requests (IRQs) does a USB use if multiple devices are attached to the USB bus?
One IRQ
Which print head in a dot matrix printer will produce higher resolution?
24
7, 9, 18, and 24, more pins = better quality
Which RAID array splits data evenly across two or more disks with no redundancy?
RAID 0
Which version of IEEE 1394 is also called FireWire 800?
IEEE 1394b
Which concept is used for designing a processor socket to prevent problems caused by applying force while inserting or extracting a processor?
ZIF (zero insertion force)
Which PC devices use a voltage of +3.3V from a PSU?
- Chipset
- DIMM
- PCI/AGP cards
- 2nd gen pentium processors
Which type of printers use water soluble ink droplets to print a document?
Inkjet printer
Which technology contains two processor cores in a single processor package and provides almost all the advantages of a multi processor computer?
Dual core technology
Which power state should you use if you need to implement Wake on LAN?
Standby mode
What does SFC stand for?
System File Checker
Which processors use FM2 sockets?
- Athlon X2
- Athlon X4
Which term is used as a measurement of print speed?
PPM (pages per minute)
What does vertical refresh rate mean?
The amount of time it takes to draw the screen and return the electron to the upper left corner of the screen
What does MBR stand for?
Master boot record
Which motherboard form factor has RAM expansion slots located at 90 degree angles to the ISA and PCI expansion slots?
ATX
What does AC stand for?
Alternating current
Which component converts AC current to the DC voltage that a computer uses to operate?
Power supply
Which printer prints by placing small dots of ink on a page to reproduce text or graphics?
Inkjet printer
What is the maximum data transfer speed for USB 1.1 technology?
12 Mbps
Which compound should you use to improve the efficiency of a heat sink by up to 30%?
Thermal paste
How is information transmitted in analog communication?
Information is translated into electric pulses of varying amplitude
What does CMOS stand for?
complimentary metal oxide semiconductor
On which component of a laser printer is an electrostatic image of a document created?
drum
Which device in an inkjet printer sprays droplets of ink onto a sheet of paper while printing?
print head
Which type of ventilation is appropriate for an ideal environment to operate a laser printer?
filtered ventilation
What is a flash memory card format used in portable devices, including digital cameras?
SD (secure digital) card
Which printer can print on continuous paper?
dot matrix
Which two voltages are supported by a Molex connector in a desktop computer?
+5V and +12 V
Which printer capability ensures that a printer is ready to print documents?
Printer BIOS
What is the transfer rate in bits per second of a 56k modem?
Don’t overthink this one kids…
56,000 bps
What is meant by the term horizontal refresh rate?
The rate at which the electron beam moves across the screen
What are the dimensions of a mini-ITX motherboard?
6.7” by 6.7”
Which processors use LGA 1150 sockets?
- i5
- i7
What is the purpose of a capture card?
To send a video or TV signal to your computer
Which components are included in a typical laser printer maintenance kit?
- paper pickup roller
- paper feed / separation roller
- transfer roller
- fuser assembly
Which printer can create carbon copies?
dot matrix
Which type of computer software is also known as firmware?
ROM BIOS
Which processors use LGA 775 CPU sockets?
Core 2 duo
Which component of an inkjet printer sprays ink from the ink resevoir on a paper?
nozzle
Which compound increases thermal conductivity between an integrated circuit (IC) and a heat sink?
Thermal paste
Which type of current does a computer receive when you plug it into a wall?
AC (alternating current)
Where is the inked ribbon placed on impact printers?
between the paper and the print head
What are the two page orientations that can be selected for printing a page?
Portrait and landscape
Which hard drive component moves across the hard disk assembly to read the disk?
head actuator
Which feature of a printer accepts output from one or more computers and sends the output to the printer for printing?
printer buffer
What supplies the ink in a dot matrix printer?
ribbon
What does APM stand for?
Advanced Power Management
What utility should you use to specify the Num Lock status imposed during the boot?
BIOS setup utility
Which CPU technology is used in portable computers to reduce platform power and cap thermal dissipation of the computer?
CPU throttling
What is the purpose of hyper threading technology?
It allows a CPU to execute multiple instructions at the same time
What should you do to enhance the security provided by BitLocker?
Enable Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
What should you do immediately after installing the maintenance kit and replacing all consumables in a laser printer?
Reset the page count
What is the purpose of using plastic standoffs in the motherboard?
To help with electrical grounding within the computer case
Which type of memory is used by SD cards?
Flash memory
Where can you change the boot sequence for your computer?
BIOS
What is the maximum supported cable length in feet for high speed USB devices?
16 feet
Which processors use FM2+ sockets?
AMD A4, A6, A8, A10, and Athlon
Which interrupt does the real time clock use?
IRQ 8
Out of CD-ROM, DVD, and Blu-Ray, which media can hold the most data?
Blu-Ray
What are the maximum speeds for the three SATA specifications?
- SATA 1: 1.5 Gbps
- SATA 2: 3.0 Gbps
- SATA 3: 6.0 Gbps
What is the most commonly used form factor for computer case and motherboard design?
ATX (Advanced technology extended)
Which high speed channel is used for attaching a graphics card to a computer’s motherboard to assist in the acceleration of 3D graphics?
AGP (accelerated graphics port)
What can be described as an opto-mechanical mouse turned upside down?
A trackball
Which component of a thermal printer generates heat to be used to print on special paper?
thermal head
Which processors use LGA 1366 sockets?
Core i7, Xeon, Celeron
Which memory component detects both single and multi bit errors in RAM?
ECC (error correction code)
Which type of paper is used by thermal printers?
thermochromic paper
How many pins are in a MOLEX power connector?
4
Which chip supports communication between the RAM and CPU?
Northbridge
What is the main advantage of low resolution printing?
Faster printing
Which printer uses a print head that runs back and forth on a page and prints by impact?
dot matrix or impact matrix printer
Which technology must be supported by the operating system and applications to provide the entire functionality of a dual core processor?
Thread level parallelism (TLP)
What is the minimum number of disk drives needed to implement RAID 3?
3
Where should you search for instructions on servicing a printer?
Vendor web site or printer manual
What are the pin counts for the three types of FireWire connectors?
4, 6, and 9 pin
Documents printed using which type of printer should not be used for archiving purposes?
Thermal printer
What are two commonly used CPU cooling methods?
- Fans
- Heat sinks
Which feature allows a suer to delete a print job being processed or otherwise manage the print jobs currently waiting to be printed?
Print spooler
Which type of USB hub should you use to avoid running out of power when connecting many USB devices?
Self powered
Which component on a motherboard is used to plug various removable cards?
bus slots
Which memory component can only detect single bit errors in RAM?
parity
What does RAID stand for?
Redundant array of independent disks
What does a TV tuner card allow you to do?
receive TV signals on your computer
Which type of power connector is used in ATX motherboards?
20 pin
What writes the image on the drum in a laser printer?
laser light
What should you do after connecting a touch screen monitor to your computer?
Calibrate it
Which component of a thermal printer is used to feed the special paper to the printer?
platen
Which processors use AM3 sockets?
Phenom II, Athlon II, Sempron, Opeteron 1380
What does ACL stand for?
Access control list
Which type of printer transfers ink to the media, similar to the action of a typewriter?
impact or dot matrix printer
If you don’t know how a typewriter works you’re young and I hate you
What is the maximum number of devices that can be daisy chained together with a USB hub?
127
Which processors use LGA 1156 sockets?
Celeron, Pentium, Core i3/i5/i7, and Xeon
What is the maximum length of a USB cable?
5 meters
What does MBSA stand for?
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
How are memory slots and expansion slots are situated on an ATX motherboard?
At a right angle to each other
What is the easiest method to allow two computers to use a printer that is attached to the USB port on one of the computers?
Share the printer
What is NFC?
Near field communication, a low power communication protocol for short ranges between two devices
Which six protocols support hot swapping of external devices?
- PCMCIA
- USB
- FireWire
- Fibre Channel
- SATA
- SAS
(I don’t know most of these)
Which firmware is used to start the system when the computer is turned on?
ROM BIOS
What is the term for the smallest amount of disk space that can be allocated to hold a file?
A cluster
Which non impact printer prints an entire page at once?
laser printer
How many pins do letter quality dot matrix printers have in the print head?
24
What are the dimensions of an ATX motherboard?
12” x 9.6”
Which mode of communication does Bluetooth wireless technology use?
radio waves
Which feature of a printer stores output from a computer until it can be printed?
printer buffer
What is the maximum length of a PATA cable wire?
45 cm
Which dialog box in Windows is used to set the amount of printer memory to be used by a laser printer?
Printer Properties
Which language was created by HP to provide an efficient way to control print features across many different printing devices?
Printer Command Language (PCL)
Which type of printer prints a document by selectively heating a coated paper?
Thermal
Which component holds one or more flat circular disks in a hard disk drive?
spindle
Inket printers use which three main technologies?
- thermal
- piezoelectric
- continuous
Which feature allows a computer to use hard disk space as RAM?
virtual memory (page file)
What items are tested during POST?
- memory
- CPU
- Video card
What will determine the amount of documents that can be stored on the printer?
print buffer
What does CNR stand for?
Communications and Networking Router
Which component records data in a hard disk drive?
platter
What is the purpose of the diffuser in a LCD display?
It takes the point of light and uniformly spreads them out over the entire area of the display
Which flash memory device provides encrypted storage of data?
Secure Digital (SD)
Which plug and play external device interface on a workstation provides the fastest printing speed?
USB 3.0
Which tab in the Printer Properties dialog box in Windows is used to set the amount of printer memory to be used by a laser printer
Device Settings
Which type of printer is best for multipart forms?
dot matrix
In which unit is the amount of power output from a power supply measured?
watts
Which type of printing prints an entire copy of a document together before starting the next copy of a document?
collated
What does DC stand for?
Direct current
What is the maximum supported cable length for an RS-232 serial cable?
50 feet
Which type of RAM is used on the frontside bus?
Double Data Rate (DDR) RAM
What does ERD stand for?
emergency repair disk
How many pins are in a MINI usb connector?
five
Which cache is cache memory located on a separate chip?
l2 cache
