Hardware (9)

Question 1

You are trying to replace a hard drive in an older system. The connector has 68 pins, along two rows. You believe from printing on the motherboard it is a 16-bit connection. What type of drive do you have to replace?

SATA

ATA

SCSI

Answer 1

SCSI

The 16-bit SCSI drives were connected by a molex connector, two rows of pins, totalling 68 pins

Question 2

A technician has a tablet that he is told is capable to connect to an HDMI monitor. However, the tablet has a port far smaller than HDMI. What type of video connection would be typical for this small form factor device?

USB-C

RS-232

MiniHDMI

Answer 2

MiniHDMI

On small form factor devices like smartphones or tablets, the video out connector is the small version of HDMI: miniHDMI. It resembles a USB-C but is still tapered on one side

Question 3

What was the connectivity cable end Apple used between 2012 and 2019, between the 30-pini dock connector and the USB-C?

MiniHDMI

Micro-USB

Lightning

Answer 3

Lightning

Lightning was introduced in autumn 2012 and was used by Apple for iPhone versions 5 through X

Question 4

With what connection standard is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable fully compatible?

USB-C

Micro-USB

DB-9

Answer 4

USB-C

Thunderbolt 3 cables work as USB-C cables and are fully compatible. Thunderbolt 3 is capable of transferring at 40 Gbps, but USB 3.1 (on USB-C) can reach 10 Gbps

Question 5

Which of the following connection types can be inserted or first flipped over and inserted?

DB-9

Micro-USB

USB-C

Answer 5

USB-C

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 “flappable”—one edge is slightly tapered

Question 6

What serial connection standard was first developed in 1960 and had been the standard for microsystems for a few decades?

DB-9

RS-232

USB-C

Answer 6

RS-232

RS-232 was introduced in 1960 and was very common in 25-pin format for connecting printers and other peripherals as well as the 9-pin for connecting to network devices

Question 7

What 9-pin connector type was commonly used for keyboards, mice, or game controllers before USB became popular?

SCSI

PS/2

DB9

Answer 7

DB9

DB9 was the “D” format, 9-pin connector type that was the standard format for keyboards, mice, and other small peripherals

Question 8

Which of the following does not apply with triple channel memory?

Triple the 64-bit communication path to the CPU

Triple the speed with which memory is accessed

Triple the power distributed to the memory

Answer 8

Triple the power distributed to the memory

Triple channel memory is achieved when three matching memory modules are installed, permitting data to be spread and memory accessed sequentially. The effect is lower memory latency, triple the access speed (compared to single channel), and triple the 64-bit communication path

Question 9

What form factor for solid-state hard drives measures 22 mm wide and lengths varying between 30 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, and longer?

SATA

PCIe

M.2

Answer 9

M.2

M.2 is a solid-state hard drive format, measuring 22 mm wide. Its lengths vary between 30 mm, 42 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, and 120 mm

Question 10

What form factor for solid-state hard drives has dimensions that mirror the older, platter-type drives?

PCIe

RPM

2.5”

Answer 10

2.5”

Solid-state drives (SSDs) come in multiple form factors, such as, for example, a “stick” resembling a memory module or a 2.5″ box housed in metal. SSDs also come in 3.5″ form factor

Question 11

Your friend has just finished building a computer. After installing the operating system, all seems fine except that he found that flash drives placed in the USB ports on the top of the case do not get noticed by the OS. Where do you suspect the problem is?

USB settings misconfigured

Motherboard’s internal USB connector disconnected

System clock

Answer 11

Motherboard’s internal USB connector disconnected

Likely the friend forgot to connect the internal USB connector on the motherboard to the USB ports of the case

Question 12

You wish to protect your system from someone not authorized to start the OS. What is your best option?

Password protect the locked screen

Password protect in the BIOS/UFEI settings

Encrypt the hard drive

Answer 12

Password protect in the BIOS/UFEI settings

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

Question 13

What is used to ensure an efficient and effective heat exchange away from the CPU?

Thermal paste

Dihydrogen monoxide coolant

Lower CPU speeds

Answer 13

Thermal paste

Thermal paste is like a grease that ensures that the heat generated from the CPU is efficiently conducted away and into the heatsink. Lowering the CPU speed might result in less heat generated, but it would obviously also result in degraded performance

Question 14

If you require more USB ports than your system can provide, what is your most cost-effective option?

Install a USB expansion board

Swap peripherals for those requiring different connectors

Replace the motherboard for one with additional USB ports

Answer 14

Install a USB expansion board

A USB expansion board 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

Question 15

You have been asked to make the touch pad less sensitive. Where would you do this in Windows 10?

Windows Settings l Apps

Windows Settings l Devices

Windows Settings l Personalization

Answer 15

Windows Settings l Devices

Under Windows Settings, you choose Devices, then click Touchpad. Under Taps, there is a pull-down menu named Touchpad Sensitivity

Question 16

Someone who uses multiple laptops has asked you if it’s possible to synchronize the settings for Internet Explorer across all his devices. Is it possible, and where would you do this in Windows 10?

Not possible

Possible, Under Devices l Sync Your Settings

Possible, Within Microsoft Account l Sync Your Settings

Answer 16

Possible, Within Microsoft Account l Sync Your Settings

you do require a Microsoft account in order to synchronize your settings across multiple devices. Under Windows Settings is Account. After you sign into the account, the option Sync Your Settings is available

Question 17

What technology allows you to generate a tangible product from a computer-aided drafting application?

Smart card reader

3D printer

Touch pad

Answer 17

3D printer

The 3D printer can be attached locally or, if allowed by the manufacturer, accessible by shared network. A smart card reader is used to integrate smart cards as an authentication factor for your system. A VR headset is used for experiencing virtual reality

Question 18

An employee whose job duties include having to “sign” digital documents is frustrated with how sloppily the mouse re-creates her signature. What would you recommend to the employee?

Scan her true signature, and then copy/paste the image

Procure a signature pad for signing more naturally

Lessen the mouse sensitivity

Answer 18

Procure a signature pad for signing more naturally

A signature pad is a peripheral device that is essentially a small touch-sensitive pad on which someone re-creates a signature

Question 19

What is the wiring difference between 568a and 568b networking cable?

Both have 8 wires, but two are switched

586b has only 6 wires

both have 8 wires, but four are switched

Answer 19

Both have 8 wires, but two are switched

The standards 568a and 568b are wiring standards. The difference between the two wiring standards is small but significant: the green and orange wires are switched. Unless both cable ends are terminated the same, mixing 568a and 568b standards will cause problems

Question 20

What is the difference between a DVI-D and a DVI-I cable?

DVI-I cable sends both audio and video

DVI-I cable sends both analog and digital

DVI-D cable sends both analog and digital

Answer 20

DVI-I cable sends both analog and digital

DVI-I cable sends both analog and digital. A DVI-D cable, however, is only capable of sending digital signals

Question 21

What is the common purpose of an IDE cable?

Connecting an expansion card to the motherboard

Connecting an optical drive to the motherboard

Connecting a hard drive to a SCSI adapter

Answer 21

Connecting an optical drive to the motherboard

An Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) cable typically connects a hard drive or optical drive to the motherboard

Question 22

What is the difference between drive form factors such as M2 and SATA 2.5 inch when installing and configuring solid-state drives?

M2 supports magnetic hard drives running at 15000rpm

SATA 2.5 drives and M2 drives use the same slot

M2 drives can use either the SATA or the PCI bus

Answer 22

M2 drives can use either the SATA or the PCI bus

M2 drives can use either the SATA or the PCIe bus, while a SATA SSD only uses the SATA interface. Magnetic hard drives spinning at 15,000 rpm are obviously not solid-state drives, while both the M2 and SATA 2.5 are solid-state drives

Question 23

Which of the following is not a difference when selecting 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch hard drives?

While clearly different lengths, both are the same thickness

Generally 2.5 are in laptops, while 3.5 is found in desktops

Both can be found in SATA or IDE standard

Answer 23

While clearly different lengths, both are the same thickness

While clearly different lengths, the 2.5 is also thinner and shorter. Generally, the 2.5 inch drives are used in laptops, whereas the 3.5 inch drives are installed in desktops. Both 2.5 and 3.5 can be found using the older IDE connectors or the SATA connectors, using a smaller data cable and a wider power cable