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CompTIA > System Components > Flashcards

System Components Flashcards

1
Q

Why must the case and the power supply be matched to the motherboard?

A

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2
Q

How does the BTX form factor differ from the ATX form factor?

A

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3
Q

What is the main difference between full, mid-, and mini-tower cases?

A

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4
Q

What are the standard components typically included with a system case?

A

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5
Q

How does the BTX form factor differ from the ATX form factor?

A

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6
Q

ATX vs MicroATC vs ITX

A

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7
Q

What is the main difference between full, mid-, and mini-tower cases? (SFF?) What is an important consideration?

A

Full: 4 expansion slots; biggest difference is # of slots/devices. Mid: 1 or 2 expansion; Small Form Factor: designed to be small… =p
Size of case you want depends on motherboard.

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8
Q

What does a form factor tell you about a motherboard?

Common form factors?

A

Size of circuitboard, location of slots,

ATX form factor 12in x 9in

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9
Q

How does the BTX form factor differ from the ATX form factor?

A

Ports are on opposite side; processor at an angle; will only fit in a BTX case.

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10
Q

What are the standard components typically included with a system case?

A

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11
Q

What are the standard components typically included with a system case?

A

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12
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9,
mini ATX: same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
(micro) ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts

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13
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9,
mini ATX: same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
(micro) ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts
BTX: opposite ports to ATX; processor at an angle for airflow
NLX: no expansion slots or PCI or ISA; used in short slimline cases—uses riser cards

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14
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9,
mini ATX: same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
(micro) ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts
BTX: opposite ports to ATX; processor at an angle for airflow
NLX: no expansion slots or PCI or ISA; used in short slimline cases—uses riser cards so that expansion cards lie flat. not used often

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15
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9,
micro ATX: same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
mini ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts
BTX: opposite ports to ATX; processor at an angle for airflow
NLX: no expansion slots or PCI or ISA; used in short slimline cases—uses riser cards so that expansion cards lie flat. not used often

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16
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9,
micro ATX: same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
mini ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts
BTX: opposite ports to ATX; processor at an angle for airflow
NLX: no expansion slots or PCI or ISA; used in short slimline cases—uses riser cards so that expansion cards lie flat. not used often

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17
Q

What is the main difference between full, mid-, and mini-tower cases? (SFF?) What is an important consideration?

A

Full: 6-10 drive bays
Mid:2-4 drive bays;
Mini-tower: 102 drive bays;
Size of case you want depends on motherboard.

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18
Q

Type of motherboard form factors

A

ATX: 4 slots, 12x9.6,
mini ATX: 11.2 x 8.2, fewer bus/memory slots
micro ATX: 9.6x9.6 same port/mounting-hole positions, smaller
mini ITX: one expansion slot, smaller still, same ports/mounts
BTX: opposite ports to ATX; processor at an angle for airflow
NLX: no expansion slots or PCI or ISA; used in short slimline cases—uses riser cards so that expansion cards lie flat. not used often

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19
Q

What is the main difference between full, mid-, and mini-tower cases? SFF? What is an important consideration?

A 
Full: 6-10 drive bays
Mid:2-4 drive bays; 
Mini-tower: 102 drive bays;
Small Form Factor; custom and small
Size of case you want depends on motherboard.
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20
Q

How does the case form affect the type of power supply you purchase?

A

?

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21
Q

What function does the red switch on a power supply perform? Why is this important?

A

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22
Q

What is a watt? How does the watt rating for a power supply affect the devices you can use in a system?

A

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23
Q

What is a soft power supply?

A

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24
Q

Why must you be careful when using a proprietary power supply?

A

?

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25
Q

What does a power supply do?

A

Converts 120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)

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26
Q

What does a power supply do?

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)

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27
Q

What function does the red switch on a power supply perform? Why is this important?

A

Power supply voltage switch; 110/115 or 220/230 V ccurrent

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28
Q

What does a power supply do?

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)

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29
Q

What function does the red switch on a power supply perform? Why is this important?

A

Power supply voltage switch; 110/115(U.S.) or 220/230 V ccurrent. Incorrect setting could damage PSU or computer components.

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30
Q

What is a watt? How does the watt rating for a power supply affect the devices you can use in a system?

A

W = V * A
lowest end: 200 W; barely adequate for anything
standard: 350; good for standard
450-500W for things that need a lot.
Can look at wattage used by components in your system and add it up

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31
Q

What does a power supply do?

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If not, it’ll shut down the system

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32
Q

What does a power supply do?

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.

33
Q

What’s one way to determine Wattage of, say, a fan available on Newegg?

A

Look at the picture; shows V and A….multiply for Watts!

34
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that exhausts hot air (pulling in cooler air)

35
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts (110?/)120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that draws in cool air.

36
Q

What is a soft power supply?

A

?

37
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts 110/120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that draws in cool air.

38
Q

What is a soft power supply?

A

a wire called power_on that allows system to be switched on/off by the system.

39
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts 110/120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels:
12V (HD, fan, most modern components)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that draws in cool air.

40
Q

What’s the 5volt_standby wire?

A

Always active, provides constant supply of 5V, even if system is shut off.

41
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts 110/120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels (rails):
12V (HD, fan, most modern components)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that draws in cool air.

42
Q

Why must you be careful when using a proprietary power supply?

A

Because the connectors fit the same, but with different wiring

43
Q

What does a power supply do? (3 critical roles)

A

Converts 110/120-Volt AC current into 3 different DC levels (rails):
12V (HD, fan, most modern components)
5V (older motherboards)
3.3V (newer motherboards)
Also! ensures that there is enough power to run the system. If so, power_good wire sends signal. If not, system will not run.
Also! Cools system: grating + fan that pushes out hot air.

44
Q

Connectors from power supply?

A

Main motherboard connector: 20pins, labeled with 20+, now often require 4 more pins. can have 24 pins or separate 4 pins
CPU: 4 or 8 pin connectors (or 4+4)
(There are adapters for 4 pins to make them 8 pins)
PCI express connector: new video cards can require 6 pins of power

45
Q

Connectors from power supply?

A

Main motherboard connector: 20pins, labeled with 20+, now often require 4 more pins. can have 24 pins or separate 4 pins
CPU: 4 or 8 pin connectors (or 4+4)
(There are adapters for 4 pins to make them 8 pins)
PCI express connector: new video cards can require 6 (or 8) pins of power

46
Q

Considerations for the type of power supply you purchase?

A

20 or 24 pin for motherboard, 4 or 8 pin for CPU, 6 or 8 pin for PIC Express video card

47
Q

Connectors from power supply?

A

Main motherboard connector: 20pins, labeled with 20+, now often require 4 more pins. can have 24 pins or separate 4 pins
CPU: 4 or 8 pin connectors (or 4+4)
(There are adapters for 4 pins to make them 8 pins)
PCI express connector: new video cards can require 6 (or 8) pins of power
Serial ATA: use different connectors than old 4-pin connectors

48
Q

How can you test a power supply?

A

Use a multimeter and test every pin.

Easier is special power-supply tester; has all the special connectors of a board/components

49
Q

Signs of a failing power supply?

A

System won’t turn on.

System spontaneously reboots.

50
Q

Signs of a failing power supply?

A

System won’t turn on.
System spontaneously reboots.
24-pin Molex (no good supply)

51
Q

Signs of a failing power supply?

A

System won’t turn on.

System spontaneously reboots. [24-pin Molex (power good wire)]

52
Q

Signs of a failing power supply?

A

System won’t turn on.

System spontaneously reboots. [24-pin Molex (power good wire)]

53
Q

Turn on a power supply with a paper clip?

A

Use paperclip to connect pin 16 to pin 17(ground) on 20(/24)-pin connector.

54
Q

How can you test a power supply?

A

Use a multimeter and test every pin.
Easier is special power-supply tester; has all the special connectors of a board/components
Less than 11 V in molex’s yellow wire, replace.
Want 5 on red wire

55
Q

What factors will you consider when selecting a motherboard?

A

?

56
Q

What is the difference between the northbridge and southbridge chipsets on a motherboard?

A

?

57
Q

How can you add peripheral devices to a system?

A

?

58
Q

How are PCI and PCI Express different?

A

?

59
Q

What is the most common bus type for video cards on new motherboards?

A

?

60
Q

wtf are ISA, PCI, AGP, PCI Express (1x, 2x, and 8x), and PCMCIA?

A

?

61
Q

Typical motherboard components?

A

processor interface, memory modules, onboard components, faceplate connectors, internal connectors, BIOS chip, CMOS battery, chipset

62
Q

What is the difference between the northbridge and southbridge chipsets on a motherboard?

A

North: control for main and cache memory, front side bus, AGP/PCIe graphics. closest to CPU, sometimes has video processor, fan, often heatsink
South: real time clock, power mangement, controllers for PCI bus and USB

63
Q

Typical motherboard components?

A

processor interface, memory modules, onboard components, faceplate connectors, internal connectors, BIOS chip, CMOS battery, chipset(north south keyboard I/O),

64
Q

Typical motherboard components?

A

processor interface, memory modules, onboard components, faceplate connectors, internal connectors, BIOS chip, CMOS battery, chipset(north/south keyboard I/O),

65
Q

Typical motherboard components?

A

processor interface, memory modules, onboard components, faceplate connectors, internal connectors, BIOS chip, CMOS battery, chipset(north/south keyboard I/O), jumpers (clear CMOS password, settings, etc)

66
Q

How are PCI and PCI Express different?

A

?

67
Q

Who dominates processor market?

A

Intel: largest market share
AMD: typically more cost effective

68
Q

32 v 64 bit architecture?

A

64 can manage twice the data, but 64-bit OSes and apps are required to take full advantage
32 can recognize up to 4GB of memory
64 can recognize up to 16 TB of memory (WTF?!)

69
Q

32 v 64 bit architecture?

A

64 can manage twice the data, but 64-bit OSes and apps are required to take full advantage
32 can recognize up to 4GB of memory, use x86 instruction set
64 can recognize up to 16 TB of memory (WTF?!), use x64 instruction set

70
Q

where are cache Levels 1-3 ?

A

nowadays, on the cpu. Used to be CPU, CPU die, board

71
Q

What is the most common bus type for video cards on new motherboards?

A

?PIN

72
Q

wtf is PGA? or SPGA?

A

Pin Grid Array (processor)

73
Q

Front side bus?

A

CPU + North bridge + south bridge

74
Q

What is the difference between the northbridge and southbridge chipsets on a motherboard?

A

North: control for main and cache memory, front side bus, AGP/PCIe graphics. closest to CPU, sometimes has video processor, fan, often heatsink
South: real time clock, power mangement, controllers for PCI bus and USB

75
Q

cpu performance measurements

A

clock speed; cache memory; 64-bit+ multicore cpus are better if taken advatnage of specifically; hyperthreading (20% advantage);

76
Q

wtf is PGA? vs LGA

A

Pin Grid Array or Land Grid Array; former means pins are on CPU, latter means the pins are on the socket

77
Q

CMOS?

A

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor; a battery-powered memory chip in your computer that stores startup information. used by BIOS

78
Q

ZIF?

A

Zero insertion force (socket for processor)

CompTIA (4 decks)

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