CompTia A+ : Chapter 1

Question 1

You press the front power button on a computer & the system boots. Later, you press it briefly and the system hibernates. When you press it again, the system resumes. You press and hold the button and the system shuts down. What is this feature called?

Answer 1

Soft Power [Soft power is the feature whereby the front power button acts as a relay to initiate various system power changes, depending on the duration the button is held.]

Question 2

Which of the following types of processors will likely generally be preferred for mobile devices?

Answer 2

ARM [ARM processors generate less heat than do x64/x86 CISC processors and are therefore better options for mobile devices. LGA is a type of CPU socket.]

Question 3

You are assembling a new computer and looking for a new cooling system. Which of the following cooling systems requires the use of a pump?

Answer 3

Liquid [Liquid cooling systems require a reservoir of liquid and a pump to circulate the liquid.]

Question 4

A technician asks how to get a computer’s processor to run faster than it currently does. What are they trying to achieve?

Answer 4

Overclocking [Overclocking is when someone sets the speed of the processor to run faster than it was rated for. While overclocking can make a computer run faster, it can also cause the processor to overheat, and it voids the warranty. Hyperthreading allows for a processor core to handle multiple processes simultaneously. Virtualization is when you create multiple virtual machines on a computer. Multicore just means a processor has more than one core and that is not configurable.]

Question 5

You have just replaced a processor in a computer and now need to add a cooling mechanism. What should you use to attach the cooling system to the processor?

Answer 5

Thermal Paste [Thermal paste is used to attach heat sinks & fans to processors. A heat sink usually gets attached to the processor using thermal paste, and then the fan is attached to the heat sink. Superglue would make it adhere, but wouldn’t transfer heat properly.]

Question 6

A motherboard failed on a desktop PC with an Intel Core i5-10600K processor. When you are looking for a replacement motherboard, which CPU socket does it need to have?

Answer 6

LGA 1200 [The core i5-10600K is a Comet Lake series processor, which uses the LGA 1200 socket. LGA 1150 sockets are for older i7’s, and the LGA 1366 socket is for even older ones than that. The LGA 1700 socket is for 12th generation Intel Core processors.]

Question 7

Which computer component contains all the circuitry necessary for other components or devices to communicate with one another?

Answer 7

Motherboard [The spine of the computer is the system board, otherwise known as the motherboard. All other computer components plug into the motherboard. On the motherboard, you will find the CPU, underlying circuitry, expansion slots, video components, RAM slots, and various other chips.]

Question 8

You are told by a technician over the phone that you need to bring replacement DDR4 SDRAM memory. What type of packaging is used for DDR4 SDRAM memory?

Answer 8

288-pin DIMM [ DDR4 SDRAM is manufactured on a 288-pin DIMM, as is DDR5 (although the two are keyed differently and not compatible). DIMMs w/224-pins & 296-pins don’t exist. DIMMs w/240-pins are used for DDR2 & DDR2 SDRAM.]

Question 9

A client wants you to build a new PC for her, with a smaller case and lower power requirements. When selecting a motherboard, which form factor should you choose for a smaller size and lower power consumption?

Answer 9

ITX [The ITX motherboard family consists of smaller boards that fit in standard or miniature cases & uses less power than their larger counterparts. ATX is a legacy form factor that was bigger than ATX. There are no DTX motherboards.]

Question 10

You need to replace memory in a desktop PC and go to purchase RAM. When you are at the store, you need to find the appropriate type of memory. What memory chips would you find on a stick of PC3-16000?

Answer 10

DDR3-2000 [Remember the 8:1 rule. Modules greater than but not including SDR SDRAM are named with a number eight times larger than the number used to name the chips on the module. The initials PC are used to describe the module; the initials DDR are used for the chips; The lack of a single-digit number after PC and DDR is used to represent the level of DDR.]

Question 11

You are training new technicians to install RAM, and pointing out differences between packages. Which of the following are the numbers of pins that can be found on DIMM modules used in desktop motherboards?

Answer 11

184 & 240 [DIMMs used in desktop motherboard applications have one of four possible pin counts. SDR SDRAM is implemented on 168-pin modules. DDR SDRAM is implemented on 184-pin modules. DDR2 and DDR3 are implemented on 240-pin modules with different keying, and DDR4 and DDR5 DIMMs have 288-pins but different keying. Older dual-channel DIMM modules have 232 pins. Modules with 200 and 204 pins are used in the SODIMM line , and there are no modules with 180-pins.]

Question 12

You are installing a new computer, and the user wants to use virtualization. Which hardware components need to support virtual technology for this to work properly (choose two)?

Answer 12

CPU & BIOS [For virtualization to work, both the CPU and BIOS need to support it. The operating system does as well. Virtualization support may need to be manually enabled in the BIOS. RAM does not need to support virtualization and neither does the motherboard (except for the BIOS)]

Question 13

You find out that a disgruntled ex-employee’s computer has a boot password that must be entered before the operating system is ever loaded. There is also a password preventing your access to the BIOS utility. Which of the following motherboard components can most likely be used to return the computer to a state that will allow you to boot the system without knowing the password?

Answer 13

Jumper [Most motherboards have a jumper or similar momentary closure mechanism that will allow you to clear the CMOS memory of any user settings and cause the BIOS to use factory defaults, including no user or supervisor passwords.]

Question 14

Your core i5 fan has a 4-pin connector, but your motherboard only has a single 3-pin header with the CPU_FAN label. Which of the following will be the easiest solution to get the necessary cooling for your CPU?

Answer 14

Connect the four pin connector to the three pin header. [The missing pin allows you to control the speed of the fan. Without it, the fan will run at top speed, which is fine, albeit a little noisier. There is no four pin to three pin power adapter. The heat sink alone should not be relied on to properly cool modern CPUs, and an extra chassis fan isn’t designed to specifically help cool the CPU.]

Question 15

You are installing a new video card into a PCIe slot. What is the combined total throughput of a PCIe 2.0 x 16 slot?

Answer 15

16 Gbps [the PCIe 1.1 specification provided about 250 Mbps of throughput per lane per direction. With the 2.x versions of PCIe, this rate was doubled to 500Mbps. As a result, each v2.0 lane is capable of a combined 1Gbps. An x16 slot consists of 16 lanes, for a total bidirectional throughput of 16Gbps.]

Question 16

Which of the following allows you to perform the most complete restart of the computer without removing power?

Answer 16

Reset Button [The reset button causes the computer to return to nearly the same point it is in when you power it on, but without the need for power cycling. Using restart in the start menu does not reboot as deeply as the reset button. Hibernation is a power state that completely removes power after saving the contents of the RAM to the hard drive; pressing the power button is required to resume the session in the same manner as starting the computer after a complete shutdown. The power button cannot be used as a method of restarting the system.]

Question 17

You have just found out that a new UEFI upgrade exists for your computer, and you obtain copy on a flash drive to install it. Which of the following is most helpful when flashing the UEFI on a desktop computer system?

Answer 17

Uninterruptable Power Supply [None of the options are required, but a UPS is by far the most helpful among the answers in that loss of power during this procedure can range from annoying to devastating.]

Question 18

The 32 GB of DDR4 memory has failed in a client’s desktop computer. The client requests that you upgrade the system for better performance when replacing the RAM. Which of the following is the best option?

Answer 18

2 new 32GB DDR4 modules [ DDR4 does not come in modules larger than 64 GB. DDR5 is not compatible with DDR4 motherboards.]

Question 19

You are replacing an HP laptop’s motherboard. Which type of motherboard should you use?

Answer 19

One for the intended model [ Laptop motherboards are usually custom built for the specific case. A replacement board should be obtained that is the exact same size as the one that failed.]

Question 20

You need to install a new video card in a desktop computer. What type of expansion slot is preferred today for high-performance graphics adapters?

Answer 20

PCIe [PCIe is the newest and fastest slot for video cards. AGP and PCI are legacy technologies. SATA is for hard drives.]

Question 21

Performance Based Question You have been asked to remove a dual-line memory module and insert one with a larger capacity in its place. Describe the process for doing so.

Answer 21

1.) Pull the tabs on either side of the DIMM away from the DIMM.
2.) Pull the loose DIMM straight out of the slot and away from the motherboard.
3.) Ensure that the locking tabs are completely opened and out of the way of the slot.
4.) Align the new module’s notch with the tab or tabs in the slot.
5.) Insert the new DIMM straight down in the slot.
6.) Apply firm and even pressure downward until the locking tabs automatically snap into place.
7.) Nudge the tabs inward towards the module to make sure they are tight.