Computer Hardware Flashcards
1
Q
15 Pin, D-Shaped pin that transmits ANALOG video
A
VGA; Video Graphics Array
2
Q
Transmits digital video & audio; often used to connect home theater equipment.
A
HDMI; High-Definition Multimedia Interface
3
Q
Transmit digital audio & audio. Replacing DVI/ VGA on personal computers.
A
Display Port
4
Q
Transmits digital OR analog video.
A
DVI; Digital Visual Interface
5
Q
Transmits video, data & power on same port & cable. Popular w/ APPLE computers.
A
ThunderBolt 3
6
Q
Connects to external home theater providing digital audio output & BEST sound quality.
A
S/PDIF; Sony/Philips Digital Interface
7
Q
Connects dial-up phone lines to computers.
A
RJ-11; Registered Jack/ Modem port
8
Q
Connects to wired networks w/ network cable.
A
RJ-45; Registered Jack/ Ethernet/ Network port
9
Q
Largest & most important circuit board in computer.
A
Motherboard; “Heart”
10
Q
Processes data & instructions for entire system.
A
CPU; Central processing unit/ “Brain”
11
Q
Has metal fins that draws heat away.
A
Heat Sink
12
Q
Circuit board that provides more ports than those provided.
A
Expansion/ Adapter Card
13
Q
Ports coming off the motherboard.
A
Onboard Ports
14
Q
Memory slot HOLDERS on motherboard.
A
DIMM; Dual In-line Memory Modules
15
Q
Temporary storage for data & instructions processed by CPU.
A
Random Access
16
Q
Permanent storage that holds data & programs (operating system & apps)
A
HDD; HARD DISK DRIVE
17
Q
Receives & converts house current to AC/DC for components to use.
A
Power Supply
18
Q
Dual- Voltage selector switch on back of case.
A
115V / 230V
19
Q
Describes the size, shape, screw hole positions & major features OF computer case, power supply & motherboard.
A
Form factors “Atx”
20
Q
Most common motherboard form factor used?
A
ATX; Advanced Technology eXtended
21
Q
Power supply connector pins used on most motherboards?
A
24-Pins
22
Q
Newer motherboards use:
A
8-Pin 12V connector (Provides extra 12V power to processor)
23
Q
4-Pin power connector:
A
Molex; Pata/ IDE
24
Q
Pins used for SATA power connector?
A
15 Pins
25
High-End PCI Express video card use how many Pins?
*Peripheral Component Interconnect*
6 or 8 Pins
26
Allows for smaller case size & reduces # of expansion slots. *Which reduces power supplied to board.
Micro- ATX; 9.6×9.6 (244mm×244mm)
27
Connector w/ pins that stick UP from motherboard?
Header
28
Wires leading from front of case to motherboard?
Front Panel Connectors
29
Round plastic/ metal pegs that separate motherboard from case?
Stand-Offs
30
Discovers & reports computer errors & conflicts when 1st turned on? *Before operating system starts.
POST; Power On Self Test CARD
31
Programs & data stored on motherboard:
Firmware
32
Example of firmware:
Bios/ Uefi; Basic Input/Output System - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
33
Routine that tests motherboard, memory, disk controllers, video, keyboard & other system hardware when 1st turning computer on?
POST; Power On Self Test
34
Measures output of each connector coming from power supply?
Power-Supply tester
35
Measures several characteristics of electricity in a variety of devices?
*Voltage, Current, Resistance & Continuity*
Multimeter
36
Fastest connection standard for hard, optical & tape drives?
SATA; Serial ATA
37
Connector that controls power to the motherboard & must be connected for PC to power up.
Power Switch ;SW
38
Drive activity light on front panel that lights up when SATA/ IDE is in use.
HDD LED
39
Controls power light & shows power is on.
Power LED+
40
Connector that is used to reboot computer.
Reset Switch; SW
41
Connects to a local wired network.
*If laptop has failed/ missing network port*
USB to Rj-45 dongle
42
Connects a laptop that doesn't have wireless capability to a wireless network.
USB to Wi-Fi dongle
43
Local wireless network defined by IEEE 802.11?
*Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers*
Wi-Fi; Wireless fidelity
44
Cellular networks have cells controlled by towers called?
Base Stations
45
Uses radio waves to exchange data over short distances by connecting 2 devices in a small PAN?
Bluetooth
46
Provides ports to allow laptops to connect to full sized monitors, keyboards, AC power adapters etc?
Docking Station
47
Provides ports to allow laptops to connect to Peripheral devices (external monitor, projector, network, printer & keyboard, mouse/ speakers)
Port Replicator
48
Laptop warranties last for?
1 year
49
Opening case of laptop will:
Void warranty
50
Connector that requires little force insertion?
ZIF; Zero Insertion Force
51
Form Factor Dimensions:
Mini ITX
Micro ATX
ATX Full
Extended ATX
6.7×6.7 (170mm×170mm)
9.6×9.6 (244mm×244mm)
12×9.6 (305mm×244mm)
12×13 (305mm×330mm)
52
Set of chips that work closely with the processor to control memory, buses on motherboard & peripherals.
Chipset
53
Rectangular connector w/ pins & pads & mechanisms to hold CPU in place on the motherboard:
Socket
54
What on the motherboard determines what processors a board can supply?
Chipset & Socket
55
2 major chipset & processor manufacturers?
AMD & Intel
56
Blunt pins that project up that connects to bottom of processor?
LGA; Land Grid Array
57
Socket that has a lever to lift processor out of socket?
Zero insertion force
58
AMD call it's high core count microprocessors that deliver high performance & greater efficiency @ high clock speeds? *Part of AMD Ryzen high end processors*
Theadripper
59
Older AMD processors used what socket with uniformed holes around socket?
PGA; Pin Grid Array
60
Circuits & paths on bottom of motherboard that enabled data, instructions & timing signals & power are called?
Traces
61
Pathways used for communication on motherboard that carried data, instructions & power is called?
Bus
62
Set of rules & standards for 2 entities communicating.
Protocol
63
Computer bus attached to motherboard using 32-Bit or 64-Bit data path & slots transferring @ 500Mb per second?
PCI; Peripheral Component Interconnect
64
PCI Express cards ×1, ×4, ×8, ×16 represent?
Lanes for data
65
PCIe slot transmitting the most data?
PCIe ×16
66
Ports coming off motherboard are called?
Onboard ports/ Integrated components
67
Plate for I/O ports on computer case?
I/O shield
68
Interface used by storage devices in servers & workstations?
SAS; Serial Attached SCSI-
Small computer system interface
69
Connector that uses PCIe, USB or SATA interface to connect a mini add-on to motherboard?
M.2
70
Connects a cable from motherboard to USB ports on front of computer case?
USB headers
71
Command to launch system info?
Msinfo32.exe
72
Firmware on motherboard used to enable/ disable a connector, port or component. Controls frequency of CPU; manages security features, controls 1st boots, monitor & logs various activities on board.
Bios/Uefi; Basic Input/Output System Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
73
Partitioning method for 4 TB hard drive?
GPT; Guid partition table
74
Uefi features that prevent a system from booting w/ drivers or OS not digitally signed & trusted by motherboard/ computer manufacturer?
Secure Boot
75
Predicts when hard drive is likely to fail?
S.M.A.R.T; Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology
76
Where to go to change boot priority order & enable/ disable onboard devices?
Bios/ Uefi SetUp; Basic Input/Output System - Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
77
Programming contained in the Bios/Uefi code on motherboard to start up computer & search for server on network to provide a bookable OS?
PXE; Preboot Execution Environment
78
Digital signature that belongs to motherboard/ computer manufacturer?
*Authorizes turning secure boot on/off & updating KEK database*
Platform Key; PK
79
Bios/Uefi setting enables you to charge a USB device even while computer is off?
USB power share
80
Running a processor, memory, motherboard, or video card @ higher speed than manufacturer recommends?
Over-Clocking
81
Bit locker encryption chip that secures hard drive?
TPM chip; Trusted Platform Module
82
Expansion card/ external device installed to a workstation/ server for encryption for hard drive?
HSM; Hardware Security Module
83
Boot authentication that's the most secure?
Full Disk Encryption
84
Physical computer using software to create multiple virtual computers?
Virtualization
85
Physical computer assigned virtual devices like virtual motherboard/ hard drive?
Virtual Machine; VM
86
Small programs stored on hard drive that an OS uses to communicate w/ specific hardware devices?
Device drivers
87
Remedy for system hanging @ odd times/ during boot?
Flash the Bios
88
Before updating bios firmware you should?
"Back up" data on USB flash drive
89
If bios/uefi update is interrupted or update creates errors you can?
Back flash
90
2 small posts/ metal pins that stick UP on motherboard used to configure info?
Jumper
91
Speed @ which processor operates internally & measured in Gigahertz?
Frequency
92
Space between transistors printed on surface of silicone chip?
Processer "Lithography"
93
2 processing units installed within a single processor executing 2 instructions @ a time?
Multiprocessing
94
OS hands off a task to CPU is called? *Might involve instructions*
Thread
95
Which Intel chips feature allow single processor to run threads in parallel?
Hyper- Threading
96
Processor feature AMD calls Hyper- Transport?
Multithreading
97
What Processor housing contains 2 or more processor cores that operate @ same frequency but independently of each other?
Multi-Core processing
98
# of Threads of quad- core processor?
4
99
More than 1 processor on a motherboard creates?
Multiprocessor Platform/ Dual processor
100
Processor memory located on processor chip/ die?
Level 1 Cache
101
Memory in processor package but NOT on processor die?
Level 2 Cache
102
Memory cache contained within processor housing?
*Can hold data as long as power is available*
Static Ram
103
Memory used on motherboard & loses it's data rapidly. *Memory controller refreshes several thousand times a second*
Dynamic Ram
104
When power is out both Sram & Dram lose all data making them?
"Volatile" Memory
105
What processor can process 32 or 64 Bits & known as ×86-64 bit processors?
"Hybrid" processors
106
Biggest advantage of 64-Bit processors over 32-Bit processors?
Uses over 4GB of memory.
107
Processor architecture that simplifies instructions set for computing? *Reduced instruction set computing design*
Arm; Advanced Risc Machine
108
Placed between bottom of cooler heat sink & top of processor to draw away heat from CPU?
Thermal Compound/ Paste
109
Where to go to verify that system is recognized by processor correctly?
Bios/ Uefi Setup
110
Temporarily holds data & instructions.
Ram; Random access memory
111
Current motherboards use memory modules called?
DIMM; dual in-line memory module
112
What has independent pins on both sides of module's edge connectors?
DIMM
113
Pins Amount:
DDR2 & DDR3:
DDR4 & DDR5:
240
288
114
Memory module that uses least power?
DDR5
115
What allows the memory controller to communicate w/ 2 DIMMs @ the same time, efficiently doubling the speed of memory access?
Dual channel mode
116
How many DIMMs can a quad channel motherboard access?
4
117
Which memory modules support dual & quad channels?
DDR3 ,DDR4 & DDR5
118
Unit that measures memory speed?
Megahertz
119
Total bandwidth of data moving between the memory modules & processor?
PC Rating
120
Which error detection technique also corrects the error?
ECC; Error Correction Code
121
What can a DIMM use to hold data & amplify a signal before the data is written to the module?
Registers
122
# of clock cycles it takes to write/ read a column of data off a memory module?
Cas Latency; Column Address Strobe/ Signal
123
Fastest memory?
CL3
124
OS uses space on hard drive to enhance amount of RAM in system?
Virtual memory
125
When OS uses hard drive though it were RAM. What Hidden file is used to store virtual memory?
Pagefile.sys
126
Command for how much RAM is installed in system? *Launch system info utility*
Msinfo32.exe
127
What sits on top of processor? *Consists of fan & heat sink*
Cooler
128
Has metal fins that draw away heat away from processor?
Heat sink
129
Cpu coolers are made of?
Cooper/ Aluminum
130
A Cpu fan connector has only 3 pins & can still connect to a 4 pin header on motherboard but loses what function?
Controlling fan speed
131
What fills the gap between the processor & cooling device also eliminateing air pockets & help draw heat away from processor?
Thermal paste
132
What can be added to Chassis/ case to prevent overheating?
Case fan
133
What can be used next to a high end graphics card to keep it cool?
PCI fan card
134
Popular method for cooling overclocked processors?
Liquid cooling system
135
What determines how much power a power supply can supply?
Wattage ratings
136
Most used rail on power supply?
+12V
137
ATX power supply wire Colors & Voltage:
0 V -Black (Ground)
+3.3V -Orange
+5V -Red
+12V -Yellow
138
What includes detached power cables that plug into connectors on the side of units?
Modular power supply
139
When using multiple video cards what must your power supply support?
SLI & Crossfire; Scalable Link Interface
140
What uses 2 identical power supplies but only 1 is used @ a time. Yet both are capable of supplying the full power required by the equipment in the event that 1 fails the other will prevent disruption?
RPS
141
What in a high gaming computer draws the most power?
Video Card
142
A power supply should be rated how much higher than expected for each component?
30%
143
6 steps for solving a problem/ troubleshooting:
1) Interview user & back up data.
2) Examine the system & establish a theory.
3) Test theory.
4) Plan fix & resolve problem
5) Verify fix & take preventative action
6) Document outcome
144
What OS tool keep comprehensive logs about the computer system, hardware, software, apps & user activities?
Event Viewer
145
Software that helps with troubleshooting?
Expert System
146
Term for isolating a problem by dividing a large problem into smaller components & analyzing each component separately?
Divide & Conquer
147
Name of error even processor overheats & system restarts?
Process Thermal Trip Error
148
When the system locks up w/ error msg on blue screen?
BSOD; Blue Screen Of Death
149
Single beep/ No beep
All POST Tests Passed
150
Symptom of CMOS battery failing?
Time & Date lost
151
Indication that inadequate power supply is the source of problem?
Power supply WHINES when 1st turning on.
152
What is most likely failing when you hear a CLICKING noise?
HDD
153
System reporting less memory than known to be installed?
Memory module has failed/ improperly seated.
154
If you're seeing smoke/ smelling a burning odor from computer what to do?
Unplug computer
155
What to do if capacitors on motherboard are distended/ discolored?
Replace motherboard
156
Where to change boot device priority order?
Bios/ Uefi setup
157
1 long beep & 3 short beeps mean?
Video problem
158
3 long beeps during post sequence mean?
Keyboard controller problem
159
Single beep w/ blank screen means?
Monitor/ monitor cable problem
160
Cpu is overheating may mean?
The fan is clogged w/ dust.
161
What is NOT a solution for overheating?
Removing the covers from empty expansion slots.
162
How to update firmware on motherboard?
By Flashing the Bios/ Uefi
163
Battery packs in modern laptops use:
Lithium Ion
164
When testing a laptops AC adapter power connector how close should the Voltage measured be to accepted voltageof laptop?
+/-5%
165
What identifies a problem w/ memory or eliminate memory as problem source?
Memory diagnostic tools
166
What OS 10/11 utility command prompt tests memory?
Mdsched.exe
167
Best windows tool for managing potential hardware problems including device drivers?
Device Manager
168
Where does windows store a copy of the driver software when 1st installing driver?
Driver store
169
What restores many of windows files needed for a successful boot?
StartUp Repair
170
What indicators represent a failing motherboard where capacitors have bulging heads/ crusty corrosion @ the base?
Discolored capacitors
171
Order of how to take computer apart:
1) Back up data
2) Power down system & unplug
3) Press & hold down Power button
4) Plastic bag/ cup for screws
5) Open case cover
6) Clip ESD strap to side of computer case
172
Essential tools used by I.T
1) Diagnostic Software
2) ESD strap
3) Antivirus Software On bookable USB flash drives
4) Flathead & Phillips-Head screwdrivers
