A+ Guide to Hardware 5th Ed Chapter 1
What are the two values of the binary system? Compare it to light bulbs
0 and 1. 0 = no charge as if the light was out and 1= charge as if the light was on
Whether inside or outside the case, and regardless of the function the device performs, each hardware input, output, or storage device requires these (3) elements to operate:
1. A method for the CPU to communicate with the device. 2. Software to instruct and control the device 3. Electricity to power the device
An (1.)________ is a circuit board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs),and the circuitry that connects these chips. Adapter cards, also called expansion cards or simply cards, are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the motherboard. All adapter cards contain microchips, which are most often manufactured using CMOS complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology
1. Adapter Card
Every motherboard has programming and setup data stored on it such as . . .
1. Flash ROM, a memory chip used to permanently store instructions that control basic hardware functions (explained in more detail later in the chapter) 2. CMOS RAM and CMOS setup chip that holds configuration data
Most input and output devices are (1.)_____the computer case. Most processing and storage components are contained (2.)______the case.
1. Outside 2. Inside
Most input/output devices are outside the computer case. These devices communicate with components inside the computer case through a wireless connection or through cables attached to the case at a connection called a (1.)________. Most computer ports are located on the back of the case. But some cases have ports on the front for easy access. The most popular input devices are a (2.)______ and a (3.)______, and the most popular output devices are a (4.) _______and a (5.) _____.
1. Port 2. Mouse 3. Keyboard 4. Monitor 5. printer
List 2 components used primarily for processing on the motherboard
1. Processor or CPU (central processing unit), the computer's most important chip 2. Chipset that supports the processor by controlling many motherboard activities
List 5 components on the motherboard that allow the processor to communicate with other devices
1. Traces, or wires, on the motherboard used for communication 2. Expansion slots to connect expansion cards to the motherboard 3. The system clock that keeps communication in sync 4. Connections for data cables to devices inside the case 5. Ports for devices outside the case
The technology of storing and reading only two states is called (1.)________, and the number system that only uses two digits,0 and 1, is called the (2.)______ ______ system. A 1 or 0 in this system is called a (3.)______, or binary digit. Because of the way the number system is organized, grouping is often done in groups of eight bits, each of which is called a (4.)______.
1. binary 2.binary number 3. bit 4. byte
An adapter card is a circuit board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs),and the circuitry that connects these chips. Adapter cards, also called (1.)_____ or (2.) ______ , are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the motherboard. All adapter cards contain microchips, which are most often manufactured using CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology
1. expansion cards 2. simple cards
A motherboard can have more than one bus, each using a different protocol, speed, data path size, and so on. The main bus on the motherboard that communicates with the CPU, memory, and the chipset goes by several names: Name 6 names used for this main bus
1. system bus, ** 2. front side bus (FSB), *** 3. memory bus, 4. host bus, *** 5. local bus, 6. external bus. ***terms used most
CPU is an acronym for (1.)______. It is also know as (2.) _____ and (3.)_____.
1.CPU 2. Processor 3. Microprocessor
The CPU or other devices interpret the voltage, or lack of voltage, on each line on the bus as binary digits (0s or 1s). Some buses have data paths that are 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128 bits wide. For example, a bus that has eight wires, or lines, to transmit data is called an_____.
8-bit bus . . . A data bus has traces or lines that carry voltage interpreted by the CPU and other devices as bits
When text is stored in a computer, every letter or other character is first converted to a code using only zeros and ones. The most common coding method for text is
ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).
Confusion with industry standards can result when different manufacturers call one standard by different names. This inconsistency happens all too often with computer parts. The industry uses the terms ATA, IDE, and EIDE almost interchangeably even though technically they have different meanings. Used correctly, "______" refers to drive interface standards.
ATA
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is Blue Ray?
BD- Blue Ray Disk
Are USB and memory cards volatile or non volatile?
Both types of devices use non-volatile flash memory chips.... meaning that it will retain data even if there is a break in the power supply.
Because all devices must communicate with the CPU installed on the motherboard, all devices in a computer are either installed directly on the motherboard. How are they linked directly? How are they linked indirectly?
Directly linked to it by a cable connected to a port on the motherboard, Indirectly linked to it by expansion cards
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is HDD?
HDD: hard disk drive - The main secondary storage device of a computer
A very important output device is the printer, which produces output on paper, often called________.
Hard Copy
the computer's physical components, such as the monitor, keyboard, motherboard, and hard drive
Hardware
Whatever information is stored in _____is lost when the computer is turned off, because these chips need a continuous supply of electrical power to hold data or software stored inthem
RAM
The electrical system on the motherboard consists of:
Power supply connections that provide electricity to the motherboard and expansion cards
What is faster to access permanent storage or primary storage?
Primary storage is much faster to access than permanent storage suppose you must do some research at the library. you go to the stacks, pull out several books, carry them over to a study table, and sit down with your notepad pencil to take notes and do some calculations. When you're done, you leave with your notepad full of information and calculations, but you don't take the books with you. In this example, the stacks are permanent storage, and the books (data and instructions) are permanently kept there. The table is temporary storage, a place for you to keep data and instructions as you work with them. The notepad is your output from all that work, and you are the CPU, doing the work of reading the books and writing down information.
A DIMM holds _____ and is mounted directly on a motherboard
RAM
This kind of memory is called volatile because it is temporary in nature.
RAM
Primary storage is provided by devices called memory or _______ located on the motherboard and on some adapter cards
RAM (random access memory)
The component used for temporary storage located on the motherboard and on some adapter cards is:
RAM (random access memory), which holds data and instructions as they are processed
If the drive can burn (write to) a disc as well as read a disc, _____ is included in its name.
RW . . . . For example, a CD-RW drive can both read and write to CDs.
A ________ port can be used by many different input/output devices, such as keyboards, printers, scanners, and digital cameras.
universal serial bus (USB)
video cards contain their own memory chips embedded on the card; these chips are called
video memory
Keyboard that are standard today are called
enhanced keyboards and hold 104 keys
SATA drive interface. SATA cables are (A)_______; one end connects to the (B) _____and the other end to the (C)_______connector.
(A) flat and thin (B) device (C) motherboard
Regardless of the internal technology used, the interface between an internal hard drive and the motherboard is likely to conform to an ATA. The two major ATA standards for a drive interface are ______, the newer and faster standard, and ______, the older and slower standard
(newer) serial ATA (SATA), (older) parallel ATA (PATA)
An adapter card is a circuit board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs),and the circuitry that connects these chips. Adapter cards, also called expansion cards or simply cards, are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the motherboard. All adapter cards contain microchips, which are most often manufactured using _________ technology
CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor)
The motherboard contains a socket to hold the ______; This is the component in which most processingtakes place
CPU
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is CD?
Compact Disk - An optical drive is considered standard equipment on most computer systems today because most software is distributed on CDs or DVDs. Popular choices for optical drives are CD drives, DVD drives, and Blu-ray Disc (BD) drives
A ______ holds RAM and is mounted directly on a motherboard
DIMM
RAM chips are embedded on a small board that plugs into the motherboard. These small RAM boards are called memory modules, and the most common type of module is the________
DIMM (dual inline memory module).
There are two types of cables inside the case:________, which connect devices to one another, and power cables or power cords, which supply power. If the cable is flat, it most likely is a data cable. However, to know for sure what type of cable you're dealing with, trace the cable from its source to its destination
Data Cables
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is DVD?
Digital Versatile Disc - An optical drive is considered standard equipment on most computer systems today because most software is distributed on CDs or DVDs. Popular choices for optical drives are CD drives, DVD drives, and Blu-ray Disc (BD) drives
Confusion with industry standards can result when different manufacturers call one standard by different names. This inconsistency happens all too often with computer parts. The industry uses the terms ATA, IDE, and EIDE almost interchangeably even though technically they have different meanings. Used correctly, "______" is commonly used by manufacturers to refer to the parallel ATA interface that CD drives, DVD drives, Zip drives, tape drives, and IDE hard drives use to connect to a motherboard.
EIDE . . . The term "IDE" is more commonly used, when in fact "EIDE" is actually the more accurate name for the interface standards.
A ______ port is used for high-speed multimedia devices such as digital camcorders.
FireWire
An IEEE 1394 port, (pronounced "I-triple-E 1394 port is an example of what kind of port
FireWire
Parallel ATA, sometimes called the EIDE (Enhanced IDE) standard or the IDE standard, is slower than SATA and allows for only two connectors on a motherboard for two data cables. What does the IDE cable look like?
Flat and think ribbon
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is FDD?
Floppy Disk Drive - An older secondary storage device sometimes found inside the case is a floppy drive, also called a floppy disk drive (FDD),
Confusion with industry standards can result when different manufacturers call one standard by different names. This inconsistency happens all too often with computer parts. The industry uses the terms ATA, IDE, and EIDE almost interchangeably even though technically they have different meanings. Used correctly, "______" refers to the technology used internally by a hard drive, and "_____" is commonly used by manufacturers to refer to the parallel ATA interface that CD drives, DVD drives, Zip drives, tape drives, and IDE hard drives use to connect to a motherboard. The term "IDE" is more commonly used, when in fact "EIDE" is actually the more accurate name for the interface standards. In this book, to be consistent with manufacturer documentation, we loosely use the term "IDE" to indicate IDE, EIDE, and parallel ATA. For instance, look closely at Figure 1-18 where the motherboard connectors are labeled Primary IDE and Secondary IDE; technically they really should be labeled Primary EIDE and Secondary EIDE
IDE
Currently (2012), Apple computers are built using what brand processors
Intel
The _________is the primary input device of a computer
Keyboard
A _______ is a pointing device used to move a pointer on the screen and to make selections. It has rotating ball or an optical sensor that tracks movement and controls the location of the pointer
Mouse
The type of memory (volatile v non-volatile) that is used in flash drives, memory cards, and some types of hard drives.
Non-volatile memory
What is wider a serial port or a parallel port? which one is used in newer motherboards?
Parallel port is wider. Parallel port is used in newer motherboards
The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to know these terms: HDD, FDD, CD, DVD, RW, and Blu-ray. What is RW?
Read Write Example DVD-RW
Which is more up to date, a IDE or SSD and what kind of hardware is it referring to?
SSD (solid state Drive) and this is referring to the type of hardware in the hard drive . . . NOTE: SSD drives are used in industries that require extreme durability, such as the military, and are making their way into the retail markets as the prices go lower
STOPPED P. 20 LAST PARAGRAPH, Sentence starting with "Traces carry these pulses over. . .
STOPPED P. 20 LAST PARAGRAPH, Sentence starting with "Traces carry these pulses over. . .
________ storage devices are often grouped in these three categories: hard drives, optical drives, and removable storage.
Secondary (aka permanent)
What is a ergonomic keyboard
a type of keyboard that is curved to make them more comfortable for the hands and wrists
When you look carefully at a motherboard, you see many fine lines on both the top and the bottom of the board's surface. These lines, sometimes called traces, are circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, and power to move from component to component on the board.This system of pathways used for communication and the protocol and methods used for transmission are collectively called the ______
bus
The processor could not do its job without the assistance of the _______, a group of microchips on the motherboard that control the flow of data and instructions to and from the processor
chipset
The parts of the bus that we are most familiar with are the lines of the bus that are used for data; these lines are called the _______
data bus. Binary data is put on a line of a bus by placing voltage on that line. We can visualize that bits are "traveling" down the bus in parallel, but in reality, the voltage placed on each line is not "traveling"; rather, it is all over the line. When one component at one end of the line wants to write data to another component, the two components get in sync for the write operation. Then, the first component places voltage on several lines of the bus, and the other component immediately reads the voltage on these lines.
There are two types of cables inside the case: data cables, which connect devices to one another, and power cables or power cords which supply power. If the cable is flat, it most likely is a ________. However, to know for sure what type of cable you're dealing with, trace the cable from its source to its destination
data cable
The width of a data bus is called the _____.
data path size
A parallel port port is located
directly off a motherboard
Motherboards usually offer from two to _____ SATA and eSATA connectors
eight
Examples of secondary storage
hard drive, CD, DVD, or USB drive
The main secondary storage device of a computer is the _____, also called a _____
hard drive, hard disk drive (HDD).
To perform a computing task, software uses hardware for four basic functions. What are those functions?
input, processing, storage, and output
Some ports on the motherboard stick outside the case to accommodate external devices such as a _______, and some ports provide a connection for a device, such as a _______, inside the case.
keyboard, CD drive
Most hard drives consist of a sealed case containing platters or disks that rotate at a high speed. As the platters rotate, an arm with a sensitive read/write head reaches across the platters, both writing new data to them and reading existing data from them. The data is written as magnetic spots on the surface of each platter. These _____ hard drives use an internal technology called ________
magnetic, Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE).
The processor uses temporary storage, called primary storage or ______, to temporarily hold both data and instructions while it is processing them
memory
video cards contain their own______ embedded on the card; these chips are called video memory
memory chips
RAM chips are embedded on a small board that plugs into the motherboard. These small RAM boards are called _______, and the most common type of module is the DIMM (dual inline memory module).
memory modules
An adapter card is a circuit board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs),and the circuitry that connects these chips. Adapter cards, also called expansion cards or simply cards, are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the motherboard. All adapter cards contain _________, which are most often manufactured using CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology
micro chips
There are several variations of DIMMs. and generally you must match the _____ and ____ to that which the motherboard supports
module size and type
The _______ is the visual device that displays the primary output of the computer
monitor
An adapter card is a circuit board that holds microchips, or integrated circuits (ICs),and the circuitry that connects these chips. Adapter cards, also called expansion cards or simply cards, are installed in long narrow expansion slots on the ________. All adapter cards contain microchips, which are most often manufactured using CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology
motherboard
The largest and most important circuit board in the computer is the ________, also called the main or system board
motherboard
A newer technology for hard drives uses ________, rather than using moving mechanical disks, to hold the data
non-volatile flash memory chips . . . These flash memory chips are similar to those used in USB flash drives.
The kind of memory that, holds its data permanently, even when the power is turned off
non-volatile memory
A _________ transmits data in parallel and is most often used by an older printer
parallel port
A device that is not installed directly on the motherboard is called a ________.
peripheral device
The most important difference between primary and secondary storage is that secondary storage is ______
permanent
when data and instructions are not being used, they must be kept in ________, sometimes called secondary storage
permanent storage
There are two types of cables inside the case: data cables, which connect devices to one another, and _______ or ________, which supply power. If the cable is flat, it most likely is a data cable. However, to know for sure what type of cable you're dealing with, trace the cable from its source to its destination
power cables or power cords
Data and instructions cannot be processed by the CPU from this remote storage (called secondary storage), but must first be copied into ______ storage (RAM) for processing.
primary
Using a parallel ATA interface, a motherboard has two IDE connectors, each of which can accommodate two devices; a hard drive usually connects to the motherboard using the ______connector
primary IDE
The processor uses temporary storage, called ______ or memory, to temporarily hold both data and instructions while it is processing them
primary storage
The ______ is hidden underneath the fan and the heat sink, which keep it cool
processor
A _____is a set of rules and standards that any two entities use for communication
protocol
One of the most interesting lines, or circuits, on a bus is the system clock or system timer, which is dedicated to timing the activities of the chips on the motherboard. A ______ on the motherboard similar to that found in watches, generates the oscillation that produces the continuous pulses of the system clock
quartz crystal
when data and instructions are not being used, they must be kept in permanent storage, sometimes called _______
secondary storage
A port used by other motherboards that transmits data serially (one bit following the next); it is often used for an external modem or scanner
serial port
the set of instructions that directs the hardware to accomplish a task
software
Any device that has no moving parts is called solid state (solid parts versus moving parts). Therefore, a drive made with flash memory is called a _____
solid state drive (SSD), solid state disk (SSD), or solid state device (SSD). Because SSD drives have no moving parts, they are much faster, more rugged, consume less power, last longer, and are considerably more expensive than magnetic drives
An S/PDIF (Sony-Philips Digital Interface) _______ port connects to an external home theater audio system, providing digital output
sound
When you look carefully at a motherboard, you see many fine lines on both the top and the bottom of the board's surface. These lines, sometimes called _____, are circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, and power to move from component to component on the board.
traces