B.2 Domain 1: Hardware, All Questions

Device Manager Explanation Device Manager allows you to view installed devices and their status, update drivers, disable or uninstall devices. From Network and Sharing Center you can view the status of your network and Internet connections, change or set up new connections or troubleshoot network problems. From Internet Properties you can configure general settings associated with your computer's connection to the Internet. You can configure settings related to security, privacy, content, and several other types of settings. Driver manager is not Windows utility.

As a member of the help desk administration team you've been assigned to update the driver for the network adapter that is installed on most of the machines in your department. You have a copy of the latest driver on a USB flash drive. Which Windows utility will allow you to manually update this new driver? - Network and Sharing Center - Device Manager - Internet Properties - Driver Manager

A: HDMI B: Thunderbolt C: IEEE 1394 D: USB E: VGA F: DVI G: RJ45 H: RJ11 I: Fiber S/PDIF J: Audio Jack Explanation In this example, the computer back panel has the following ports: • HDMI - connects HDMI display devices • Thunderbolt - combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort signals into a single interface • IEEE 1394 - connects devices that require fast communication speeds • USB - connects external USB devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, printer, and storage devices) • VGA - connects VGA display devices • DVI - connects DVI display devices • RJ45 - connects the computer to an Ethernet network • RJ11 - used by telephones and modems to send analog signals • Fiber S/PDIF - sends a digital audio signal to high-end audio devices, such as home theatre systems • Audio jacks - connects analog audio devices (e.g., speakers, headphones, microphones)

Consider the external ports for a typical PC system (pictured https://imgur.com/jYnCD9U). Drag the port type on the left to the letter on the right that best identifies it. (Each type can be used once.)

Obtain the latest driver from the manufacturer's website *before* installing the device.

Device manufacturers are constantly finding bugs, vulnerabilities, or better ways for their devices to communicate with the operating system. Because of this, what should you do before you install a new device? - Obtain the latest driver from the manufacturer's website before installing the device. - Obtain the latest driver from the manufacturer's website as soon as possible after installing the device. - Let the installation program find the latest driver and download it during installation. - Use the driver included on the installation disc from the manufacturer.

Explanation Each computer hardware component performs a specific function. • Input is defined as the movement of data or commands to the internal computer hardware. Input devices include: • Mouse • Keyboard • Scanner • Microphone • Processing is defined as the flow of data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions. Major processing components include: • CPU (Central Processing Unit) • RAM (Random-access Memory) RAM is a temporary, short-term type of storage used by the CPU to store processed information for quick access. RAM is considered volatile memory because it is not persistent. When the computer is turned off, all the data that was stored in RAM is lost. • Long-term Storage is defined as the act of saving or maintaining data. Storage devices include: • Hard disk drives • Solid-state drives • Optical drives (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Blu-ray) • Flash drives • Output is defined as the process of the computer presenting, displaying, or otherwise giving data. Output devices include: • Monitor • Speaker • Printer

Drag the computer function on the left with its associated hardware component on the right. (Each option can be used more than once.) Hard disk - Long-term Storage Printer - Output Keyboard - Input CPU - Processing Speakers - Output RAM - Processing DVD-RW - Long-term Storage Microphone - Input

Riser Explanation: Riser cards attach to the motherboard and have expansion cards plug into them instead of the motherboard. The primary benefit of a riser card is that by installing expansion cards parallel to the motherboard, it is possible to create a low-profile design. Communications and Networking Riser (CNR) is a type of expansion slot found on some motherboards that is used for network and sound expansion boards. Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMIA) cards were used several years ago to add devices to laptops. VESA Local Bus was also a type of expansion slot found on older motherboards that was primarily used for the video interface.

For a special project, you have been asked to recommend the lowest profile desktop computers available. You are attempting to put together the specifications for these machines. Which of the following types of cards are attached to the motherboard to allow expansion cards to plug into them instead of the motherboard? - Communications and Networking Riser - VESA Local Bus - PCMCIA - Riser

USB devices

For which type of device will you typically install the driver before you connect the device to your system? - USB devices - Plug-and-play devices - Firewire devices - Hot-swappable devices

63 Explanation: An IEEE 1394 bus can have up to 63 devices. The USB bus supports up to 127 devices. Older SCSI buses support 7 devices (or 8 including the host adapter).

How many devices does a single IEEE 1394 bus support?

D-shaped with 15 pins Explanation A VGA/SVGA monitor uses a high-density (three-row) female DB-15 connector on the computer. Some printers use a Mini Centronics connector, which also has 36-pins. A 6-pin mini-DIN (PS/2 connector) is for keyboard and mouse. A DB-9 (serial) connector is for specialized input devices.

How many pins are on a VGA connector? - D-shaped with 15 pins - D-shaped with 36 pins - Round with 6 pins - Round with 9 pins

- <DEL> to enter BIOS - Settings -> General -> Boot Sequence - Un-check "diskette" - Move CD/DVD up twice, to be first. HDD could then be second already. Hit "Apply", "Exit" then "Done".

Lab 1: -Modify the boot order so that the computer boots first from the optical drive and second from the hard drive. -Disable the floppy drive as a botable device because the computer has no floppy drive.

- Add 3 HDDs - Connect SATA and pwr for each, and connect SATA to mobo - Hit <DEL> to boot to Bios - System Configuration -> SATA Operation: switch from "AHCI" to "RAID on" - Apply and exit BIOS - <CTRL>+<i> - Hit <enter> to 'create a RAID volume' - <enter> - Hit your keyboard down arrow twice to get to RAID 5 - <enter> - <enter> - <enter> - <y> - Hit "Done"

Lab 3: Install a RAID with fault tolerance and improved preformance (RAID 5)

1. 6-pin 2. 4-pin 3. 9-pin

Match each IEEE 1394 connector type with the appropriate pin connector: 1. FireWire 400 and provides power via 12 V wire 2. FireWire 400 and the device must be self-powered 3. Firewire 800 and most commponly found on Apply computers

I/O address, IRQ, DMA channel Explanation The I/O address, IRQ, and DMA channel system resources are automatically assigned for most devices when they are plugged in. Device drivers are not system resources. Drivers are special programs the device needs to be able to communicate with the OS, and vice versa. Usually, device drivers should be downloaded and updated before installing a new device. Digital signatures are not system resources. They verify that the driver package is compatible with the operating system and that the program comes from a reputable source.

Most devices that you install in a system require little to no configuration; they simply work after you plug them in. This is because devices are automatically assigned the system resources needed for the device to begin functioning. What are the three types of system resources that are usually automatically assigned? - I/O address, IRQ, DMA channel - Device drivers, IRQ, interrupt address - Power, I/O address, IRQ - Digital signature, DMA channel, driver updates

Used for cooling high-end video cards - Active heat sink Used for cooling high-end gaming computers - Liquid cooling Has a fan attached to the heat sink - Active heat sink Used for cooling CPUs - Active heat sink Exhausts hot air out of the back of the case - Power supply Used for cooling memory modules - Passive heat sink Used for cooling high-performance systems - Liquid cooling Has no fan attached to the heat sink - Passive heat sink Explanation Active heat sinks have an attached fan that helps cool off the component at a faster rate. Active heat sinks are used with the following components: • CPUs • High-end video cards Passive heat sinks do not have a fan and instead rely on increased surface area and passive air movement to cool the component. Passive heat sinks are used with the following components: • Low-end video cards • Memory modules ATX power supplies aid in cooling by exhausting hot air out the back of the case. Liquid cooling systems are used when air cooling is not sufficient. Because liquid cooling can dissipate heat much faster than air cooling, it is primarily used for high-end gaming computers and high-performance systems. Case fans create a pressurized system that allows air to flow through the case in a specific way.

Match the cooling system types on the left with the appropriate characteristics and uses on the right. Each cooling system type can be used once, more than once, or not at all. (Active, Passive, PSU, Liquid) Used for cooling high-end video cards Used for cooling high-end gaming computers Has a fan attached to the heat sink Used for cooling CPUs Exhausts hot air out of the back of the case Used for cooling memory modules Used for cooling high-performance systems Has no fan attached to the heat sink

Shows while a disk is being converted from a basic disk to a dynamic disk - Initializing Indicates that the disk is turned on and can be accessed and the volume on the disk is valid and has no errors - Healthy Indicates that errors have occurred on physical or dynamic disks - Unavailable Shows when a dynamic disk has been removed or turned off - Offline Explanation The Healthy or Online status indicates that the disk is turned on and can be accessed. The volume on the disk is valid and has no errors. The Initializing process shows while a disk is being converted from a basic disk to a dynamic disk. After the conversion, the status for the volume changes to Healthy. The Unavailable status indicates that errors have occurred on physical or dynamic disks. The Missing status shows when a dynamic disk has been removed or turned off.

Match the disk status on the left with the corresponding description on the right. Each status may be used once, more than once, or not at all. (Offline, Healthy, Unavailable, Initializing) Shows while a disk is being converted from a basic disk to a dynamic disk Indicates that the disk is turned on and can be accessed and the volume on the disk is valid and has no errors Indicates that errors have occurred on physical or dynamic disks Shows when a dynamic disk has been removed or turned off

Used to scan hardware which contains an embedded microchip for authentication - Smart card reader Used to capture some type of analog signal and convert it into digital data - Digitizer Can be stand-alone devices or integrated with other peripherals, such as a keyboard - Smart card reader Used to scan users' unique physical features and use them to verify their identity - Biometric scanner Graphics tablets mostly used by graphic artists to capture hand-drawn images - Digitizer Fingerprint scanner - Biometric scanner Most commonly used in retail environments at checkout stands - Barcode reader Explanation A digitizer captures some type of analog signal and converts it into digital data. For example, graphics tablets capture analog stylus strokes written on a pad and convert them to digital data. These are mostly used by graphic artists to capture hand-drawn images. Smart card readers are used as an authentication method. A smart card, which contains an embedded microchip, is inserted into the reader. The reader then scans the chip, verifies its contents, and authenticates the user. Smart card readers can be stand-alone devices or integrated with other peripherals (e.g., a keyboard). Biometric scanners are used as a form of authentication. They are able to scan users' unique physical features and use them to verify their identity. Common physical features used by biometric scanners include: • Retina • Fingerprint • Face • Heart beat A barcode reader is a device that can scan barcodes. Barcodes are most commonly used in retail environments at checkout stands. Shipping companies, hospitals, and other organizations use barcodes to track or inventory items.

Match the peripheral devices on the left with the descriptions or examples on the right. Each peripheral device may be used once, more than once, or not at all. (Smart card, Digitizer, Biometric, Barcode) Used to scan hardware which contains an embedded microchip for authentication Used to capture some type of analog signal and convert it into digital data Can be stand-alone devices or integrated with other peripherals, such as a keyboard Used to scan users' unique physical features and use them to verify their identity Graphics tablets mostly used by graphic artists to capture hand-drawn images Fingerprint scanner Most commonly used in retail environments at checkout stands

Allows two devices in a computer to send information to each other - I/O address The method used by different system devices to interact with the CPU - IRQ (Interrupt Request) Conduits used by high-speed devices to bypass the CPU and communicate directly with RAM - DMA (Direct Memory Access) Allows a device to request processing time from the CPU - IRQ (Interrupt Request) Each device in a computer must have its own - I/O address

Match the system resources on the left with the descriptions or examples on the right. The system resources may be used once, more than once, or not at all. (DMA, I/O, IRQ) Allows two devices in a computer to send information to each other The method used by different system devices to interact with the CPU Conduits used by high-speed devices to bypass the CPU and communicate directly with RAM Allows a device to request processing time from the CPU Each device in a computer must have its own

/proc Explanation The /proc directory is actually dynamically created whenever you access it. /proc contains the devices file that lists all the hardware devices that are configured in the system. /proc also contains the cpuinfo file with information about the processor installed in the system and the dma file which contains a list of DMA channel assignments.

On a Linux system, what is the name of the directory where you will find a text file called devices that contains information about the devices that are configured on the system? /hwinfo /proc /dev /sys /root

1. Intel 2. 4096 MB 3. 1610 4. 3 5. Enabled 6. Diskette <DEL> System Information (answers #1-4) Boot sequence (#6) System Configuration -> Integrated NIC (#5)

Search the BIOS for the following information: 1. Brand of cpu 2. Amount of RAM 3. BIOS Version number 4. Number of hard drives 5. Status of NIC 6. First device to boot

Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 800x600 and 1600x1200? - 4:3 Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 1680×1050 and 1920×1200? - 16:10 Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 1280×720 and 1920×1080? - 16:9 Explanation The aspect ratio is the proportion between the width and height of a resolution. Aspect ratios are used by both display devices and video content. The following are the three most commonly used aspect ratios: • 4:3 is used primarily by analog TV broadcasts and older flat-panel and CRT displays. Typical resolutions include 800x600 and 1600x1200. • 16:9 is a widescreen aspect ratio used by HDTVs, computer displays, and most production films. Typical resolutions include 1280x720 and 1920x1080. • 16:10 is a widescreen aspect ratio used exclusively by computer display devices. Typical resolutions include 1680x1050 and 1920x1200.

Select the aspect ratio that applies to the display types listed. Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 800x600 and 1600x1200? Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 1680×1050 and 1920×1200? Which aspect ratio applies to displays with resolutions of 1280×720 and 1920×1080?

1. IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 2. USB 3. IEEE 1394 (FireWire) 4. USB 5. IEEE 1394 (FireWire) Explanation: The IEEE 1394 (FireWire) standard: - Uses a serial bus using twisted-pair wiring for data transport -Supports up to 63 devices on one IEEE 1394 (FireWire) bus. -Capable of isochronous data transmissions, which provides a constant, uninterrupted bandwidth -Supports plug and play and hot plugging (devices can be added and removed without rebooting) USB is capable of asynchronous data transmissions, which relies on communication with the CPU so it cannot provide uninterrupted bandwidth.

The IEEE 1394 (FireWire) standard if often compared to USB. Each standard has unique features. 1. Capable of isochonous data transmissions 2. Provides up to 9 W of power via a 5 V wire 3. Provides up to 60 W of power via a 12 V wire 4. Capable of asynchronous data transmissions 5. Supports peer-to-peer transfers

CPU Thermal paste should be applied to the CPU such that it will facilitate heat dissipation from the CPU to the heat sink. The thermal paste helps create a good contact between the CPU and the heat sink so that heat can move between the two. Processors require some form of heat dissipation system to function properly. Without a heat dissipation system, a processor will overheat and burn out in less than a minute. Most modern CPUs require a heat sink and a fan.

To which of the following objects should thermal paste be applied? - CPU power connector - CPU - Fan - Heat sink - Motherboard

Bar code reader Explanation Installing a bar code reader will allow you to take inventory at a retail store by scanning the UPC symbols on products. A scanner is used to scan documents. A touch screen is an interactive monitor for a computer. A trackball is a type of mouse.

Which of the following devices would you add to a computer if you needed to take inventory at a retail store by scanning the UPC symbols on products? - Trackball - Scanner - Touch Screen - Bar code reader

CPU, thermal paste, heat sink, fan

What is the correct order for installing a processor for proper cooling? - CPU, heat sink, thermal paste, fan - CPU, thermal paste, heat sink, fan - Heat sink, CPU, thermal paste, fan - Thermal paste, CPU, heat sink, fan

WUXGA has a widescreen aspect ratio. Explanation WUXGA uses a widescreen (16:10) aspect ratio. The aspect ratio describes the relative width and height of the screen. Though the screen for a WUXGA screen is larger in size, technically the resolution is similar to UXGA but it is adjusted for the wider aspect ratio. The contrast ratio is a description of the relative difference between white and black, and is independent of the screen resolution. All LCD monitors are capable of using the entire screen for displaying images.

What is the difference between UXGA and WUXGA displays? - WUXGA has a higher contrast ratio. - WUXGA is capable of using the entire screen for images. - WUXGA has a widescreen aspect ratio. - WUXGA has a lower screen resolution.

4.5 meters The maximum length for the IEEE 1394b is 100 meters.

What is the maximum cable length for the IEEE 1394a standard?

400 Mbps

What is the maximum data transfer rate of an IEEE 1394a device?

POST Explanation: POST stands for power on self-test, and is the routine that tests system hardware on startup. The BIOS chip is firmware (hardware hard-coded with software) attached to the motherboard and is essential in booting the computer. The CMOS battery supplies power to the real-time clock to maintain the date and time.

What is the name for the routine that tests the motherboard, memory, disk controllers, video, keyboard and other system hardware? - POST - CMOS - CSST - BIOS

Save information about system devices Explanation: The CMOS saves information about system devices. The BIOS tests hardware during system startup, coordinates the use of system hardware with the operating system, and loads the operating system into memory.

What is the role of the CMOS in a modern computer? - Test hardware during system startup - Loads the operation system into memory - Saves information about system devices - Coordinates the use of system hardware with the operating system

UEFI Explanation: UEFI was designed to replace the BIOS and is a firmware solution for controlling the startup process and loading the computer operating system into memory. CMOS is a legacy computer chip technology that was used for storing system information prior to the introduction of EEPROM. EEPROM is a non-volatile memory chip that stores the system startup information configured through UEFI. BIOS 2 does not exist.

What technology was designed to replace the BIOS and is a firmware solution for controlling the startup process and loading the computer operating system into memory? - BIOS 2 - CMOS - EEPROM - UEFI

Touch pad Explanation Touch pads are typically found on notebook computers and are used in place of a mouse. Users slide their finger on the touch pad to manipulate the cursor. Motion sensors are devices that are able to detect the slightest amount of movement in an area. They are typically used with security systems and require special software and configuration. Gamepads are handheld controllers with directional controls on the left and buttons on the right. Scanners are used to scan hard-copy images and documents and convert them into digital input for the PC. A mouse is a hand-held device used to manipulate the cursor.

What type of peripheral device is typically found on a notebook computer and allows the user to control the cursor with a finger? - Mouse - Motion sensor - Touch pad - Gamepads - Scanner

Whenever a BIOS update provides functionality that is not currently supported but that is required by the operating system or hardware. Explanation In general, you need to upgrade the system BIOS whenever the current BIOS does not support a function required by the operating system or by the hardware. Use the CMOS program to change system configuration settings used by the BIOS.

When do you need to upgrade the system BIOS? - Whenever you add a new peripheral device, such as a keyboard, mouse, or printer. - Whenever the BIOS settings need to be modified. - Whenever installing a new hard disk drive. - Whenever a BIOS update provides functionality that is not currently supported but that is required by the operating system or hardware.

The CMOS battery has failed. Explanation: The system Time and date are managed by the Real Time Clock (RTC) in the BIOS. If the CMOS memory battery goes dead, the RTC reverts back to a default date and time.

When you boot the computer, it hangs after asking you for the current time and date. What is the most likely problem? - The computer needs more RAM - The BIOS is outdated. - Daylight Savings Time has started or ended. - The CMOS battery has failed.

Between the heat sink and CPU Explanation Thermal paste or a thermal pad is found between the heat sink and the CPU. The thermal paste helps to make a good contact between the CPU and the heat sink so that heat can move between the two. Processors require some form of heat dissipation system to function properly. Without a heat dissipation system, a processor will overheat and burn out in less than a minute. Most modern CPUs require a heat sink and a fan.

Where should the thermal paste go when installing a processor? - Between the heat sink and CPU - Between the motherboard and CPU - Between the heat sink and fan - Between the CPU and fan

IEEE 1394.3 The IEEE 1394.3 version added peer-to-peer data transmission support to the IEEE1394 standard. This allows data to be transferred from one device to another without going through a computer.

Which IEEE version supports peer-to-peer transmission of data? - 1394a - 1394b - 1394.3 - 1394

Processing Explanation Processing is the flow of data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions. Storage is the act of saving or maintaining data. Output is the processes of presenting, displaying, or giving data. Networking is the practice of connecting two or more computers.

Which computer function takes data through a series of procedures as defined by a set of instructions? - Networking - Processing - Storage - Output

USB A Explanation A mouse is most commonly attached to a computer using a USB A connector. 6-pin mini-DIN connectors were used to attach a mouse in the past, however mini-DIN connectors are not used today. DB-15 connector with two rows is commonly used for joysticks. The DB-15 connector with three rows is used for connecting CRT monitors to the video card. The RJ-45 connector is used for Ethernet network connections. USB B connectors are commonly used for connecting printers and scanners.

Which connector on the back of a computer is used to attach a mouse to a modern PC system? - Low-density (two row), female DB-15 - Mini-DIN - USB A - High-density (three row), female DB-15 - USB B - RJ-45

Mini-ITX Explanation Mini-ITX motherboards are designed for lower-power, small form factor computers. Some Mini-ITX motherboards are designed to be used with 100 watt power supplies.

Which motherboard form factor allows for low-consumption power supplies? - microATX - NLX - EATX - Mini-ITX

- Create a pressurized system inside the case - Pull cool air from the front and blow hot air out the back Explanation Case fans create a pressurized system that allows air to flow through the case in a specific way. • Intake fans (at the front) pull air inside the case to cool components. • Outtake fans (at the back and top) exhaust warm air from inside the case. Because all computers generate heat, case fans are necessary on even basic computers to properly dissipate heat and prevent overheating issues. Even though intake case fans will pull in dust and debris, having all the case fans exhaust air would be extremely inefficient and could cause overheating issues. Case fan filters can be installed if dust and debris is an issue.

Which of the following accurately describes case fans? (Select two.) - Do not have a specific design for moving air - To reduce dust and debris, they should all be exhausting hot air - Create a pressurized system inside the case - Only necessary on high-end gaming systems - Pull cool air from the front and blow hot air out the back

Remove unused expansion card slot covers. Explanation Do not remove unused expansion slot covers from a system case. The system case is a pressurized system, with carefully designed airflow that directs outside air across components and then out of the case. When you remove the system cover or expansion card covers, you modify the airflow path, which typically reduces the cooling effectiveness of the system fans.

Which of the following actions is not recommended for keeping your computer cool? - Use rounded cables. - Remove unused expansion card slot covers. - Keep internal components clean. - Add a liquid cooling system. - Add heat sinks to memory, video, and chipset components.

- Printer - Motherboard Explanation The physical components that compose a computer system or network. Common hardware components include the following: • Keyboard, mouse, monitor, printer • Connectors and cables • Hard Disk Drives • Circuit boards Instructions or data that are stored electronically, either on a hard drive or a special chip. Software components include the following: • Operating systems • Program applications • Hardware drivers (special programs that tell the operating system how to use the hardware)

Which of the following are considered computer hardware? (Select two.) - Printer - Operating System - Motherboard - Drivers - Microsoft Office

- Keyboard - Microphone - Scanner Explanation The movement of data or commands to the internal computer hardware. Input devices include: • Keyboard • Touchscreen • Scanner • Digital camera • Microphone RAM is considered a processing device. A monitor and printer are considered output devices.

Which of the following are considered input devices? (Select three.) - Keyboard - Printer - RAM - Monitor - Microphone - Scanner

- Supports 64-bit firmware device drivers - Supports drives larger than 2.2 TB - Faster startup times Explanation: UEFI provides the following benefits over the functionality of BIOS: • Faster startup times • Supports drives larger than 2.2 terabytes • Supports 64-bit firmware device drivers • Provides better security to protect against bootkit (malware attacks on the boot process) attacks Similar to BIOS, UEFI does need to be flashed when updates are available to make new features available on the computer. EEPROM is the technology that provides non-volatile memory and allows individual bytes to be erased and reprogrammed.

Which of the following are improvements over BIOS that are provided by UEFI? (Select three.) - Allows individual bytes to be erased and reprogrammed - Does not need to be flashed as frequently - Supports 64-bit firmware device drivers - Supports drives larger than 2.2 TB - Faster startup times - Provides non-volatile storage of system startup information

1280 x 1024 5:4 aspect ratio Explanation A SXGA (super extended) display has a resolution of 1280 x 1024 and an aspect ratio of 5:4. VGA has a resolution of 1024 x 768, and UXGA has a resolution of 1600 x 1200. Widescreen aspect ratios include "W" in the name. For example, WUXGA has a 16:10 aspect ratio (resolution of 1920 x 1200).

Which of the following are true of the SXGA screen resolution? (Select two.) - 1600 x 1200 - 1280 x 1024 - 4:3 aspect ratio - 16:10 aspect ratio - 5:4 aspect ratio

- The memory controller must support dual-channels. - Bandwidth is increased by 5-15%. Explanation Dual-channel systems increase the memory bandwidth by only 5-15%, although it does have a 100% theoretical increase. Dual-channel support is mainly a function of the motherboard (e.g., the memory controller), not the memory itself. DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 can all work in dual-channel systems (depending on the memory supported by the motherboard); a triple channel system can only use DDR3.

Which of the following are true regarding a dual-channel memory bandwidth configuration? (Select two.) - The memory controller must support dual-channels. - Bandwidth is increased by 5-15%. - Only DDR2 memory is supported. - Bandwidth is double.

More reliable than active heat sinks Explanation Passive heat sinks do not have a fan and instead rely on increased surface area and passive air movement to cool the component. Because they do not use a fan, passive heat sinks are 100% reliable. Passive heat sinks are used with the following components: • Most motherboard chipsets • Low-end video cards • Memory modules (heat sinks on memory modules are also called heat spreaders) Active heat sinks use a fan and are able to cool components much faster and more efficiently than passive heat sinks. Liquid-based cooling systems use cooling plates and thermal liquid to dissipate heat from components.

Which of the following characteristics accurately describe passive heat sinks? - Used by liquid-based cooling systems - More efficient than active heat sinks - Used on high-end video cards - More reliable than active heat sinks

EEPROM chips Explanation EEPROM chips are a non-volatile memory technology for saving system settings when the computer is powered off. EEPROM are ROM chips that have replaced CMOS chips (which needed the CMOS battery power to save system settings). Now, the CMOS battery is only used to keep the real-time clock running.

Which of the following components is a non-volatile memory technology for saving system settings when the computer is powered off? - CMOS chips - EEPROM chips - BIOS password - CMOS battery

BIOS/UEFI Explanation: The basic input/output system (BIOS) and unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) are examples of firmware. BIOS/UEFI is a software program that is stored on a non-volatile, removable, or erasable semiconductor chip. Cache is an area of memory that holds recently-accessed data. Random Access Memory (RAM) is a temporary data storage location that can be read from and written to. Cache and RAM are all examples of volatile memory. Data is lost when power is no longer supplied to the component. EEPROM is a type of read-only, non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store relatively small amounts of data.

Which of the following components is an example of firmware? - EEPROM - Cache - RAM - BIOS/UEFT

CMOS battery Explanation: Formerly, the CMOS battery was needed to save system settings when the computer was powered off. Now EEPROM chips (EEPROM are ROM chips) have replaced CMOS chips, so the battery isn't needed to save system settings.

Which of the following components is necessary to keep the real-time clock running? - EEPROM chips - CMOS battery - CMOS chips - BIOS password

Loss of Power Explanation: Losing power while flashing the BIOS could cause permanent problems with the computer. Some computers switch into standby mode after a certain time period. Be sure to disable standby mode before attempting a BIOS upgrade.

Which of the following could be detrimental while flashing the BIOS? - Low humidity - Application of power - Loss of power - High humidity

PCI Express Explanation: The PCI Express expansion buses are most commonly used for video cards in modern computer systems. PCI buses are most commonly used for devices such as sound cards, modems, network cards, and storage device controllers. While you can use PCI for video, better performance is obtained from PCI Express. CNR is a legacy on-motherboard slot to support networking, wireless communication, sound, or modem functions. AMR slots are also legacy buses provided on some motherboards for riser cards to support sound or modem functions.

Which of the following expansion buses are most commonly used for video cards in modern computer systems? - AMR - PCI Express - CNR - PCI

PCI Explanation: PCI buses are most commonly used for devices such as sound cards, modems, and network cards. The AGP and VESA expansion buses are most commonly used for video. ISA buses were used to connect peripheral cards to the motherboard, but are considered a legacy device and are no longer available in newer systems.

Which of the following expansion buses is most commonly used for devices such as sound cards, modems, and network cards? - VESA Local Bus - ISA - PCI - AGP

PCIe Explanation: PCIe was developed to replace PCI, PCI-X, and AGP. Instead of a shared bus, each PCIe slot links to a switch that prioritizes and routes data through a point-to-point dedicated connection and provides a serial, full-duplex method of transmission.

Which of the following expansion buses uses a point-to-point dedicated connection and provides a serial full-duplex method of transmission? - AGP - PCIe - PCI - PCI-X - VESA Local Bus

NLX Explanation The NLX form factor uses a riser card in the middle of the system board (expansion slots are located on the riser card rather than the system board). The BTX form factor was designed for better thermal management. microATX is a smaller version of the ATX form factor with fewer expansion slots. The ATX form factor is the most common form factor.

Which of the following form factors does not have expansion slots on the motherboard, but instead uses a riser card for expansion cards? - ATX - Micro-ATX - NLX - BTX

CMOS Explanation: CMOS is a general term for the program that stores important system information related to the starting of a computer. Data held in CMOS includes the hard disk type and configuration, the order of boot devices to try, and other configurable settings related to the system hardware. UEFI is firmware that was designed to replace BIOS. The UEFI program controls the startup process of a computer and loads the operating system into memory. Cache is an area of memory that holds recently-accessed data. Random Access Memory (RAM) is a temporary data storage location that can be read from and written to.

Which of the following is a general term for the program that holds system information related to the starting of a computer? - CMOS - DRAM - Cache memory - UEFI

Touchscreen Explanation A touchscreen is considered an input device. A touchscreen is a monitor that can receive input through touch. A hard disk is a magnetic storage device used to store computer data. RAM is the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices such as printers. A computer monitor is an output device that consists of the multiple components that make up a computer's display system.

Which of the following is considered an input devices? - Hard disk - Monitor - Touchscreen - RAM

LEDs are used to backlight the screen. Explanation Modern LCDs use LEDs (light-emitting diodes) to backlight the screen. Older LCD monitors use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) for backlighting. Plasma displays use millions of small cells that contain electrically charged ionized gases and don't need backlighting. RGB-LED displays are available on modern LCD displays; they have an array of special LEDs that are able to emit red, green, and blue light, resulting in superior color accuracy but are the most expensive type of backlighting technology.

Which of the following is true of modern LCD monitors regarding backlighting? - LEDs are used to backlight the screen. - Cold cathode florescent (CCFL) are used for backlighting. - Red, green, and blue light provide the least expensive type of backlighting technology. - Small cells containing electrically-charged ionized gas that don't need backlighting.

They can be added to or removed from a system without shutting down the computer. Explanation Most newer SATA drives are hot swappable, which means • They can be added and removed without shutting down the computer • Windows automatically detects the device, configures a driver (if one is not already installed), and enables the device

Which of the following is true of most newer SATA drives? - They can be added to or removed from a system without shutting down the computer. - They can be added to or removed from a system without shutting down the computer, but they must be enabled from Device Manager. - After you install the latest driver from Device Manager, they can be added to or removed from a system without shutting down the computer. - They can be plugged into a system without shutting down the computer, but not removed without shutting down.

Throttling Explanation Throttling modifies the operating characteristics of a processor based on current conditions. Overclocking is a feature offered on special motherboards that causes the processor to operate at a higher speed. A multi-core processor has multiple processor cores integrated into a single processor package. Hyper-threading is a feature of some Intel processors that allows the CPU to process threads in parallel. Caching, when used to describe processors, is a temporary storage area for data that is waiting for the processor.

Which of the following processor features is used to dynamically reduce power consumption based on current operating conditions? - Caching - Multi-core - Overclocking - Throttling - Hyper-threading

IEEE 1394b Explanation: IEEE 1394b (also known as Firewire 800) provides for data transfers of up to 800 Mmps and a cable length of 100 meters. IEEE 1394a (Firewire 400) provides for data transfers of up to 400 Mbps and a cable length of up to 4.5 meters. USB 2.0 specifications allow for data transfer rates of up 480Mbps and cable lengths up to 5 meters. IEEE 1284 (parallel) has a data transfer maximum of 2 Mbps with a maximum cable length of 10 meters. RS-232 (serial) operates at relatively slow speeds but over longer distances.

Which of the following standards provides for data transfer rates up to 800 Mbps with a maximum cable length of 100 meters? - IEEE 1394a - RS-232 - IEEE 1284 - USB 2.0 - IEEE 1394b

- DisplayPort uses a lower voltage than DVI or HDMI. - DisplayPort can send both video and audio signals over the same cable. Explanation DisplayPort is an alternative to an HDMI connector. DisplayPort uses a different signal format than DVI or HDMI. However, DisplayPort supports sending DVI or HDMI signals over the same port using a simple adapter. DisplayPort uses a digital-only signal. To connect a VGA monitor to a DisplayPort, you will need a special active converter that reformats the signal for analog devices. Like HDMI, DisplayPort can send audio signals over the same cable (if audio is supported by the video card and monitor). DisplayPort uses lower voltage than DVI and HDMI. References

Which of the following statements are true about the DisplayPort interface for connecting video monitors to computers? (Select two.) - DisplayPort uses a lower voltage than DVI or HDMI. - DisplayPort carries both analog and digital signals. - DisplayPort is electrically equivalent to DVI and HDMI. - DisplayPort can send both video and audio signals over the same cable.

Single-sided memory uses half the number of memory modules as double-sided memory of the same capacity. Explanation Single-sided memory uses half the number of memory modules as double-sided memory of the same capacity. Single-sided RAM has memory modules that are organized into a single logical bank; double-sided RAM has modules organized into two banks. Because the computer can only access data in one bank at a time, single-sided RAM allows access to all of the memory, while with double-sided RAM, the computer must switch between banks. Originally, double-sided RAM had modules on both sides of the circuit board, and single-sided RAM had modules on only one side. However, you can also have double-sided RAM with modules on only one side, where internally the memory is divided into separate banks.

Which of the following statements is true regarding single- and double-sided memory? - Double-sided RAM always has modules on both sides of the circuit board. - Single-sided RAM can be organized into two banks. - Single-sided memory uses half the number of memory modules as double-sided memory of the same capacity. - Double-sided RAM allows the computer to access all of the memory.

Hot-swappable Explanation: Inserting and removing PC cards without rebooting the computer is called hot-swapping. This feature is also called dynamic reconfiguration. Plug-and-Play devices are automatically detected by the system and the driver is automatically loaded. Unless the bus and the device is hot-swappable, Plug-and-Play devices should be added or removed with the system shut down. AT Attachment (ATA) is the s

Which of the following terms describes a PC card that you can insert and remove without rebooting the computer? - AT attachment - Hot-swappable - Hot-play - Plug-and-Play

Contrast ratio Explanation The contrast ratio identifies the relative difference between white and black. A higher contrast ratio means a better screen. Pitch is the distance between pixels. Resolution is the number of pixels in the display. Brightness is a measure of the intensity of the light coming from the display. The aspect ratio is the ratio of the width and the height.

Which of the following terms describes the difference between white and black in an LCD monitor? - Resolution - Aspect ratio - Brightness - Contrast ratio - Pitch

Passive heat sink Explanation Memory modules use passive heat sinks (also called heat spreaders). They do not have a fan because they rely on increased surface area and passive air movement to cool them. Surface area dissipation is a generic term for cooling used by both active and passive cooling systems. Active heat sinks are used by components that generate more heat, such as CPUs, high-end video cards, and some motherboard chipsets with integrated graphics. Liquid cooling systems are used when air cooling is not sufficient. Liquid-based cooling systems are composed of tubes, cooling plates, a reservoir, and a radiator; they are primarily used for high-end gaming computers and high-performance systems.

Which of the following thermal solutions might you find on memory modules? - Liquid cooling - Surface area dissipation - Active heat sink - Passive heat sink

HDMI DVI-D Explanation High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a digital video and audio connector used for high-definition digital audio and video. A DVI-D (digital video-digital) connection provides digital output. A DVI-I (digital video-integrated) connection also provides digital output as it sends both a digital and an analog signal. Most video cards have DVI-I ports that allow you to connect both digital and analog monitors. A DVI-A (digital video-analog) connection is used only for analog video signals, and will be found on cables but rarely (if ever) a video card itself. A composite video connection on a video card provides analog, video-only TV output in a single channel. S-video (separate-video, Y/C, or S-VHS) supply analog, video-only TV output in two channels. An HDTV connector supplies analog, video-only TV output in three separate channels.

Which of the following video card connectors provides digital video output? (Select two.) - HDMI - DVI-D - S-video - DVI-A - Composite

- Keep the ambient temperature below 80°F. - Leave space between the case and any walls or obstructions. - Bundle cables together and secure unused cables to the case. Explanation Consider the following recommendations to ensure optimal system cooling: • Keep the case free of dust and debris. Excess dust can restrict airflow and prevent proper heat transfer. • Reduce the number of airflow obstructions. • Employ proper cable management (e.g., bundle cables together and secure unused cables to the case). • Space out multiple hard disk drives instead of stacking them next to each other. • Maintain appropriate ambient temperatures. Optimal ambient temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. • Ensure proper ventilation; leave space between the computer and any walls or desks. • Preserve negative pressure inside the case by keeping all covers and shields installed (e.g., unused expansion cards, I/O shield, front drive bays).

Which of the following will ensure optimal system cooling? (Select three.) - Keep the ambient temperature below 80°F. - Stack hard drives next to each other. - Remove the side panel on the case. - Remove unused expansion slot covers to increase air flow. - Leave space between the case and any walls or obstructions. - Bundle cables together and secure unused cables to the case.

Explanation Virtual machines place a very heavy load on the host hypervisor's RAM and CPU. Video and audio performance is of secondary concern. Therefore, the most important criteria to be included in the design for this workstation would be: • 32 GB PC4-21300 DDR4 RAM • 4 TB SATA HD • Integrated video adapter A CAD / CAM workstation also places a heavy load on the the system CPU and RAM. In addition, because of the extensive mathematical calculations used by the software on these systems, it is strongly recommended that ECC memory be used. A high-end video adapter that uses GDDR5 memory instead of DDR3 memory is also recommended. The following hardware would be sufficient: • 2 GB GDDR5 PCIe video adapter • 16 GB PC3-21300 DDR4 ECC RAM • 1 TB SATA HD A home theater PC (HTPC) is a dedicated system that is optimized to play media on a television set. The following hardware would be appropriate: • HDMI output • Compact form factor • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • TV tuner adapter

You are a PC technician for a national computer retailer. A business customer asks you to build three custom computers to be used by employees at a branch office: • CAD / CAM Design Workstation • Home Theater PC • Virtualization Workstation Drag and drop each PC hardware configuration on the left to the most appropriate workstation type on the right. CAD / CAM Design Workstation • 2 GB GDDR5 PCIe video adapter • 16 GB PC3-21300 DDR4 ECC RAM • 1 TB SATA HD Virtualization Workstation • 32 GB PC4-21300 DDR4 RAM • 4 TB SATA HD • Integrated video adapter Home Theater PC • HDMI output • Compact form factor • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • TV tuner adapter

Explanation A home office server needs to store a lot of data quickly and reliably. Video and audio performance are of less concern. However, the increased number of storage devices require an upgraded power supply. The following hardware would be sufficient for this system: • 2 TB RAID 5 disk array • 600 W power supply • No audio adapter • Integrated video adapter A thick client needs to be able to run desktop applications locally and also needs to be able to connect to a remote desktop session. As such, it only needs to meet the minimum requirements for the local operating system and installed applications. The following hardware would be sufficient: • 400 W power supply • 500 GB SATA HD • 512 MB PCIe video adapter • Basic desktop applications installed A gaming PC needs high-end graphics and audio, such as dual SLI-linked video adapters. These devices consume a lot of power, so a high-end power supply will be required, as well as additional cooling capacity. The following hardware would be appropriate: • 1000 W power supply • 1 TB SATA HD • Dual SLI 6 GB PCIe video adapters • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • Liquid CPU cooler

You are a PC technician for a national computer retailer. A customer asks you to build three custom computers for him to use at his home office: • Gaming PC • Home Office Server • Thick Client Workstation Drag and drop each PC hardware configuration on the left to the most appropriate workstation type on the right. Home Office Server • 2 TB RAID 5 disk array • 600 W power supply • No audio adapter • Integrated video adapter Gaming PC • 1000 W power supply • 1 TB SATA HD • Dual SLI 6 GB PCIe video adapters • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • Liquid CPU cooler Thick Client Workstation • 400 W power supply • 500 GB SATA HD • 512 MB PCIe video adapter • Basic desktop applications installed

Explanation Audio/video editing workstation: • Select the most powerful processor that you can afford. Audio and video editing applications require a great deal of processing power. A 64-bit multi-core processor should be the minimum processor considered. • Implement a high-end video adapter with dual displays. Audio and video editing applications require extensive video processing and screen real estate. • Implement a high-end audio adapter and speaker system. • Implement a very large and very fast hard disk drive. Audio and video editing applications require extensive disk space and speed. You may want to consider using an SSD drive instead of a traditional hard disk. Virtualization workstation: • Virtualization hosts require extensive RAM and CPU processing power. Each virtual machine running on the system must share the system processor and RAM; therefore, you need to implement the maximum amount of RAM supported by the motherboard in dual- or triple-channel mode. • A 64-bit multi-core processor should be the minimum processor considered. You may want to consider a system with multiple processors. • (Video and audio performance are of secondary concern.) Gaming system: • Gaming applications require a great deal of processing power. A 64-bit multi-core processor should be the minimum processor considered. • Gaming applications can cause the systems processor, RAM, and video adapter to generate excessive heat. You should implement a high-end cooling solution to dissipate this heat. • Implement a high-end video adapter with a GPU. Gaming applications require a great deal of video processing. • Implement a high-end audio adapter with a surround-sound speaker system. Home theater system: • Implement a high-end audio adapter with a surround-sound speaker system. • Implement a video adapter with a TV tuner and HDMI output. • To save space, you may want to select a system that uses the Home Theater PC (HTPC) compact form factor. Thin client: • A thin client only needs to be able to connect to a remote desktop session. As such, it needs to meet only the minimum requirements for running Windows locally. • A thin client workstation needs to be optimized to run only very basic applications. Ensure the system has enough processing power, disk space, and RAM to support the applications that will be installed on it. • Install the fastest network adapter supported by the network it will be connected to. Gigabit speeds (or faster) are recommended. This will help ensure that the remote desktop session provides a reasonable end-user experience. Home or small office server: • A home or small office server is typically used for media streaming, file sharing, and printer sharing. As such, you should install the fastest network adapter supported by the network it will be connected to. Gigabit speeds (or faster) are recommended. • You should implement a storage solution that provides both speed and redundancy to protect data. You should consider using a RAID array that uses striping (for performance) along with mirroring or parity (for protection). RAID 5, RAID 1+0, or RAID 0+1 would be good choices. • A 64-bit multi-core processor should be the minimum processor considered. • Implement the recommended amount of RAM for your server operating system in dual- or triple-channel mode.

You are a PC technician for a national computer retailer. You are asked to build each of the systems listed on the right. You need to use the most appropriate hardware components to ensure that each of these systems will fulfill its intended role. Drag and drop the most appropriate list of components on the left to the system type on the right that needs those components to accomplish the work it is expected to do. (One list of components will not be the most appropriate for any of the systems listed on the right.) Home Office Server • 2 TB RAID 5 disk array • 600W power supply • No audio adapter • Integrated video adapter Gaming PC • 1000W power supply • 1 TB SATA HD • Dual SLI 6GB PCIe video adapters • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • Liquid CPU cooler Home Theater PC • HDMI output • Compact form factor • 5.1 channel surround sound adapter • TV tuner adapter Virtualization Workstation • AMD 12-core, 4 GHz CPU • 4 TB SATA HD • 32 GB DDR4 RAM • Hardware-assisted virtualization Thin Client Workstation • Intel Celeron dual-core , 2.7 GHz CPU • 500 GB SATA HD • 2 GB DDR3 RAM • Few or no applications installed Audio/Video Editing Workstation • Intel Core i7 six-core, 3.4 GHz CPU • 2 TB SSD SATA HD • 16 GB DDR4 RAM • High-end audio adapter with speaker system • High-end video adapter with dual displays

Parallel port Explanation A D-shaped, 25-pin connector connects to the parallel port (DB-25 port) of a computer. Parallel connectors are used with older devices, such as dot matrix printers. Serial ports have nine pins and are used with serial devices (e.g., barcode scanners). VGA ports have 15 pins (three rows of five pins) and are used with VGA monitors. USB ports are rectangular in shape and are typically not used with older devices.

You are connecting an older, dot matrix printer to a computer. The printer's cable is a D-shaped connector with 25 pins. Which port type does the printer connect to? - Serial port - Parallel port - USB port - VGA port

DVI Explanation Modern digital monitors use a DVI connector (typically DVI-D or DVI-I). Serial DB-15 connectors are used for external serial devices such as modems. DB-15 3-row connectors are used to connect older analog SVGA monitors. Firewire 6-pin connectors are used to connect firewire devices such as external hard disks and video cameras.

You are helping a customer over the phone who needs to connect a monitor that uses a digital interface. Which port should you instruct her to look for on the back of her PC? - DVI - Serial DB-15 - SVGA DB-15 3-row - Firewire 6-pin

- The driver has been tested by Microsoft. - The driver file has not been altered. Explanation: A Microsoft digital signature is your assurance that a particular file has met a certain level of testing, and that the file has not been altered or overwritten by another program's installation process. Unfortunately, this testing cannot completely eliminate the possibility of drivers interfering with each other, nor can it ensure that the most recent driver has been installed. Later drivers can be installed, and both the earlier and more recent drivers may carry digital signatures from Microsoft. Typically, separate drivers are provided for 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows.

You are installing an updated driver for a hardware device on your system. A dialog box displays indicating that Microsoft has digitally signed the driver you are installing. What benefits does driver signing provide? (Select two.) - The driver has been tested by Microsoft. - The driver will not interfere with other devices on the system. - The driver file has not been altered. - The driver being installed is compatible with 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows. - The driver being installed is the most recent driver available.

Speaker Explanation A TRS connector is used for audio connectors such as speakers and microphones. Keyboards use either a PS/2 connector or a USB connector. Joysticks typically use a USB connector, though some connect through a DB-15 connector. Monitors use one of the many graphic ports, such as a VGA port, DVI port, or HDMI port.

You are looking at a female TRS connector on the computer. Which device uses this connector? - Keyboard - Monitor - Joystick - Speaker

VGA/SVGA monitors Explanation A VGA/SVGA monitor uses a high-density (three-row) female DB-15 connector on the computer. Serial devices, such as external modems, connect to a male DB-9 connector. IEEE 1284 parallel devices, such as printers, connect to DB-25 connectors. USB storage devices use USB connectors.

You are looking at a high-density (three-row) female DB-15 connector on the computer as shown in the figure below (not pictured, it is blue and the middle row is 1/2 pin staggered to the right of the other two). What device uses this connector? - External modems that use a serial port - VGA/SVGA monitors - IEEE 1284 printers - USB storage devices

D-shaped with 15 pins Explanation VGA ports, also called DE-15 ports, are named for their characteristic D-shape and 15 pins. A D-shaped port with 25 pins describes a parallel ports. A round port with 6 pins describes a PS/2 port. A rectangle port with one beveled corner describes a DisplayPort.

You are providing telephone support for a user who is trying to connect a computer to a projector. You know that the projector only has a VGA port. How would you describe the connector that the user should look for? - Rectangle with one beveled corner - D-shaped with 15 pins - D-shaped with 25 pins - Round with 6 pins

- RAID 1+0 array - 64-bit multi-core processor Explanation The following hardware selection criteria would be most important for a PC system that will be used as a file and printer server in a small business: • RAID 1+0 array • 64-bit multi-core processor A high-end video board with HDMI output would not be required for a server system. A RAID 0 array offers performance, but does not protect data with redundancy.

You are purchasing a PC system that will be used as a file and print server in a small business. Which hardware selection criteria would be most important for this system? (Select two.) - RAID 0 array - HDMI output - RAID 1+0 array - 64-bit multi-core processor - High-end video adapter with GPU

Gigabit Ethernet adapter Explanation A thin client only needs to be able to connect to a remote desktop session. As such, it only needs to meet the minimum requirements for running Windows locally. You should select a system with the fastest network adapter supported by the network it will be connected to. Gigabit speeds (or faster) are recommended. This will help ensure that the remote desktop session provides a reasonable end-user experience. A RAID 0 array, high-end video adapter, or 8-core CPU really isn't needed in this type of system.

You are purchasing several PC system that will be used as thin clients in a large organization. Which hardware selection criteria would be most important for this system? - RAID 0 array - 64-bit 8-core processor - High-end video adapter - Gigabit Ethernet adapter

LCD display with TN panel Explanation LCD displays with TN panels are the most common technology used by LCDs. TN panels have very good response times (1-5 ms) and refresh rates (60-144 Hz), so they are great for PC gaming. They are more affordable and have faster response times than LCDs with IPS panels, use far less power than a plasma display, and far more affordable than OLED displays.

You are putting together a gaming system and need to make sure you get a display that meets your needs. The display needs to have a very good response time, and you would prefer that it be affordable and power efficient. Which type of display is most likely to meet these needs? - OLED display with wide angle viewing - LCD display with IPS panel - Plasma display with no motion blur - LCD display with TN panel

LCD display with IPS panel Explanation LCD displays with IPS panels have the best color reproduction quality and viewing angles among LCDs. TN panels have imperfect color reproduction due to the fact that only 6-bits per color can be displayed and have poor viewing angles. LCDs with IPS panels use far less power and run much cooler than plasma displays. They are more expensive than LCDs with TN panels but are still more affordable than OLED displays.

You are putting together a system for a graphic artist and need to make sure you get a display that meets her needs. The display needs to have very good color reproduction quality and viewing angles. The display needs to run cool and be power efficient. Which type of display is most likely to meet these needs? - LCD display with IPS panel - LCD display with TN panel - OLED display with wide angle viewing - Plasma display with no motion blur

-Use the Mini-ATX motherboard in the ATX case. Explanation ATX mid-tower cases support all ATX form factors, including Mini-ATX. The main difference between ATX and Mini-ATX is the number of bus and possibly memory slots on the motherboard. The mounting holes for both are located in the same place, making them interchangeable in most cases.

You decided to upgrade your PC with a faster processor. To do this, you ordered a new motherboard over the Internet that supports the processor you want to use. When it arrives, you discover that the motherboard uses the Mini-ATX form factor. Your current case is an ATX mid-tower with a standard ATX motherboard inside. What should you do? -Drill new holes in the ATX case to match the mounting hole pattern in the Mini-ATX motherboard. -Use the Mini-ATX motherboard in the ATX case. -Drill new holes in the Mini-ATX motherboard to match the mounting hole pattern in the ATX case. -Return the motherboard and replace it with an ATX form factor motherboard.

No Media Explanation The No Media status shows for an optical or removable media drive that does not contain a valid disc. A Foreign disk is a dynamic disk that was created in one system and moved to another system. The Unreadable status indicates a hardware failure, I/O errors, or other corruption but might also be caused by a delay in reading the disk in Disk Management. The Missing status shows when a dynamic disk has failed.

You have a DVD-ROM disc with no label and you want to know if it has any important files on it. You insert the DVD-ROM into your optical media drive, then you double-click the drive letter for the optical drive to see the contents of the disc. If the DVD-ROM is not a valid disc, which error message will you see? - No Media - Missing - Foreign - Unreadable

Buy your friend's games, monitor, and video card. Swap out both your video card and monitor. Explanation The LCD TN monitor with the 144 Hz refresh rate along with the video card with a max refresh rate of 144 Hz will give you the best gaming experience compared to the other options. Remember that in order to achieve a specific refresh rate, the following components must all support the same maximum refresh rate: • Display device • Video card • Display cable Fast moving graphic applications, such as games, perform best with a refresh rate of 120 Hz or higher, which is covered by this option. Also, LCD TN panel monitors have a much faster response time, which makes them superior for gaming when compared to LCD IPS panel monitors. The newer video card with a max refresh rate of 240 Hz has some advantages over the older card, but not in combination with the LCD IPS panel monitor. Either option where you keep the 60 Hz monitor, or the 75 Hz card, or both will limit the performance of your system to the rate of the slowest component, which will not be sufficient for the fast moving graphics in the games.

You have a friend who is offering to sell the monitor and video card from his gaming system along with several PC games. The games have fast moving graphics, and you want to be able to play them on your own home system. The monitor he is selling is an LCD TN with a 144 Hz refresh rate. The video card he is selling supports a max refresh rate of 144 Hz. You're sure you want to buy the games, but you have a couple of other choices when it comes to the monitor and the video card. The monitor in your current system has a 60 Hz refresh rate. The video card has a max refresh rate of 75 Hz. This configuration has always worked fine for watching videos. You're also looking at new 60 Hz LCD IPS monitors and several high end video cards with max refresh rates of up to 240 Hz. Which of the following options will allow you to play the games on your home system with the best gaming experience possible? - Just buy the games and use your existing card and monitor. - Just buy the games from your friend and spend some extra money on the newer 144 Hz LCD IPS monitor and one of the newer 240 fps video cards. Swap out both your video card and monitor. - Just buy the games and the monitor from your friend. Swap out just your current monitor and use your existing video card. - Buy your friend's games, monitor, and video card. Swap out both your video card and monitor.

Removing the case side panel. Explanation Removing the case side panel will not keep a system from overheating. The system case has been specially designed to maximize air flow across system components. By removing the side panel, you modify the air flow path and reduce its effectiveness. In addition, removing the side panel allows more dust to accumulate. Dust acts as an insulator and traps heat close to components. Cleaning off the inside of the computer case, installing heat spreaders and heat sinks on internal components, installing a water cooling system, and adding thermal paste or a thermal pad between the CPU and the heat sink are all good ways to help keep a system cool.

You have a system that has been overheating. Which of the following actions will not help to keep the system cool? - Adding thermal paste or a thermal pad between the CPU and the heat sink. - Installing a water cooling system. - Installing heat spreaders and heat sinks on internal components. - Cleaning off the inside of the computer case. - Removing the case side panel.

- 64-bit processor with 8 cores - RAM configured to run in quad-channel mode Explanation Virtual machines place a very heavy load on the host system's RAM and CPU. Therefore, the most important criteria to be included in the design for this workstation would be: • RAM configured to run in quad-channel mode • 64-bit processor with 8 cores A video card with HDMI output and an HTPC form factor would be more appropriate for a home theater system. A RAID 5 disk array would be appropriate for a virtualization workstation, but is less important than the choice of processor and RAM.

You have been tasked with designing a workstation that will run VMware Workstation virtualization software. It will be used by a software engineer to run virtual machines for application development and testing. Which criteria should be included in your design for this system? (Select two.) - 64-bit processor with 8 cores - Video card with HDMI output - RAID 5 disk array - RAM configured to run in quad-channel mode - HTPC form factor

Healthy (Logical Drive) Explanation A basic hard disk can have only have 4 primary partitions. To get around this limitation on basic disks, the fourth partition is automatically configured as an extended partition that can hold logical drives. So, the fourth partition would show a status of Healthy (Logical Drive). The first three partitions would show a status of Healthy (Primary Partition). If the disk had been a dynamic disk the status would just be Healthy. If the disk gets converted from basic to dynamic, the status would be changed to show just Healthy.

You have four volumes on a basic hard disk. Which of the following do you expect to see as the status of the fourth volume if it is valid and has no errors? - Healthy (Dynamic) - Healthy (Basic) - Healthy (Logical Drive) - Healthy (Primary Partition) - Healthy

Healthy Explanation If a basic disk gets converted to dynamic, the status of all partitions on that disk would be changed to show just Healthy. There are no Primary or Logical partitions on a dynamic disk. A basic hard disk can have only have 4 primary partitions. To get around this limitation on basic disks, the fourth partition is automatically configured as an extended partition that can hold logical drives. So, the fourth partition would show a status of Healthy (Logical Drive).

You have four volumes on a basic hard disk. You convert the disk to dynamic. After the conversion, which of the following do you expect to see as the status of the fourth volume if it is valid and has no errors? - Healthy (Logical Drive) - Healthy (Primary Partition) - Healthy (Basic) - Healthy - Healthy (Dynamic)

The device does not support plug and play. Explanation If the legacy device is not detected, you need to select the driver files manually by continuing the wizard. All devices require a driver. USB devices are plug and play. To install a USB device, install the driver, and then connect the device. The device will be automatically detected and configured.

You have installed a device in your system and have run the Add a device wizard from the Control Panel. Under what circumstance would it be appropriate to continue with the wizard if the device was not discovered? - The device does not require a driver. - The device driver was installed before the device was installed. - The device does not support plug and play. - The device connects to the USB bus.

Unallocated Explanation A disk that has been initialized will show as Unallocated if no volumes have been created. The Healthy or Online status indicates that the disk is turned on and can be accessed. The volume on the disk is valid and has no errors. The Formatting status is shown for volumes during the formatting process. After formatting, the status for the volume changes to Healthy. The Initializing process shows while a disk is being converted from a basic disk to a dynamic disk. After the conversion, the status for the volume changes to Healthy. The Unavailable status indicates that errors have occurred on physical or dynamic disks. The Unreadable status indicates a hardware failure, I/O errors, or other corruption but might also be caused by a delay in reading the disk in Disk Management.

You have just finished installing Windows on a system that contains four physical hard disks. The installation process has created a system volume and a C: volume on the first disk (Disk 0). The installation process also initialized the second disk (Disk 1) and the third disk (Disk 2) but did not create any volumes on these disks. Which of the following would you expect to see as the status of Disk 1 and Disk 2? - Formatting - Unavailable - Unreadable - Healthy - Initializing - Unallocated

Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor Explanation LCD monitors have a native display resolution. The native display of this monitor is 1600 x 1200. While it might be possible to set the resolution lower than the native display, you should use the native display setting for the clearest picture. Using a DVI-D cable is the same as using a DVI-I cable--both will give you digital output. Using a DVI-A cable (if it will work on the monitor) could result in lower quality images as you will be using an analog signal. Increasing the color depth increases the number of colors that the monitor displays.

You have purchased a 1600 x 1200 LCD monitor and connected it to the DVI-I port on your computer using a DVI-D cable. You configure the screen resolution at 1280 x 1024 with 24-bit color. The display output seems to be fuzzy and stretched. What should you do to correct the problem? - Change the screen resolution to the native resolution of the monitor. - Replace the DVI-I cable with a DVI-A cable. - Increase the color depth to 32-bit. - Replace the DVI-D cable with a DVI-I cable.

KVM Explanation A KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch would allow you to control all three computers with one keyboard, one monitor, and one mouse. The KVM switch has multiple input groups, with each group accepting keyboard, video, and mouse connections from a single computer. A single output group connects to the shared input/output devices. Buttons on the KVM switch or keyboard shortcut combinations allow you to toggle the input/output devices between computers. A USB hub allows multiple USB-compatible devices (up to 127) to be connected to a single USB connection, but the hub does not connect to or control multiple PCs. A router is a networking device which connects multiple networks. DVI is a standard for connectors to digital video cards.

You have three computers in your office. You would like to reduce the time it takes to move from one computer to the next, and you would like to use only one keyboard, one monitor, and one mouse for all three computers. Which device will allow this type of setup? - KVM - USB hub - Router - DVI

ATX mid-tower Explanation You should purchase an ATX mid-tower case. ATX mid-tower cases are compatible with the most motherboard form factors and typically have at least two external bays. Most ATX full-tower cases are not compatible with Mini-ITX motherboards and are larger than necessary for most applications. Micro-ATX towers are only compatible with microATX and Mini-ITX form factors. Mini-ITX towers are only compatible with the Mini-ITX form factor.

You need to purchase a case that meets the following criteria: • Compatible with most form factors • At least two external and internal bays • Good balance of size and space Which case type should you purchase? - ATX full-tower - ATX mid-tower - Mini-ITX tower - Micro-ATX tower

Standardization Explanation Standardization allows components from different manufacturers to be interchangeable. If a component meets the specified standards, it will work in the computer—regardless of manufacturer. Componentization means that a computer is a combination of several constituent parts that can be easily replaced by a field-replaceable unit (FRU). Firmware is a special type of software that has been embedded in the memory of a hardware component. Plug and play allows devices to work with computers without the need for additional configuration on the computer.

You need to replace a broken monitor on a desktop system. You decide to replace it with a spare monitor that wasn't being used. Even though the monitor is made by a different manufacturer than the desktop computer, it still works with the computer. Which computer design concept makes this possible? - Componentization - Standardization - Firmware - Plug and play

Explanation Virtual machines place a very heavy load on the host hypervisor's RAM and CPU. Therefore, the most important criteria to be included in the design for this workstation would be: • AMD 12-core, 4 GHZ CPU • 4 TB SATA HD • 32 GB DDR4 RAM • Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) A thin client only needs to be able to connect to a remote desktop session. As such, it only needs to meet the minimum requirements for running Windows locally. The following hardware would be sufficient: • Intel Celeron dual-core, 2.7GHz CPU • 320 GB SATA HD • 2 GB DDR3 RAM • Few or no applications installed An audio/video editing workstation has specialized requirements to allow it to process media files. The following hardware would be appropriate: • Intel Core i7 six-core, 3.4 GHz CPU • 1 TB SSD SATA HD • 16 GB DDR4 RAM • Video capture card

You own a custom PC retail store. A small business client asks you to build three workstations for her organization: • Virtualization Workstation • Video Editing Workstation • Thin Client PC Drag and drop each PC hardware configuration on the left to the most appropriate workstation type on the right. Thin Client PC • Intel Celeron dual-core, 2.7GHz CPU • 320 GB SATA HD • 2 GB DDR3 RAM • Few or no applications installed Video Editing Workstation • Intel Core i7 six-core, 3.4 GHz CPU • 1 TB SSD SATA HD • 16 GB DDR4 RAM • Video capture card Virtualization Workstation • AMD 12-core, 4 GHZ CPU • 4 TB SATA HD • 32 GB DDR4 RAM • Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV)

DisplayPort cable Explanation The pictured port is a DisplayPort, and uses a DisplayPort cable. DisplayPorts are used by HD displays, such as LED and LCD monitors. DisplayPorts can be identified by their rectangular shape, with one beveled corner. HDMI ports have two beveled corners and are a bit smaller than DisplayPorts. VGA ports have three rows of 5 pin holes. DVI ports are larger than other video ports and have up to 24 pin holes.

You purchased a new LED monitor for your computer. On the back of the monitor you see the following port (pictured https://imgur.com/wgItY7S). Which type of cable should you use to connect the monitor to your computer? - DisplayPort cable - DVI cable - VGA cable - HDMI cable

Micro-ATX slim tower Explanation Micro-ATX slim towers are designed to be able to stand upright on desks, reducing the amount of space they require. An ATX mid-tower case would take up a considerable amount of space on a desk and are not designed to be small. While Mini-ITX towers can sit on desks, they take up more space than a Micro-ATX slim tower that is designed to stand upright. HTPC cases are design to be used with TVs and home theatre systems.

You want to build a computer that can stand upright on a desk and takes up the least amount of space possible. Which case type should you select? - ATX mid-tower - Mini-ITX tower - Micro-ATX slim tower - HTPC

- HTPC form factor - Video card with HDMI output Explanation A video card with HDMI output and an HTPC form factor would be more appropriate for a home theater system. A RAID 5 disk array, 12-core CPU, and quad-channel RAM would be more appropriate for a virtualization workstation.

You want to purchase a home theater computer system. Which hardware selection criteria would be most important for this system? (Select two.) - RAM configured to run in quad-channel mode - RAID 5 disk array - HTPC form factor - 64-bit processor with 12 cores - Video card with HDMI output

Driver Explanation You can disable a device in Device Manager by accessing its properties and then selecting Disable on the Driver tab. You set device-specific settings on the Advanced tab. For example, you can use this tab to set the network adapter's speed and duplex configuration. The Details tab displays extended information about the device. The Resources tab is used to view the hardware resources used by the device.

https://imgur.com/bXmJLcx You recently installed a fiber-optic network board in an expansion slot in your system's motherboard. You no longer need to use the integrated UTP network board that is integrated in the motherboard. Click the option you would use in the properties of the integrated network adapter in Device Manager to disable it.

G = External Storage Device D = Analog Monitor C = Video Camera A = HDTV H = Dial-up Modem E = Digital Monitor (without audio) F = Network Adapter B = Headphones Explanation Peripheral devices use specific connector types to connect to a computer. The following connector types are pictured: • HDMI - used to send high-quality, digital video and audio signals to LCD monitors and HDTVs • Fiber S/PDIF - used for home theatre systems or Dolby Digital surround sound systems • IEEE 1394 - used to connect devices that require fast communication speeds, such as video cameras and external hard drives • VGA (DB-15) - used by analog monitors • DVI - used by digital monitors, does not carry audio • RJ45 - used by Ethernet network adapters and other networking devices • USB - used by USB devices (e.g., external storage devices) • RJ11 - used by dial-up modems • TRS jack - used by analog audio devices (e.g., speakers and headphones)

https://imgur.com/jjGdlBa Consider the cable connectors used by various peripheral devices (pictured in link). Drag the letter on the left to the peripheral device on the right that would most likely use the connector type.

Not Initialized Explanation When Disk Management shows a disk icon that includes a red arrow that is pointing down, it indicates that the disk is Not Initialized. The disk status would say Initializing if the disk is being converted from a basic disk to a dynamic disk. A Foreign disk is a dynamic disk that was created in one system and moved to another system. The Unreadable status indicates a hardware failure, I/O errors, or other corruption but might also be caused by a delay in reading the disk in Disk Management.

https://imgur.com/v9lsBvd You have a disk in your system that is displayed in the Disk Management utility as shown in the image below. The disk icon includes a red arrow that is pointing down. Which of the following would you expect to see, in the space where the red outline is, as the status of this disk? - Initializing - Foreign - Not Initialized - Unreadable

A) Mini-ITX Tower B) Micro-ATX Slim Tower C) Micro-ATX Tower D) ATX Mid-Tower E) ATX Full-Tower Explanation The cases shown in the diagram are labeled as follows; • A is a Mini-ITX Tower: Mini-ITX towers are designed to house Mini-ITX motherboards. They are typically smaller than Micro-ATX towers. The ITX form factor was designed for low-power, small form factor (SFF) computers. The most common ITX form factor is the Mini-ITX form factor. One typical use is with a home theater PC (HTPC). • B is a Micro-ATX Slim Tower: Micro-ATX slim towers are typically half the width of a Micro-ATX tower and are designed to lay flat or upright. • C is a Micro-ATX Tower: Micro-ATX towers are smaller cases designed to be placed on desktops. Micro-ATX towers typically only have one drive bay and are compatible with the micro-ATX and Mini-ITX form factors. • D is an ATX Mid-Tower: ATX mid-tower cases are slightly smaller than ATX full-tower cases. Mid-tower cases have fewer external and internal bays. ATX mid-tower cases are compatible with the Standard ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX, and some EATX form factors. • E is an ATX Full-Tower: ATX full-tower cases are the largest computer cases. Full-tower cases have a lot of space for external and internal components. ATX full-tower cases are compatible with the Standard ATX, microATX, and EATX form factors. The ATX (advanced technology extended) form factor is the most commonly used form factor. Because of its popularity, several variants of the ATX form factor exist. Each variant has different specifications for dimensions and number of expansion slots. However, all ATX variants share the following characteristics: • Back plate measurements (6.25" × 1.75") • Power supply specifications, as follows; 24-pin ATX power connector, on/off switch runs from the case to the motherboard, and soft-power control (OS can turn the computer off) • Expansion slot locations and spacing (0.8" between slots) • Mounting hole locations • CPU location (top of board near power supply)

https://imgur.com/xSVIKyM Use the above diagram to match the case type labels on the left with their corresponding cases, identified by letters, on the right.