CompTIA A+ Exam 220-901 Practice Test Part 1
DDR2 SO-DIMM memory modules have: (Select 2 answers) A. 144 pins B. 172 pins C. 200 pins D. 214 pins E. 240 pins
A, C
Which of the following terms refer to BIOS types that can be updated without removing the BIOS chip from the motherboard? (Select 2 answers) A. EEPROM B. ROM C. Plug and Play (PnP) D. EPROM E. Flash Memory
A, E
A memory module form factor commonly used in sub-notebook devices is known as: A. C-RIMM B. MicroDIMM C. SO-DIMM D. DIMM
B
Which of the answers listed below refers to a source of power for an RTC when the computer is turned off? A. Power inverter B. CMOS battery C. Power Supply Unit (PSU) D. AC adapter
B
Which of the following RAM types would be the most suitable choices for a high-end server? (Select 3 answers) A. UDIMM B. Buffered Memory C. Non-ECC Memory D. RDIMM E. Unbuffered Memory F. ECC Memory
B, D, F
A single-lane (x1) PCIe v2.x link offers maximum throughput of up to: A. 125 MB/s B. 250 MB/s C. 500 MB/s D. 985 MB/s E. 1969 MB/s
C
A standardized specification of a motherboard (including its dimensions, supported power supply types, and layout of components) is known as the motherboard's: A. Architecture B. Blueprint C. Form Factor D. Diagram
C
What is the most common motherboard type used in desktop PC's? A. ITX B. LPX C. ATX D. NLX
C
Which of the following answers refers to the industry name used for DDR2-1066 modules? A. PC2-4200 B. PC2-5300 C. PC2-6400 D. PC2-8500
D
A Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDR SDRAM) can read/write one word of data per clock cycle. T or F
True
After replacing a modular hardware component inside computer case, the updated information about specific parameters of the new device can be stored in: (Select 2 Answers) A. System BIOS B. Flash Memory C. Startup BIOS D. Secondary Storage E. CMOS RAM
B, E
What is the number of contact pins used by MicroDIMM DDR2 SDRAM modules? A. 200 B. 204 C. 214 D. 240
C
A single-sided memory module type can have memory chips placed on both sides of the module. T or F
True
Random Access Memory (RAM) falls into the category of the so-called volatile storage media. It requires a continuous flow of electricity to preserve its contents thus all the data stored in RAM lasts only while the power is on. T or F
True
A type of PCI slot for expansion cards installed in laptops characterized by a much smaller form factor when compared to its desktop counterpart is called: A. miniPCI B. PCIe C. Mini-SD D. PCI-X E. Mini-ITX
A
In PCIe architecture, a single full-duplex point-to-point serial communication path consisting of two pairs of wires (where one pair is used for transmitting data and the other pair for receiving data) is known as: A. Lane B. Dual Rail C. Dual Channel D. Duplexing Assembly
A
What is the most common memory module form factor type used in laptop computers? A. SO-DIMM B. DIMM C. MicroDIMM D. C-RIMM
A
What type of safety measures should accompany the installation of an adapter card? A. ESD protection B. EMI protection C. RFI protection D. EMP protection
A
Which of the following answers refers to a firmware interface designed as a replacement for BIOS? A. UEFI B. ACPI C. CMOS D. USMT
A
Which of the following integrated circuit types defines the core functionality and capabilities of a motherboard? A. Chipset B. Northbridge C. I/O Controller Hub (ICH) D. Southbridge E. Fusion Controller Hub (FCH)
A
Which of the following is an example of Write Once, Read Many (WORM) storage media type? A. BD-R B. Flash Drive C. CD-RW D. Magnetic Tape E. CD-ROM
A
The Peripheral Component Interconnect eXtended (PCI-X) is an advanced version of PCI which: (Select all that apply) A. Doubles the bandwidth of PCI B. Provide much faster data transfer rates in comparison to PCI C. Offers backward compatibility with PCI devices D. Supersedes all previous standards, including PCIe E. Didn't get much market success due to the development and widespread adoption of the PCIe standard F. Was intended for devices with higher bandwidth requirements such as servers and high-end workstations
A, B, C, E, F
Which of the answers listed below describe(s) the features of UEFI? (Select all that apply) A. DRM support B. GUI mode C. Mouse support D. Support for hard drives with a maximum of 4 partitions per drive E. Secure boot F. Support for partition/hard drives of up to 2TB G. Network Access
A, B, C, E, G
What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM)? (Select 3 answers) A. 184 contact pins B. Reads/writes 2 words of data per clock cycle C. 168 contact pins D. 1 notch on the module contact surface E. Reads/writes 4 words of data per clock cycle F. 2 notches on the module contact surface
A, B, D
Taking advantage of the performance benefits offered by the multi-channel memory architecture requires: (Select all that apply) A. Memory modules of matching types B. Memory modules of matching speeds C. Installing memory modules in any of the free memory slots on the motherboard D. Memory modules of the same capacity E. Installing modules in appropriate memory slots (slots of matching color) on the motherboard
A, B, D, E
Which of the statements listed below are true? (Select all that apply) A. The speed of the system bus is measured in clock cycles B. In computer architecture, the term "word" refers to a group of bits processed as a unit C. The speed of the system bus in modern PCs is measured in GHz (i.e. billions of cycles per second) D. A single clock cycle is an equivalent of a period of time between two adjacent signals sent by the system clock E. The speed of the system bus in modern PCs is measured in MHz (i.e. millions of cycles per second) F. Depending on the system specs, a single clock cycle might be an equivalent of multiple ticks of the system clock
A, B, D, E
What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate 2 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR2 SDRAM)? (Select 3 answers) A. Reads/writes 4 words of data per clock cycle B. 1 notch on the module contact surface C. 204 contact pins D. Reads/writes 8 words of data per clock cycle E. 240 contact pins F. 2 notches on the module contact surface
A, B, E
Which of the following statements are true? (Select 3 answers) A. A parallel bus transmits data across multiple wires B. In computer architecture, the term "bus" describes a system of communication paths used to connect computer components and transfer data between them C. A parallel bus transmits data sequentially one bit at a time over a single communication channel D. A serial bus transmits data across multiple wires E. A serial bus transmits data sequentially one bit at a time over a single communication channel
A, B, E
BIOS updates are performed in order to: (Select all that apply) A. Repair damaged BIOS B. Fix physical hardware faults found in replaceable components inside the computer's case C. Provide support for new types of attached hardware D. Fix known programming errors discovered in the current BIOS version
A, C, D
CMOS settings can be set to factory defaults by: (Select all that apply) A. Using a jumper that can be found on the motherboard B. Changing settings in Windows Device Manager C. Reseating the CMOS battery on the motherboard D. Choosing the default configuration option in the CMOS setup utility
A, C, D
Which of the following terms are used to describe a motherboard's size and purpose? (Select all that apply) A. Micro-ATX B. PCI-X C. ITX D. ATX E. Mini-ITX
A, C, D, E
Which of the answers listed below refer(s) to the features of a motherboard's CPU socket? (Select all that apply) A. PGA B. TPM C. LGA D. FRU E. ZIF F. PGA2
A, C, E, F
Which of the answers listed below describe(s) the characteristics of Dual In-line Memory Modules (DIMMs)? (Select all that apply) A. Printed Circuit Board (PCB) type used as a placeholder for memory chips B. 32-bit data path C. Separate electrical contacts on each side of the module D. Obsolete memory packaging type used only in legacy systems E. 64-bit data path F. Unified electrical contact surface spanning both sides of the modules G. Used with various SDRAM memory types (SDR, DDR, DDR2, and DDR3)
A, C, E, G
What are the storage limitations of a standard CD-ROM media format? (Select 2 answers) A. Less than 800 MB of data storage capacity B. 120 minutes of uncompressed audio C. More than 800 MB of data storage capacity D. Up to 80 minutes of uncompressed audio
A, D
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (abbr. as PCIe) is a high-speed, serial expansion bus designed as a replacement for: (Select all that apply) A. PCI B. SATA C. USB D. PCI-X E. AGP
A, D, E
What are the characteristic features of the Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR3 SDRAM)? (Select 3 answers) A. 1 notch on the module contact surface B. Reads/writes 4 words of data per clock cycle C. 204 contact pins D. 2 notches on the module contact surface E. 240 contact pins F. Reads/writes 8 words of data per clock cycle
A, E, F
Which of the following answers describes(s) the characteristics of Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)? (Select all that apply) A. Volatile storage media type B. Utilized for CPU cache memory chips C. More expensive in comparison to SRAM D. Non-volatile storage media type E. Slower than SRAM F. Widely used as system's primary storage media (regular RAM modules installed in memory slots on the motherboard) G. Faster than SRAM H. Less expensive in comparison to SRAM
A, E, F, H
A type of daughterboard equipped with expansion slots providing the capability for attaching further expansion cards that are placed parallel with the mainboard in order to save space inside the system case is known as: A. FireWire Card B. Riser Card C. Storage Card D. Thunderbolt Card
B
After a normal system shutdown, when the computer is turned off, contents of the memory used to store BIOS settings are: A. Erased B. Retained C. Stored in a page file D. Saved on a hard drive
B
For CPUs without integrated memory controller, which part of the chipset manages communication between the CPU and memory? A. I/O Controller Hub (ICH) B. Northbridge C. Fusion Controller Hub (FCH) D. Southbridge
B
The CMOS setup utility can be accessed by pressing: A. Reset button on the front panel of a computer case B. The key set by the motherboard manufacturer for accessing CMOS setup utility during boot C. Del key during boot D. F1 key while logged into Windows
B
What is LoJack? A. Loopback adapter B. Security feature used for locating stolen desktops, laptops, or tablets C. Connector standard D. RJ-11 plug
B
What is the number of contact pins used in SDR SDRAM modules? A. 144 B. 168 C. 184 D. 240
B
What is the peak transfer rate of a DDR-266 module? A. 1600 MB/s B. 2133 MB/s C. 2666 MB/s D. 3200 MB/s
B
What is the total bandwidth of a DDR2-533 module? A. 3200 MB/s B. 4266 MB/s C. 5333 MB/s D. 6400 MB/s
B
Which Microsoft Windows OS utility can be used to view basic information about computer's BIOS? A. WINVER.exe B. MSINFO32.exe C. Control Panel D. Services.msc
B
Which of the answers listed below refers to a VIA-proprietary low-power consumption SFF type motherboard known for industrial and embedded PC applications? A. NLX B. Mini-ITX C. ATX D. LPX E. Mini-ATX
B
Which of the answers listed below refers to the number of pins used by MicroDIMM DDR SDRAM memory modules? A. 168 B. 172 C. 204 D. 214
B
Which of the memory types listed below allows for permanent storage of data? A. VRAM B. DVD-RAM C. Static RAM D. Buffered Memory E. DRAM
B
Which of the values listed below refers to the speed of a single-lane (x1) PCIe v1.x link? A. 125 MB/s B. 250 MB/s C. 500 MB/s D. 985 MB/s E. 1969 MB/s
B
Which type of password provides the highest level of permissions in BIOS? A. root B. supervisor C. administrator D. power user
B
While trying to enable the entire drive encryption feature in Windows technician receives the following error message: "A compatible Trusted Platform Module (TPM) Security Device must be present on this computer, but a TPM was not found". Knowing that the system has a TPM chip installed, which of the following steps might help in solving this problem? A. Re-installation of the OS B. Enabling the TPM security feature in CMOS setup menu C. Hard drive replacement D. Enabling the TPM security feature in Windows Control Panel
B
A type of typically more expensive memory modules equipped with additional circuitry designed to ensure better system stability and accuracy of data processing is known as: (Select all that apply) A. VRAM B. Buffered Memory C. RDIMM D. Synchronous DRAM E. UDIMM F. Unbuffered Memory
B, C
Which of the following answers describe(s) the feature(s) of the PCI-X standard? (Select all that apply) A. 32-bit bus width B. Parallel interface C. Maximum throughput of up to 1064 MB/s D. 64-bit bus width E. Maximum throughput of up to 533 MB/s F. Serial interface
B, C, D,
Which of the following characteristics apply to the type of RAM most commonly used as the main system memory in desktop PCs? (Select 3 answers) A. Buffered Memory B. Non-ECC Memory C. Static RAM D. Unbuffered Memory E. Dynamic RAM F. ECC Memory
B, D, E
What are the characteristic features of conventional PCI? (Select all that apply) A. Serial interface B. 32-bit bus width C. Maximum throughput of up to 1064 MB/s D. 64-bit bus width E. Parallel interface F. Maximum throughput of up to 533 MB/s
B, D, E, F
Which of the answers listed below refer(s) to the characteristic feature(s) of Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)? (Select all that apply) A. Non-volatile storage media type B. Faster than Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) C. Widely used as system's primary storage media (regular RAM modules installed in memory slots on the motherboard) D. More expensive in comparison to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) E. Slower than Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) F. Volatile storage media type G. Utilized for CPU cache memory chips H. Less expensive in comparison to Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)
B, D, F, G
Motherboard slots that enable installation of dedicated graphics controllers include: (Select 2 answers) A. PGA B. AGP C. CNR slot D. ATX connector E. PCIe
B, E
Which of the following answers list(s) example(s) of storage media type(s) that can be read, but not written to? (Select all that apply) A. BD-R B. CD-ROM C. DVD-RW D. BD-RE E. DVD-ROM F. CD-RW
B, E
A computer supporting LoJack technology has two main components installed: an Application Agent residing in the operating system which sends tracking signals to the monitoring center allowing the law enforcement to locate and recover stolen device, and Persistence Module which restores the Application Agent and allows it to survive operating system re-installation or hard drive format. The highest level of security offered by LoJack can be achieved when Persistence Module resides in: A. Operating System B. Partition gap on the hard drive C. Computer's BIOS D. USB key
C
After launching Windows Virtual PC application technician receives error message stating that the Hardware-Assisted Virtualization (HAV) feature is not enabled on the computer. Which of the following steps might help in fixing this problem? A. Increasing the amount of physical RAM on the system B. Re-installation of the Windows Virtual PC application C. Getting into the CMOS setup utility and enabling the virtualization technology setting D. Safe mode troubleshooting
C
In modern PCs, the procedure of replacing BIOS contents is sometim es referred to as: A. Hard boot B. Overclocking C. Flashing the BIOS D. Direct Memory Access (DMA)
C
In order to retain its configuration data, CMOS RAM requires constant supply of electricity which is provided by the: A. AC adapter B. Power Supply Unit (PSU) C. CMOS Battery D. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) E. Power inverter
C
What is the name of the most common connector type used for providing power to various hardware components inside the computer case? A. RJ-45 B. BNC C. Molex D. USB
C
What is the number of contact pins used by SO-DIMM DDR3 SDRAM modules? A. 168 B. 172 C. 204 D. 214
C
Which of the answers listed below refers to the industry name used for DDR-333 modules? A. PC-2100 B. PC-2400 C. PC-2700 D. PC-3200
C
Which of the answers listed below refers to the industry name used for DDR3-1333 modules? A. PC3-6400 B. PC3-8500 C. PC3-10600 D. PC3-12800
C
Which of the following answers lists the number of pins used by SO-DIMM DDR SDRAM memory modules? A. 168 B. 172 C. 200 D. 204
C
Which of the following slot types allows for adding primary storage modules to the motherboard? A. USB B. SATA C. RAM D. PATA
C
What kind of user permission restrictions can be set in BIOS? (Select all that apply) A. Group Policy Settings B. Windows User Account Control (UAC) Settings C. User password required to proceed when the computer is powered on D. Password-restricted access to the BIOS setup utility (Supervisor Password)
C, D
Which of the following resources can be used by an Operating System (OS) to communicate with hardware? (Select 2) A. Device Manager B. Secure Shell (SSH) C. Device Drivers D. System BIOS E. Command-Line Interface (CLI)
C, D
Which of the memory types listed below are designed to store permanent data that cannot be changed? (Select all that apply) A. RAM B. EPROM C. ROM D. PROM E. EEPROM
C, D
A switch, button, or LED on the front/top panel of a computer case has a connector linked to it that must be attached to the appropriate pins on the: A. Riser card B. Expansion slot C. Power supply D. Motherboard
D
After completing the initial diagnostics and assigning system resources, the startup BIOS program checks for information about secondary storage devices that might contain the OS. The list of devices and the order in which they should be checked can be found and arranged in the CMOS setup utility, and this option is commonly referred to as: A. Boot Record B. Master Boot Record (MBR) C. Partition Table D. Boot Sequence
D
Certain types of RAM take advantage of an additional bit in order to detect whether a data error has occurred. An extra bit is used to store information about the number of bits set to the value of one in a given string of data (typically one byte) and by examining that information at different stages of processing it is possible to detect whether the data has been corrupted or not. What is the name of that extra bit? A. Digest B. Archive bit C. Hash value D. Parity bit
D
ECC type RAM: A. Can only detect errors. but does not have the capability to correct them B. Refers to parity RAM (the two terms are interchangeable C. Offers better performance in terms of speed when compared to a non-ECC type of RAM D. Can detect and correct errors
D
In order to work, an integrated component such as Network Interface Card (NIC) on a newly assembled computer system may need to be first: A. Enabled in Windows Control Panel B. Updated with the latest driver in Device Manager C. Checked against the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) D. Enabled in the advanced BIOS settings menu
D
What is the maximum amount of data that can be transferred each second by a DDR3-1600 module? A. 6400 MB/s B. 8533 MB/s C. 10667 MB/s D. 12800 MB/s
D
Which of the acronyms listed below refers to a series of basic hardware diagnostic tests performed by the startup BIOS after the computer is powered on? A. IDE B. POTS C. QoS D. POST
D
Which of the following answers lists the speed of a single-lane (x1) PCIe v3.x link? A. 125 MB/s B. 250 MB/s C. 500 MB/s D. 985 MB/s E. 1969 MB/s
D
Which of the following statements is true? A. Aborted BIOS update can be resumed by the transaction recovery system B. A common security measure is to store BIOS on a non-rewritable memory chip C. The process of BIOS update can be aborted and resumed at a later time D. Aborted BIOS update could render the computer unusable
D
Which of the following terms refers to a technology that allows for storing passwords, certificates, or encryption keys in a hardware chip? A. Access Control List (ACL) B. Encrypting File System (EFS) C. User Account Control (UAC) D. Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
D
Which of the terms listed below refers to computer data storage systems, data storage devices, and data storage media that can be written to once, but read from multiple times? A. DVD-RW B. Tape Library C. Floppy Disk D. WORM
D
A special-purpose memory type used by graphics controllers is known as: A. UDIMM B. Registered Memory C. SRAM D. MicroDIMM E. VRAM
E
Which of the answers listed below refers to a standard that relies on serial communication? A. ISA B. PCI-X C. IEEE 1284 D. PCI E. PATA F. PCIe
F
Compared to a non-ECC type of memory, the ECC RAM is a less expensive option and will always perform faster. T or F
False
In a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture, the function of southbridge is to provide high-speed data links between CPU, RAM, and PCIe graphics controllers. T or F
False
The term "northbridge" refers to a part of the computer chipset that controls peripheral buses used for connecting lower-speed I/O devices such as hard drives, keyboards, mice, PCI devices, as well as embedded hardware including BIOS, integrated graphics/audio, USB, or Ethernet interfaces. T or F
False
A UEFI functionality designed to prevent the loading of malware and unauthorized OSs during system start-up is known as: A. LoJack B. Bitlocker C. Secure Boot D. Kerberos
Secure Boot
A type of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that can be installed in a motherboard slot in order to extend the system functionality is commonly referred to as an expansion card. T or F
True
Chassis intrusion detection is an option that can be enabled/disabled in the BIOS setup utility (if a BIOS comes equipped with this feature). Coupled with a hardware sensor mounted inside the computer case, this functionality can be used to check if the case was opened and display a notification alert during next boot. T or F
True
If a system fails to autoconfigure the newly added adapter card through PnP, finishing the configuration process requires manual installation of device drivers. T or F
True
Low Profile Extended (LPX) and New Low profile eXtended (NLX) are motherboard form factors known for the usage of a riser card (daughterboard) inserted into a slot near the edge of the board. The main advantage of this type of design is that expansion cards that plug into a riser card on the LPX/NLX motherboard are parallel with the board which saves space and allows for a smaller system case. T or F
True
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is an example of a parallel expansion bus (and a corresponding slot type) used for attaching hardware devices (in the form of an integrated circuit or expansion card) to the motherboard inside the computer case. T or F
True
Power failure during BIOS upgrade can be the cause of irreversible damage to the computer system. T or F
True
The PCIe labeling (×1, ×4, ×8, ×12, ×16 and ×32) refers to the number of communication links (lanes) available in different versions of the PCIe interface. The base value (x1) relates to the speed of a single lane expressed in MB/s. The multiplier (x) allows for easy calculation of the maximum throughput of the entire interface for a given PCIe variant. T or F
True
The color-coded memory slots on the motherboard indicate that the system is capable of taking advantage of the multi-channel memory architecture. T or F
True
The main functionality of the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is to perform the initial hardware checks after the computer is powered on and start up the operating system. T or F
True
The placement of a notch on the RAM module contact surface allows for proper alignment of the module with the memory bank on the motherboard and prevents the installation of incompatible memory types. T or F
True
The term "Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)" refers to a broad category of DRAM modules that rely on the signal sent by the system clock in order to coordinate their functioning with other internal PC components. T or F
True
