Module 3 & 4 Review Questions
For maximum efficiency and performance, a highly tuned and specialized application needs to run on a system capable of handling exactly 16 threads at the same time from the operating system. Which two of the following will best meet the specified requirement?
1- A motherboard with four dual-core processors 2-A system board with two quad-core processors
Which of the following two statements are true regarding DRAM?
1- DIMM is a type of DRAM used in modern motherboards 2- SO-DIMM is a type of DRAM used in modern laptop motherboards
Henry is having a problem with the electrical system on his current laptop. The battery for the laptop will not charge. Henry took the AC adapter and battery from another laptop that is known to work, and put them in his current laptop, but still the battery will not charge. What possible actions can Henry take to make his laptop usable?
1- Henry can use the laptop only when it's connected to the power using the AC adapter. 2-Henry can replace the laptop system board.
Thomas came into work this morning and turned on his computer but nothing happened. He immediately called the help desk, and you were sent to fix his computer. While talking with Thomas about his computer, you find out that when he turns on the computer, he has lights and fans, but nothing else happens. He also tells you that the four memory modules were recently upgraded. Besides the memory, nothing else has been added or changed. You decide to try to re-create the problem, and when you turn on the computer, there are lights and fans, but no beeps and no video. You notice that the keyboard light does not come on. What can you determine about the problem with Thomas's computer?
1- Processor has gone bad or is not seated properly. 2-Motherboard has failed.
Abdel, an electrician, does not know much about computers so he orders a custom computer with a 1000 W power supply. However, the maximum wattage the system needs is 500 W. Which of the following statements are true? Select two.
1- The 1000 W power supply will last longer than, for example, a 750 W power supply. 2-The power supply will only deliver up to 500 W of power and operate very efficiently.
Li, a helpdesk technician, is troubleshooting a system. Based on experience, Li has narrowed down the problem and believes it is related to either the motherboard, processor, or RAM. Which symptoms would have allowed Li to narrow down the problem? Select three.
1- The system reports less memory than is installed. 2- The system begins to boot but then powers down. 3- An error message is displayed while booting
A system administrator boots a Windows PC using a Live Linux CD/DVD and list the files on the system. One of the files is called pagefile.sys. What is this file used for? Select all that apply.
1- Windows normally stores virtual memory in this file. 2- Used to enhance the amount of RAM in the system.
Thomas came into work this morning and turned on his computer but nothing happened. He immediately called the help desk, and you were sent to fix his computer. While talking with Thomas about his computer, you find out that when he turns on the computer, he has lights and fans, but nothing else happens. He also tells you that the four memory modules were recently upgraded. Besides the memory, nothing else has been added or changed. You decide to try to re-create the problem, and when you turn on the computer, there are lights and fans, but no beeps and no video. You notice that the keyboard light does not come on. What can you determine about the problem with Thomas's computer? (Select all that apply.)
1-Motherboard has failed. 2-Processor has gone bad or is not seated properly.
You are upgrading the RAM in a home computer you bought in 2018. The motherboard supports a quad channel memory configuration. What two types of memory will help maximize performance?
1.) DDR 3 2.) DDR 4
A company needs to upgrade their servers and workstations to support the latest 64-bit applications and deliver better performance. Which two processors will satisfy the company's requirements?
1.) Itanium 2.) Xeon
A field service technician is replacing a server motherboard that supports CPUs with multithreading capabilities. The technician notices the motherboard has four processor sockets. If each socket supports a quad-core processor, how many logical processors does the system appear to have?
32
Gwen recently purchased a new video card, and after she installed it, she realized she did not have the correct connections and was not able to power the video card. What connector(s) should Gwen look for when purchasing a new power supply? (Select all that apply.)
8-pin PCI-E connector 6-pin PCI-E connector
Kiera is building a new computer and wants to make sure she has an adequate power supply for all the new components she is purchasing. She will be installing three HDDs, with each using 25 watts. The processor she is using will need 125 watts. The motherboard will use 80 watts. RAM will require 3 watts for each of the four DDR3 DIMM modules. Her video card will need 400 watts to run at the maximum level. She wants to keep the cost as low as possible for the power supply. Which power supply would you recommend?
900W power supply
Event viewer
A Window tool useful for troubleshooting problems with Windows, applications and hardware. It displays logs of significant events, such as hardware or network failures, OS failure, OS error messages, a device or service that has failed to start, and General Protection Faults.
ECC (error-correcting code)
A chipset feature on a motherboard that checks the integrity of data stored on DIMMs or RIMMs and can correct single-bit errors in a byte. More advanced ECC schemas can detect, but not correct, double-bit errors in a byte.
AC adapter
A device that coverts AC to DC and can use regular house current to power a laptop computer
Dual channels
A motherboard feature that improves memory performance by providing two 64-bit channels between memory and the chipset.DDR,DDR2,DRR3,DDR4, and DDR5 DIMMs can use dual channels.
Multi socket
A motherboard with two or more processor sockets. A multi socket motherboard is typically used in a server. Also called dual processor or multiprocessor platform
Processor thermal trip error
A problem when the processor overheats and the system restarts
Multicore processing
A processor technology whereby the processor housing contains two or more processor cores that operate at the same frequency but independently of each other
DDR ( Double Data Rate )
A type of memory technology used on DIMMs that runs at twice the speed of the system clock, has one notch, and uses 184 pins. Also called DDR SDRAM, SDRAM II and DDR.
msinfo32.exe
A window utility that gathers and displays information about the system
Hyper Transport
AMD technology that allows each logical processor within the processor package to handle an individual thread in parallel; other threads are handled by other processors within the package
Yesterday you installed a new game on your computer. When you ran the computer, you noticed that the application was running very slow. After you exited the game and restarted it (the game), you received an error message saying, "Insufficient memory or disk space." You checked the hard drive, and it has more than 250GB of free space. What should you check next in Task Manager?
Amount of RAM available.
Discolored capacitors
An indicator of a failing motherboard; such capacitors might have bulging heads or crusty corrosion at their base
single-core processing
An older processor technology whereby the processor housing contains a single processor or core that can process two threads at the same time. Compare with multicore processing
You are reviewing new RAM to purchase for a gaming computer and find three different RAM modules that are the same except for their CL rating. The memory with which rating will work best?
CL15
Level 3 cache (L3 cache)
Cache memory that is further from the processor core than Level 2 cache but still in the processor package
Cooler
Cooling system that sits on top of a processor and usually consists of a fan and heat sink.
An organization wants to increase the amount of RAM on their computers. All the computers have four memory slots but only two slots in each computer are populated. They want to add one more memory module to the older computers, and two additional modules to the newer computers. The older computers have three blue slots and one black slot. Which memory type will maximize the number of DIMMS the memory controller can access at the same time in both, the older and newer computers?
DDR3
Rebecca completed work on a computer and is verifying the functionality of the system when she finds a new problem. This problem is not urgent and can be easily fixed. The policy at Rebecca's company is that all problems need to be reported and given a priority code before they can be assigned to someone. What should Rebecca do about this new problem?
Determine whether fixing the first problem caused the second problem.
A help desk technician is reading the manual for the motherboard in a server to ensure the right type of memory is installed during an upgrade. The documentation says it provides additional reliability because it is capable of correcting single bit errors. What technology do the memory modules use?
ECC
Thread
Each process that the processor is aware of; a thread is a single task that is part of a larger task or request from a program
Heather needs to fix a computer at her worksite. At which step in the troubleshooting process is she most likely to attempt to reproduce the problem.
Examining the System and Making Your Best Guess
x86-64 bit processor
Hybrid processor that can process 32 bits or 64 bits
When you verify a fix, you determine that the problem could have been prevented. What should you do to help the user avoid having the same problem again?
Instruct the user on how to prevent the problem.
Which of the following method is not typically used to keep a computer system cool?
Keeping case open
DDR3L
Memory faster and uses less power than regular DDR3; used in laptops
Level 2 cache (L2 cache)
Memory in the processor package but not on the processor die. The memory is used as a cache or buffer to improve processor performance.
Level 1 cache (L1 cache)
Memory on the processor die used as a cache to improve processor performance
DDR5
Memory that is faster and use less power than DDR4, can support quad or dual channels or function as single DIMMs.
DDR3
Memory that is faster and uses less power than DDR2, can support quad, triple, or dual channels or function as single DIMMS.
DDR4
Memory that is faster and uses less power than DDR3, can support quad or dual channels or fuction as single DIMMs.
CAS Latency
Method of measuring access timing to memory, which is the number of clock cycles required to write or read a column of data off a memory module. CAS stands for Column Access Strobe.
A processor housing that contains more than one processor is referred to as what term?
Multicore processor
What is the general name of the processor feature that AMD calls HyperTransport?
Multithreading
A customer takes a computer to a repair shop because the system did not boot successfully after adding a memory module to help increase performance. What is likely to be the problem?
One memory stick in unbuffered, the other is registered
You have an eight-year-old computer with all the original components still in place. The power supply fan seems to be going bad, so you start troubleshooting. You replace the power supply, but the fan continues to have the same problem. You then disconnect all the other components except the motherboard. Only under this condition does the fan works as expected. Which of the following is most likely to be true?
One of the other components was causing a short and drawing too much power.
A computer has four DDR4 memory modules. Two modules have a speed of 3000 MHz and the other two have a speed of 4000 MHz. If the two 3000 MHz DIMMs are upgraded, the new modules to be installed should have what rating?
PC4 43200
Thermal Paste
Placed between the bottom of the cooler heat sink and the top of the processor to eliminate air pocked and help draw heat off the processor
Static Ram (SRAM)
RAM chips that retain information without the need for refreshing, as long as the computer's power is on; more expensive than traditional DRAM
While you are working on your computer, it shuts down unexpectedly, and you detect a burning smell. When you remove the case cover, you notice a distended capacitor. What can you do to fix this problem?
Replace the motherboard.
Sara is having a tough time finding the cause of a problem on a computer she is troubleshooting. She found a possible problem but is not sure if she is correct. In case she is wrong, Sara does not want to test her theory, because doing so might worsen the problem.
Research the problem on the Internet.
Jenny is working on a laptop computer and notices that the computer is not running very fast. She looks and realizes that the laptop supports 8GB of RAM and that the computer is running only 4GB of RAM. Jenny would like to add four more gigabytes of RAM. She opens the computer and finds that there is an open slot for RAM. She checks the other module and determines that the module has 204 pins.
SO-DIMM DDR3
Expert system
Software that uses a database of known facts and rules to simulate a human expert's reasoning and decision-making processes
Quad channel
Technology used by a motherboard and DIMMs that allows the memory controller to access four DIMMs at the same time.DDR3,DDR4 and DDR5 DIMMS can use quad channel.
Hyper-Threading
The Intel technology that allows each logical processor within the processor package to handle an individual thread in parallel; other threads are handled by other processor within the package
Tomi buys a CPU from a computer store. The retail box references the amount of L1 cache in the list of features. What is it referring to ?
The amount of memory residing directly on the processor die
When selecting a processor to match system needs, what features should you NOT consider?
The latest and most powerful processor available because the performance benefit will far outweigh the cost
Single channel
The memory controller on a motherboard that can access only one DIMM at a time. Compare with dual channel, triple channel, and quad channel.
Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
The most common type of system memory; it requires refreshing every few milliseconds
Processor frequency
The speed at which the processor operates internally, usually express in GHz.
You are able to successfully install new DIMMs with a data path that have 72 bits in a server using a 64-bit processor. Which of the following is true regarding this scenario?
The system will run as expected with no problems at all
Tania is examining a system because the user claims their Word documents are getting corrupt. What is a reasonable best guess as a starting point?
The user is not saving the files properly.
Gina is upgrading your computer with a new processor. She installs the processor into your motherboard and adds the cooling system. She powers up the computer, and it begins to boot but then shuts down. What could be the cause of this problem?
Thermal compound was not used.
Redundant power supple (RPS)
Two power supplies fully capable of supplying the full power requirements of a system. Only one of the power supplies is sued at a time; in case of failure, a seamless transition happens to the other power supply to prevent any disruption of power.
Multiprocessing
Two processing units installed within a single processor first used by the Pentium processor
You decide to add three new hard drives to your computer so that you can increase the amount of storage on it. When you install the hard drives, you find enough SATA connections on the motherboard, but it is short one SATA power connector. What is the easiest way to add a SATA power connector to the system?
Use a Molex to SATA power adapter.
Phil wants to add a new video card, and he is sure the power supply is sufficient to run the new video card. But when he tries to locate the power connector for the new video card, he does not find a 6-pin PCI-E power connector. He has several extra cables for hard drive power cables from his power supply that he is not using. What is the least expensive way for Phil to power his video card?
Use a SATA or whatever you have available to 6 pin PCI-E adapter
Your laptop at home is exhibiting intermittent problems and you suspect it could be related to power. How can you verify the power adapter is supplying the proper voltage?
Use a multimeter. Place the red probe of the multimeter in the center of the DC connector and the black probe on the outside cylinder.
Joanna is researching high-end motherboards for a gaming computer with the best performance possible. Which consideration should be highest on the list?
Use the highest-performing processor
Triple channels
When the memory controller accesses three DIMMs at the same time.DDR3 DIMMs support triple channeling.
Modular power supply
power supply with cables, some or all of which can be detached for a cleaner space inside a computer for better airflow inside the computer case.
