Unit 03- System Components
Click the View Lab button. When the simulated computer starts, press the F2 or Delete key on your keyboard to enter the BIOS setup program. Explore the current BIOS settings to find the answers to the following questions. What brand of processor is installed?
- Intel - 4096 - 1610 - 3 - Enabled - Diskette Drive
There are critical times when memory problems often manifest themselves. Match the critical times on the left with the corresponding descriptions on the right of the causes of the memory problems. -This can require more memory and can cause problems if there is not enough memory at this time -Memory is not properly seated, missing, or the motherboard is defective -Incompletely or improperly doing this can cause errors that appear to be memory related -The memory is not compatible and was not installed and configured properly
-Software installation -First boot of a new computer -Hardware installation or removal -Memory upgrade
Which of the following motherboard power connectors typically connect directly to the motherboard? (Select two.)
24-pin motherboard power 4-pin CPU power
You have a computer that has four DDR2 memory slots. Currently there are two 512 MB memory modules installed. You check the motherboard documentation and find that the system has a 4 GB memory limitation. You want to add as much memory as possible without replacing the existing modules. What is the maximum total amount of RAM that can be installed in this system?
3 GB
Which of the following voltages are provided by an ATX power supply. (Select three.)
3.3 5 12
Which of the following statements are true? (Select two.)
32-bit processors use only the IA-32 instruction set (also referred to as x86). 64-bit processors use the x86-64 instruction set (also referred to as x64).
What is the approximate bus speed of DDR2 memory rated at PC2-5300?
333 MHz
What is the theoretical capacity of a DDR4 standard system memory module?
512 GB (The biggest... not 256gb)
You want to build a new system that supports 6 GB of memory. Which of the following will be the most important consideration when building the computer?
64-bit processor
Match each CPU socket on the left with the appropriate CPU it is designed to support on the right. (Each socket can be used once, more than once, or not at all.) Intel Core 2 Duo AMD Athlon II Intel Core i7 AMD A-series APU Intel Pentium D Intel Xeon AMD Phenom II
775 AM3+ 1366 FM1 775 1366 AM3+
Use the above diagram to match the case type labels on the left with their corresponding cases, identified by letters, on the right. A,b,c,d,e,
A Mini-rrx Tower B Micro-ATX Slim Tower C Micro-ATX Tower D ATX Mid-Tower E ATX Full-Tower
You have a motherboard that uses a 24-pin ATX connector. Which types of power supply could you use with this motherboard? (Select two.)
A power supply with a 24-pin ATX connector only A power supply with a 20-pin ATX and a +4-pin connector
What is a ZIF socket?
A special socket for inserting and securing a processor (Zero Insertion Force)
Consider the memory modules shown in the image below. Drag the label on the left and drop it on the letter on the right that best identifies the associated memory module form.
A) DDR DIMM B) DDR3 DIMM C) DDR4 DIMM D) DDR2 DIMM E) 200-pin SODIMM F) 144-pin SODIMM G) UniDIMM
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 mid-tower
Which of the following functions does an ATX power supply perform? (Select two.)
Aids in thermal management Converts AC to DC
You have a computer with a Pentium 4 CPU and two PC-2400 DDR modules. The motherboard has room for two additional memory modules, and you'd like to install two PC-4000 modules. Which of the following statements is true?
All memory will operate at 300 MHz. (not 500MHz)
What is the purpose of cache memory?
Allows a processor to access data more quickly (L1-L4)
After working without problems for a couple years, your computer has begun to lock up. You suspect that it is a thermal issue but you can't find any component that is not functioning correctly. You have not replaced the CPU or installed any new devices. The CPU cooling fan and the power supply fan are working properly. The lock-ups are happening with increasing frequency. Which of the following is a common condition that might explain these symptoms?
An accumulation of dust has gradually built up.
Which of the following components is an example of firmware?
BIOS/UEFI (not EEPROM)
To improve system performance, you have configured a motherboard to run with a higher multiplier than what the CPU is specified to use. Since doing this, the system has become unstable and crashes frequently. What should you do to restore system stability?
Back off on the overclocking settings until the system runs in a stable manner.
Which of the following are true regarding a dual-channel memory bandwidth configuration? (Select two.)
Bandwidth is increased by 5-15%. The memory controller must support dual-channels.
What type of RAM might slow system performance because it holds memory addresses or data to improve stability on systems with more than 1 GB of RAM before it is transferred to the memory controller?
Buffered (and ECC)
With a memory module read request, there is a delay between the time of the data request and the time the data is available for output from the memory module. What is this delay called?
CAS Latency (CL)
Which of the following components is necessary to keep the real-time clock running?
CMOS battery
Which power supply feature helps prevent circuit overloads by balancing the current flow?
Dual rail (Each separate voltage output circuit is referred to as a rail and can power multiple devices. To avoid overloading one circuit, many newer power supplies have two or more +12 volt rails. These are known as dual rail power supplies. Separate rails balance the power load between multiple circuits, preventing any one circuit from becoming overloaded.)
Which of the following is an error detection technique that can also correct the error?
ECC (Parity= Cannot fix errors)
Which of the following components is a non-volatile memory technology for saving system settings when the computer is powered off?
EEPROM chips (EEPROM replaced CMOS)
You are attempting to boot a new system. The boot fails and the system sounds a beep code. Which of the following describes the most likely cause of this error?
Either no memory is installed or the memory was not detected.
Since it has no moving parts, a CPU will usually work properly for several years. Which of the following is a common factor that might cause a CPU to fail prematurely?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
You are in a carpeted office lighted by fluorescent bulbs. You are preparing to add memory modules to a user's computer. The user has already unpacked the memory modules and stacked them on top of an old, unused CRT monitor. What is the greatest threat in this environment that could damage these memory modules?
Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
Which of the following objects is installed between the system case and the motherboard's back I/O ports?
Faceplate
You need to replace the power supply in your home desktop computer. Which of the following specifications are the most likely to affect your power supply choice? (Select three.)
Form factor Output wattage Type and number of connectors
Which type of software-generated problems can indicate that a software bug is causing a memory error? (Select three.)
General-protection fault Page fault Exception error
Which of the following connectors are part of the system case and connect to header pins on the motherboard? (Select two.)
HDD LED activity Power switch
What are two major disadvantages to overclocking the CPU? (Select two.)
Increased heat output Voided warranty
You have just upgraded the CPU on your computer. You consulted the motherboard documentation to make sure the CPU is compatible with the motherboard. You turned the system on and it locks up shortly after startup. Which steps should you take first? (Select two.)
Make sure the CPU is seated and oriented properly, and locked into the socket. Look for something that could be causing the new CPU to overheat. (not: Test the power supply using a meter)
An employee submitted a support ticket stating that her computer will not turn on. Which of the following troubleshooting steps should you take first? (Select two.)
Make sure the power cord is plugged into the wall. Make sure the surge protector is turned on. (then take the cover off and test with meter)
You want to add a second processor to your dual-processor system. Which of the following should you do?
Match the speed of the new processor with the speed of the existing processor.
A customer needs to use several applications. Currently, the computer cannot keep all the necessary applications open at the same time. Which of the following components should you consider upgrading?
Memory
You have just built a new system from scratch. You turn the computer on but the system boot fails and sounds a beep code. What might be the issue?
Memory not installed or not detected (Creates a Beep)
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?
Micro-ATX slim tower
Which motherboard form factor allows for low-consumption power supplies?
Mini-ITX
You are in the process of configuring a new computer. The motherboard has four memory slots and supports dual-channel memory. You install two memory modules. When you boot the computer, the BIOS recognizes both modules, but the memory is not configured to run in dual-channel mode. What should you do?
Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots.
Which of the following is the most common method for removing RAM from a motherboard?
Move the tabs holding the RAM out of the way; pull straight up to remove the RAM.
Which of the following form factors does not have expansion slots on the motherboard, but instead uses a riser card for expansion cards?
NLX
Which of the following will most likely contain SODIMM memory?
Notebook computers (DDR DIMM=Desktop, SODIMM= laptops)
You are testing the power supply in a PC system by measuring the voltage available on the 4-pin Molex connector. The voltage on the red wire is +5.1 volts. What should you do?
Nothing, the power supply is working normally. (red=5v, yellow=12v)
You need to replace the power supply in your home desktop computer. As you choose the replacement power supply, which of the following specifications are the most likely to affect your choice? (Select three.)
Output wattage Form factor Processor connector
Lately your computer is spontaneously rebooting and freezing. What is the most likely cause?
Overheated CPU
Lately your computer is spontaneously shutting down after only a few minutes of use. What is the most likely cause?
Overheated CPU
Lately your computer is spontaneously shutting down after only a few minutes of use. What is the most likely cause? (Select two.)
Overheated CPU Cooling fans clogged with dust
Consider the following diagram of a typical motherboard. Drag the label on the left to the letter on the right that best identifies the associated connector. A-L
PCI, PCIe x16, PCIe xl, Case fan power, CPU power, CPU, Memory, Power supply, SATA, Front/top panel, USB, IEEE 1394
Which expansion slot is best for high-end dedicated video cards?
PCIe xl6 (not AGP= Accelerated Graphics Port)
Which of the following is an error detection technique that can detect errors with only one bit?
Parity (ECC= More than 1 bit)
You have an AMD processor and an Intel processor, both of which have the same speed rating. Which of the following statements is true about the relative performance of both processors?
Performance will depend on other factors such as cache and other features.
Which of the following components converts AC to DC?
Power supply
You have an existing system that has a single DDR3 memory module installed. You would like to add more memory to the three remaining empty memory slots. What should you do to make sure you get the right memory for the system? (Select two.)
Purchase additional modules that are the same as what is currently installed. Check the motherboard documentation to find which modules are supported.
You have a computer system with a dual-core processor. You would like to upgrade to a quad-core processor, but you don't want to replace the motherboard. Which of the following should you do first?
Read the motherboard documentation to identify which processors are supported.
You have a computer system with an Intel Core i3 processor that operates at 3.7 GHz. You would like to upgrade to a faster processor, but you don't want to replace the motherboard. Which of the following should you do first?
Read the motherboard documentation to identify which processors are supported.
You have been using the same computer for several years. To improve performance, you decide to upgrade the processor. You check the motherboard documentation and purchase the fastest processor supported by the motherboard. However, when you try to start the computer it beeps regularly and nothing is displayed on the screen. What should you do? (Select two.)
Reinstall the old processor in the motherboard. Flash the UEFI firmware.
Your computer has one single core processor installed. The motherboard supports processors with up to four You want to upgrade your computer to a quad-core system. Which of the following will be part of your configuration?
Replace the existing processor.
A user calls to complain that her computer is behaving erratically. Some days it functions correctly, other days it crashes frequently. Sometimes, the system won't boot at all. You open the system case and notice the following: • Two of the mounting screws are missing from the system hard disk drive. • The system uses memory modules from several different manufacturers with mismatched capacities. • Several capacitors on the motherboard are bulged and have a brown liquid oozing from them. • The chassis fan on the front of the case is oriented to blow air into the system. What should you do?
Replace the motherboard.
Your system crashes at various times, sometimes on startup, sometimes when running a software application, sometime when a certain group of applications is running. You suspect a malfunctioning CPU but none of the common issues seem to be present. You have not configured overclocking. There is no overheating. The CPU is seated correctly and locked into its socket. What can you do to definitively determine if the CPU is causing the system crashes?
Replace the suspect CPU with a known good CPU of the same make and model.
You test installing a second CPU. You remove the terminating resistor from the second CPU slot, insert the CPU and perform your testing. Upon conclusion of the test you remove the second CPU and find that your system no longer boots up properly. How can you correct this situation?
Replace the terminating resistor in the slot that was occupied by the second CPU.
After arriving at work, you turn on your computer to begin your day. Instantly, you see smoke and smell a strange odor coming from the computer. What should you do?
Shut off the system immediately
Which of the following statements is true regarding single- and double-sided memory?
Single-sided memory uses half the number of memory modules as double-sided memory of the same capacity.
You are in the process of installing a motherboard in a system case. Which of the following objects should you place between the motherboard and the system case?
Standoffs
What is the biggest advantage of 64-bit processors over 32-bit processors?
The ability to use over 4 GB of memory
When you try to boot your computer, it hangs after POST. When you access the UEFI setup program, you see that the date is several years behind and the time is set to 12:01 am. What is the most likely problem?
The motherboard battery has failed.
You are servicing a client's computer that has been randomly restarting. You decide to test the power supply using a multimeter. You connect the positive lead to the yellow wire on one of the Molex connectors. Which action should you take based on the multimeter reading (shown below)?
The power supply is failing and should be replaced. (red=5v, yellow=12v)
Your company relocated you to their United Kingdom office in London. You brought your personal computer with you and are in the process of setting it up. Your computer was previously configured to receive 110 V AC, but the electricity in London uses 230 V AC. Which of the following would allow your computer to run on 230 V AC?
Toggle the voltage switch on the power supply to the different voltage.
Which of the following is an upgrade to the SODIMM standard?
UniDIMM
You have been using the same computer for several years. To extend its service life, you decide to upgrade the processor. You check the motherboard documentation and purchase the fastest processor supported by the motherboard. However, when you start the computer, it beeps regularly and nothing is displayed on the screen it doesn't start. What should you do first?
Update the UEFI firmware.
Your motherboard has two memory slots and supports a maximum of 8 GB of RAM. After installing two 4 GB modules and booting your system, you find that Windows only recognizes 3.5 GB of RAM. What should you do?
Upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows.
You have a desktop computer that uses a 250 watt power supply. You recently added a 4-disk RAID 10 array to the system and now it spontaneously shuts down. What should you do?
Upgrade to a power supply that provides more watts. (not volts)
You are building a new computer from both new and used parts. The video card is a PCIe video card that requires an 8-pin power connector. However, your power supply doesn't have an 8-pin PCIe power connector. Which solution would be the least expensive option for your system?
Use an adapter cable to connect two 4-pin Molex connectors to the 8-pin PCIe connector.
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?
Use the Mini-ATX motherboard in the ATX case.
A user has called to complain that her computer won't boot. It stops on the system startup screen right after the memory has been tested and displays a 301 keyboard error. What should you do first?
Verify that no keys are being pressed down during POST. (not download the latest drivers)
You have a desktop computer that you want to upgrade. You add several internal components and external components. You realize that you need to ensure that your power supply can support all of the new devices. Which power supply rating is used to determine this?
Watt rating
Match each of the motherboard components on the left with the appropriate description on the right. Each component is used once. Maintains an accurate system time and date, even when the power is off. Allows additional features and capabilities to be added to the motherboard. Houses the PCI bus controllers and communicates with the Super I/O controller. Contains firmware that is used to configure motherboard settings and initialize devices. Controls communication between the CPU, memory, and high-speed graphics bus. Stores custom configuration settings made by the user.
CMOS battery Expansion slots Southbridge Flash memory Northbridge Non-volatile BIOS memory
Which of the following devices use the 4-pin peripheral (Molex) connector? (Select two.)
Case fan PATA CD-ROM
You have just finished upgrading the CPU in your desktop system. After running the system for about 15 minutes, the system spontaneously shuts down. What should you do first to troubleshoot the problem? (Select two.)
Check the CPU fan power. Check the thermal shutdown threshold in the BIOS. (again, not the power supply)
You want to upgrade all memory in your system with the fastest memory available. Which of the following should you choose?
Choose the type of memory that is supported by your motherboard. (not DDR2, DDR3, DDR4)
What should you do (if possible) before updating the UEFI firmware? (Select two.)
Connect the computer to a UPS. Backup existing UEFI settings. (You can't lose power during update)
You have just replaced the motherboard in your computer. Your computer starts, but the hard disk light does not come on while the system is booting. What should you do?
Connect the hard disk LED to the motherboard.
You just replaced the motherboard in your computer. Now your computer will not start. You press the power button on the system case, but nothing happens; there are no sounds or lights. What should you do?
Connect the power button to the motherboard.
Consider the expansion and memory slots highlighted on the motherboard diagram below. Select the PCI, PCIe x!6, and PCIe xl slots. (Select four.)
Consider the expansion and memory slots highlighted on the motherboard diagram below. Select the PCI, PCIe x!6, and PCIe xl slots. (Select four.)
Your motherboard has sockets for 184-pin DIMM RAM. Which type of RAM should you install?
DDR (SDRAM= 168-pin)
Assuming the same operating frequency, what are the advantages of DDR3 over DDR2? (Select two.)
DDR3 doubles the data transfer rate of DDR2. DDR3 uses less power than DDR2.
Which of the following memory ratings identifies the fastest memory? DDR3-1600 DDR2-667 PC-3200 PC-2700 PC-133
DDR3-1600
Which memory rating identifies the fastest memory? DDR-400 PC2-3200 PC3-10600 DDR3-2000 PC3-8500
DDR3-2000
Assuming the same operating frequency, what are the advantages of DDR4 over DDR3? (Select two.)
DDR4 uses less power than DDR3. DDR4 doubles the data transfer rate of DDR3. (DDR3= 1.5v)
Which of the following are terms used to identify memory modules?
DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module)
You have installed a new computer with a quad-core 64-bit processor, 6 GB of memory, and a PCIe video card with 512 MB of memory. After installing the operating system, you see less than 4 GB of memory showing as available in Windows. What should you do?
Install a 64-bit version of the operating system.
You are in the process of configuring a new computer. The motherboard has six memory slots and supports triple-channel memory. You install two memory modules. When you boot the computer, the BIOS recognizes both modules, but the memory only runs in dual-channel mode. What should you do? (Select two.)
Install a third, identical memory module Move the modules to the correct motherboard slots.
You have a computer with a dual core 64-bit processor that uses the x86-x64 instruction set. You want to install the 32-bit application on the computer. What should you do?
Install the application normally. (both 32 and 64 can be run on x64)
After installing two memory modules, you power on the system to check for errors. You find that the BIOS program recognizes only one of the memory modules. What should you do first?
Make sure that both modules are seated properly in their slots.
You are preparing a new computer for operating system installation. Complete the following tasks: ■ 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 bootable device because the computer has no floppy drive. Note: To restart the simulated computer, click the Send Ctrl + Alt + Del button at the bottom of the screen.
You are preparing a new computer for operating system installation. Complete the following tasks: ■ 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 bootable device because the computer has no floppy drive. Note: To restart the simulated computer, click the Send Ctrl + Alt + Del button at the bottom of the screen.
To improve system performance, you have configured a motherboard to run with a higher multiplier than what the CPU is specified to use. What is this practice called? (typed)
overclocking
