3.13 ,3.14, 4.1 & 4.2

What are samples?

When a computer digitizes an analog signal, it'll break this wave into discrete chunks called samples. A sample is a specific value you use to identify the amplitude and frequency of the wave at a given point in time. It does this at specific intervals along the entire analog wave. By doing this, the computer creates an approximation of what the analog wave looks like but in digital format instead. Now the accuracy of this approximation is known as fidelity. Fidelity describes how close the approximation is to the real analog wave. There are a couple of different parameters that are used to describe how accurate this approximation will be. The first number is the number of digital bits used to represent the value of each sample. We call this the bits per sample (bps).

What are biometric scanners?

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 (eyes) -Fingerprint -Face -Heart beat

What is a codec?

Codec stands for compressor-decompressor. It's software that's used by the system to compress audio as it's being recorded and then to decompress that same audio during playback. The key issue here is that if you want to play a particular audio stream on your system, whether it's from a file or whether it's an audio stream coming in off the internet, it doesn't matter, but if you want to play that audio on your system and that audio stream was encoded with a particular codec, that same codec has to be installed on your system in order for the audio to be played back. You can view a list of installed codecs on your system by launching your Media Player application. In Media Player, right click on the button bar and go to help. Then go to 'About Windows Media Player' and then 'Technical Support Information'. When you scroll down, you have the Audio Codecs section in the output. This lists all of the different audio codecs that have been installed on this system. If you're having problems playing a particular stream and it's reporting that the appropriate audio codec has not been installed on your system, you can come here to check and verify whether it truly has or has not been installed on your system. If it has not, what you can usually do is go to the codec vendor's website, download the appropriate codec, and install it on your system.

What do heat sinks do?

Heat sinks are made of a heat conductive material (usually aluminum or copper) and are attached to components using a thermal paste or pad. Heat sinks are designed with fins to increase the surface area exposed to air, allowing heat to dissipate from the component much faster. Heat sinks can be either active or passive. *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 -Some motherboard chipsets with integrated graphics *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: -Most motherboard chipsets -Low-end video cards -Memory modules (heat sinks on memory modules are also called heat spreaders) >>Because passive heat sinks do not use a fan, they are 100% reliable. However, active heat sinks can dissipate heat much faster than passive ones. >>The CPU is the hottest component in a computer. Most CPU's will sit around 85 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, but if the computer is working really hard, it can get as high as 190 degrees Fahrenheit. This is why CPU's have a dedicated cooling component. >>Heatsinks can be designed with the fan flat, or with the fan upright. This upright design does a better job of cooling the CPU as it maintains the overall airflow of the case. >Passive heatsinks are used on high speed memory modules, most motherboard chipsets, and low-end graphics cards. High-end graphics cards use an active heatsink.

You need to connect a new USB scanner to the USB port on your computer. However, the first time you plugged the scanner in, it was not recognized. What should you do?

Install the scanner drivers and then connect the scanner to the USB port and complete the Add a Device wizard when it pops up. -To install USB devices, start by installing the driver. Then connect the device to the USB port. The operating system will detect the device and configure it automatically. The driver is used to tell the operating system how to communicate with the device.

Note

Issues related to insufficient cooling are sometimes difficult to identify. They usually manifest as random errors or system lockups. One tool that can be used to troubleshoot cooling problems is freeze spray. If a system is starting to fail due to overheating, spraying it with freeze spray reduces the temperature and could restore it to normal functionality. If the problem goes away after spraying a suspected component, implement additional cooling solutions for that component.

What are some of the most common peripheral devices?

Keyboard -Mouse -Digitizer -Game controller -Scanner -Monitor sensor -Touchpad -Card reader -Biometric scanner -Barcode reader -Near Field Communication (NFC)/ Tap Pay Device -VR headset -Microphone -Signature Pad -Projector -KVM switch

Which of the following thermal solutions might you find on memory modules?

Passive heat sink 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.

What are projectors?

Projectors are display devices that use light to project display output onto a wall or screen. Projectors are often used in classrooms and meetings to display information for a large audience. The brightness of light from projectors and other output devices is measured in lumens. Projectors may use light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or other hardware.

What should you consider when connecting peripheral devices?

When connecting peripheral devices, consider the following recommendations: *Make sure the computer supports the connection type used by the device. -Most peripheral devices use USB connectors. -Older peripheral devices can use PS/2, serial, or parallel connectors. For these devices, you can use an adapter (e.g., a PS/2 to USB adapter). -An expansion card can be added to provide the necessary connections. *Identify the system requirements of the peripheral device. Some peripheral devices specify a minimum CPU speed, memory size, or OS version. *Install any necessary drivers or software. *Configure the device in the OS and verify it is working correctly.

What is the difference between onboard and dedicated sound cards?

There are onboard sound cards that do support Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, and because it's integrated into the motherboard, it's free. It doesn't cost anything to implement. However, onboard sound cards do tend to have lower quality sound output and provide fewer features than the more expensive dedicated sound cards that are installed in an expansion slot.

Where should the thermal paste go when installing a processor?

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.

What does a mini USB look like?

This connector is used by portable electronic devices, such as digital cameras and some portable storage devices. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-mini.jpg

Which of the following processor features used is MOST likely to dynamically reduce power consumption based on current operating conditions?

Throttling 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

What are touchpads connected through?

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. Touch pads can also be used with desktop computers. These touch pads connect to the computer through a USB port and are used instead of a mouse.

You recently purchased a USB audio headset and connected it to a USB port on your Windows system. However, when you launch your music player, the audio is played through your desktop speakers instead of the new USB headset. You need to reconfigure the system to use the headset instead of the desktop speakers. Click the tab you would use in the Sound Properties window to accomplish this task.

You can set sound properties in Control Panel by going to Hardware and Sound > Sound. Use the Playback tab to configure the default audio playback device. Use the Recording tab to configure the default audio recording device. The Sounds tab configures the sound scheme. The Communications tab can be used to configure the system audio to be automatically muted when the computer is used to place or receive phone calls.

What would be the problem with connecting a lot of devices to a bus?

You have to be careful about bandwidth because it's shared among all devices connected to the same USB bus. This means the more devices you connect to a bus, the slower each device will operate. With only four or five devices connected, you probably won't see any performance issues. However, if you start connecting a lot of devices, you will, most likely, notice slower speeds. The main thing to know is that the more USB devices you connect to a single bus, the slower overall speed you're going to have.

What is the USB type C specification?

in 2014, the USB Implementers Forum, an organization that markets and promotes USBs, published the USB Type-C specification. Its goal was to create a universal USB type so that no one needed to own hundreds of special connectors anymore. They named it Type-C, and the initiative has been pretty successful. Type-C is simpler than previous types. First, both ends of a Type-C connector are the same—no Type-A on one end, Type-B on the other. And the cord allows bi-directional power flow, so a host device can charge a peripheral, and a peripheral device can charge a host. Best of all, you don't need a specialized connector for each pair of devices— all ports are Type-C, and one connector will work for all ports, even Thunderbolt ports in newer devices

What does a microUSB look like?

microUSB connectors are designed for smart phones and tablet devices. microUSB connectors are approximately half the thickness of miniUSB connectors, making them more appropriate for smaller devices. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-micro.jpg

What are the different versions of the USB?

(The speed, data rate, and max cable length will be represented as Speed/Data Rate/Max cable length). *Version-1.1 -Low speed/1.5 Mbps/3m -Full Speed/ 12 Mbps/5m *Version 2.0 -Hi-Speed/480 Mbps/5m *3.0/3.1 -Superspeed(3.0)/Up to 5 Gbps/3m -Superspeed+(3.1)/Up to 10 Gbps/5m >>Data transfer rates are limited by the slowest USB version being used. For example, a USB 2.0 device connected to a USB 3.0 port will run at USB 2.0 speeds. >>USB 2.0 is backwards compatible with USB 1.1 devices, but USB 1.1 devices are still limited to the 12 megabits per second data rate.

Which component is responsible for converting digital audio into sound that can be played on speakers?

-DAC Sound cards use a component called a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) to convert digital data into analog audio signals that can be played on speakers. The ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) converts analog sound into digital data. THX is a sound quality standard that was developed for films. MP3 (MPEG-2 Layer III) is an audio codec used to compress digital audio files.

How can a mouse function?

*A mouse can be either wired or wireless. -A wired mouse uses a USB port to connect to the computer. -A wireless mouse uses an internal battery for power and uses RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth) to connect to a receiver, which is either connected to a USB port or integrated with the computer. *When selecting a mouse, consider the following: -Because optical mice use light rays to detect motion, they don't work on some surfaces. -Some mice have internal motion sensors, allowing them to detect movements while in the air. This particular device can attach to a user's head and move the cursor when the head moves. -You can select mice with additional buttons or a scroll wheel to add functionality. -High-end gaming mice use a rating of dots per inch (DPI). The rating denotes how many steps (cursor movements) are counted in a single inch.

What is Analog input and output?

*Analog output jacks allow you to play sound on your computer through external devices: -The speaker out connector sends signal to external speakers. This signal is amplified and the computer controls the sound level that is sent. -The line out connectors send audio to other sound devices. This signal is unamplified. *Analog input jacks allow you to record audio through the sound card. -The line-level (line-in) connector receives signals from CD players and musical instruments coming from the line out port of the other device. -The mic-level (mic in) connector receives signals from a microphone.

How do you hook up a KVM?

*Connect the power adapter to the KVM switch and plug it in. *Connect the monitor to the KVM switch using an HDMI cable(OUTPUT). *Connect the mouse to the KVM switch. *Connect the keyboard to the KVM switch. *Connect the left computer to the KVM switch. -To the back of the KVM switch, connect the HDMI, USB Type-B, and 3mm TRS microphone connectors. -To the computer, connect the HDMI, USB Type-A, and 3 mm TRS microphone connectors. *Connect the right computer to the KVM switch. -To the back of the KVM switch, connect the HDMI, USB Type-B, and 3mm TRS microphone connectors. -To the computer, connect the HDMI, USB Type-A, and 3 mm TRS microphone connectors.

What is a DB-15 connector on a sound card typically used for? (Select TWO).

*Joystick *MIDI port Use a DB-15 connector on a sound card to connect MIDI devices or game joysticks. Headphones, speakers, and microphones connect to TRS ports.

What should you try when troubleshooting sound problems?

*Make sure that the speakers are connected to the sound card and that the speakers have power. *Check the volume setting on the speaker and the back of the sound card (if present). *Check software sound settings. Verify that the sound is not muted and check mixer settings. To do this, we need to go to Device Manager. On the Windows icon, right-click, and we can go up here to Device Manager. Then, let's expand Audio inputs and outputs. Many times Windows will load its own version of the driver for a particular audio device and that may not necessarily be the best driver for that device. If this is the case, one thing you can do is go to the audio board manufacturer's website and then download and install the driver that they have for your audio hardware. The idea is that because the manufacturer actually made the hardware, it's very likely that their driver will function better than the Microsoft driver. If this is the case, you can update the existing driver that was automatically loaded by Windows with a newer driver. In addition to using a different driver, you can also update the driver that's currently in place. This driver was not loaded from the manufacturer's website. It was loaded by Windows when the system was initially installed. Therefore, I can come down here to the Update Driver button and click it. When I do, Device Manager will go out to the Windows Update site and check to see if there's a newer version of this driver available. If there is, it'll download and install it for us. *If some files play but others do not, make sure you have the right codecs installed for playing that file type. *If you are working with a built-in audio interface, verify that it is correctly configured in the BIOS. If you have installed an add-in card, make sure the built-in audio is disabled. *If no sound plays, make sure the card is seated, check for resource conflicts, and update the drivers if necessary. *Ensure that the sound card is not experiencing electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the disk drive or power supply. To remedy this problem, move the affected card to an expansion slot located away from the source of EMI. -It's not uncommon to encounter a PC system that has two audio interfaces configured. One is integrated and one is an external audio interface like a USB headset. The problem that happens here is that whatever audio interface is set to be the default interface when an application is loaded is the one that it's going to try to use. If my integrated audio was the only audio interface present when I loaded a particular audio application and I plugged in a USB headset to the system, it's not uncommon for the application to continue using the audio interface that was present when that application was initially loaded. If this happens, come into Sound, go to the Playback tab, right-click the audio interface that you want the audio output to be sent to and then click Set Default or vice versa.

What should you be aware of when configuring system sound?

*Many motherboards include an onboard sound card. Use the connectors on the motherboard's I/O plate to connect components to the onboard sound card. *Sound cards are typically added to a computer using PCI or PCIe slots. Some sound cards also connect through USB. External sound cards for laptops can use an ExpressCard slot. *When installing a sound card using an expansion slot, make sure to disable the onboard sound card in the CMOS configuration. *After installing the sound card, install the drivers and other software that came with the sound card. *In Control Panel, use the Sound applet to: -Configure settings for sound card connections such as speakers, audio input, and microphone. -Identify the sources that you want to record. -Configure sounds to play with system events or to play a sound to test your configuration. *An audio codec is a specific method of formatting sound files. Common codecs include WAV, WMV, AIFF, and MP3. To play sounds saved using these formats, your computer must have the corresponding codec installed. -You can see the list of installed codecs in System Information. -By default, Windows comes with common codecs installed. Other codecs might be installed as you add other software.

What are bus powered USB devices?

*USB cables have wires to carry both power and data. Bus-powered (sometimes called passive) devices get their power via the USB cable. Bus-powered devices are classified as low-powered or high-powered devices, depending on the amount of power they draw from the USB bus. -Low powered devices use 100 mA or less -High-powered devices use between 100 and 500 mA (up to 900 mA for USB 3.0) *Like USB devices, USB hubs can be bus-powered or self-powered. You cannot connect high-powered devices to a bus-powered hub (you can connect only low-powered or self-powered devices to a bus-powered hub). Therefore, self-powered hubs that provide 500 mA per port are recommended to ensure an adequate power supply to all bus-powered devices that you may wish to connect to the hub. >>USB devices can receive up to 500 mili-amps of power from a USB 2.0 port and up to 900 mili-amps of power from a USB 3.0 port. If this amount of power is sufficient for a device, it's considered a bus-powered device. This means the USB port provides 100 percent of its power.

What are things to consider when purchasing a sound card?

-Bus support -Channels -Sampling rate -Feature support -Analog Input and Output -Digital Audio -Additional ports

What are the 2 ways USB devices are connected to computers?

-Directly to a USB port located on the motherboard or on the front panel of a case -To an external USB hub that is connected to the computer >>USB hubs can be chained together to provide even more USB ports.

You are building one of your customers a home theater PC (HTPC) to connect to an HDTV and high-definition audio system. The customer is going to be playing mostly Blu-ray movies on the system. Which of the following features should the sound card include?

-S/PDIF output -Dolby Digital, DTS support, or SDDS support Because the customer is using the computer as an HTPC, the sound card should include support for high-quality sound output, such as Dolby Digital, DTS, or SDDS support. In addition, the sound card should support a digital output, such as S/PDIF. Line-level in (line in) ports are used to receive analog audio signals from musical instruments or CD players, which is not necessary for this computer. IEEE 1394 ports are used to connect FireWire devices. MIDI support, which allows digital synthesizer recording, is also unnecessary for this particular computer.

How can USB devices be classified?

-Self-powered -Bus powered

Which of the following features are typically available through TRS ports on a sound card?

-Speaker out -Microphone in TRS ports on a sound card accept 3.5 mm (1/8") plugs for analog audio input and output. The number of ports on the sound card depends on the type of support (for example, 5.1 surround support). An IEEE 1394 port is used to connect FireWire devices. S/PDIF audio is supplied through either a TOSLINK optical port or an RCA port. HDMI audio is supplied through an HDMI port.

What is a KVM switch?

A KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switch allows multiple computers to use a single keyboard, mouse, and monitor. KVM switches have multiple input groups, with each group accepting keyboard, video, and mouse connections from one computer. A single output group connects to the shared peripheral devices. Buttons on the KVM switch are used to toggle between each connected computer. *Rackmount KVM switches can support up to 16 computers and are typically used in data centers to manage servers from a central console. *Desktop KVM switches typically support two or three computers, which must be within about 5 meters. *Networked or remote KVM switches use special hardware devices that send keyboard, mouse, and video content through a network connection.

What is a TOSLINK?

A TOSLINK (or optical audio cable) connector is used with digital optical I/O for S/PDIF audio. [https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_snd_port_pp6/s-pdif-optical-cable.png]

What is a barcode reader?

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. *Most bar code readers use a laser to scan the barcode. Some use cameras or optical scanners. *Barcode readers include software that interprets the meaning of the barcode. >>By installing a special app, smart phones are able to function as a barcode reader by using the phone's built-in camera.

How does a card reader work?

A card that contains an embedded microchip or a magnetic strip is inserted into the reader. The reader then scans the chip or strip, verifies its contents, and authenticates the user. Card readers can be stand-alone devices or integrated with other peripherals (e.g., a keyboard or workstation).

What is a VR headset?

A device worn on the head that covers the eyes and provides separate images for each eye, stereo sound, and motion tracking sensors to create a virtual reality experience for the user. Some headsets also have eye tracking sensors and work with handheld gaming controllers. Virtual reality is widely used to train medical and military professionals. As it becomes more affordable, it is being widely adopted in many fields.H

What is a digitizer?

A digitizer captures some type of analog signal and converts it into digital data. Some common types of digitizer devices include: *Graphics Tables—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. *Document Scanners—Document scanners are specifically designed to convert paper documents into digital documents, such as PDFs or Rich Text Format files. Document scanners use optical character recognition (OCR) to create editable word processor documents. There are two types of document scanners. Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) scanners automatically scan a stack of papers. Flatbed scanners require that you place each page on a scanning surface one by one. *3D Scanners—3D scanners use either physical contact or lasers to map the size and shape of a physical object and convert it into a 3D digital model.

What does a type C USB look like?

A long, thin oval connector designed to be a universal USB port that works with many devices and connectors. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-c.jpg

How does a microphone produce sound?

A microphone converts sound into an electrical signal. Some computers have a built-in microphone, and many headsets and camera systems that connect to computers include microphones.

What is a peripheral device?

A peripheral device is any external component that either sends information to or retrieves information from a computer. Peripheral devices can be as simple as a USB keyboard or as complex as an entire security system complete with cameras, motion sensors, and bio-metric devices.

What does a type A USB look like?

A rectangular connector that generally plugs directly into the computer or a hub. Almost all USB cables have one Type-A connector on one of the ends. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-type-a.jpg

What is a sound card?

A sound card is an expansion card (or an integrated component on the motherboard) that manages sound input and output. Because computers use digital data, sound cards must convert analog sound into digital data, and digital data into analog sound. The following components are used to do this: -The Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) converts analog sound into digital data. -The Digital Signal Processor (DSP) is an onboard processor that handles analog and digital conversion. -The Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) converts digital data into analog sound (in preparation to be played on speakers).

What does a type B USB look like?

A square connector with two beveled corners. Type-B connectors are mostly used with printers. Some networking devices, such as hubs and modems, also use this connector. >>Most USB cables that use this connector have a Type-A connector on one end that plugs into the computer. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-type-b.jpg

What does a USB 3.0 type A connector look like?

The blue tab indicates that the connector is a USB 3.0 Type-A connector and capable of USB 3.0 speeds. USB 3.0 Type-A connectors are backwards compatible with all previous USB versions. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-3-type-a.jpg

How does the power supply contribute to cooling?

ATX power supplies aid in cooling by exhausting hot air out the back of the case. ATX power supplies have big fans in them that help exhaust hot air. This fan is usually on the bottom of the power supply inside the case. Power supplies are typically installed at the top of the case, above the CPU. However, some cases place the power supply at the bottom of the case. Cases that position the power supply at the bottom don't use it to aid in exhausting hot air. The power supply cools only itself. Cases with this design will have fans at the back and the top of the case to exhaust hot air.

What is feature support?

Additional features on sound cards provide higher quality sound or additional functionality. *DirectSound 3D allows a computer to play audio in surround sound. *EAX is a high-definition sound technology originally developed for video games. This technology provides such realistic nuances that audio can actually cue gamers. *THX is a sound quality standard, originally created for film, now available on sound cards. This is a sound card feature that allows computers to present theater quality sound output. *Dolby Digital is a technology that broadcasts sound at a frequency the human ear can hear and diminishes collateral sound. This is a sound card feature that allows computers to present higher quality sound output. *DTS (Digital Theater Systems) Digital requires an optical reader to decode physical data and send it to a computer for processing. This is a sound card feature that allows computers to present theater quality sound output. *SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) was originally developed for theater sound. SDDS decoders provide error correction. *MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol for recording and playing audio created on digital synthesizers. This feature allows the computer to become an integrated component to a musical instrument.

What is stereo sound?

Almost all sound cards will support a minimum of two channels, and this is stereo sound. It gives you a left and a right channel.

What is an RCA?

An RCA connector on a sound card is used for coaxial digital I/O for S/PDIF audio. >>While RCA connectors can be used for analog audio, RCA connectors on a sound card are normally used for S/PDIF digital audio. [https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_snd_port_pp6/s-pdif-coaxial.png]

What is a S/PDIF port used for?

An S/PDIF port is used to transfer digital audio without converting it to analog first. This results in higher quality sound as the Digital to Analog conversion process usually causes some loss of quality.

How do analog audio signals work?

Analog audio signals are transmitted through the air in the form of sound waves. Sounds waves are created by something vibrating the air. This vibration creates alternating regions of high and low air pressure and it moves outward from the source. For example, audio speakers have big round surfaces called drivers and when this driver moves back and forth it vibrates the air and creates pressure waves and these pressure waves propagate out carrying the sound's signal. When analog devices record analog signals it's pretty straightforward. They essentially just make a direct copy of this wave on some type of medium. Computers aren't analog devices. They use digital signals and because of this, the analog signal has to be converted into a digital format before the computer can process and store it. This is done through a process called sampling.

What is 3D audio?

Another feature that higher-end sound cards provide is called 3D Audio. 3D Audio is typically used by computer gamers to create an immersive experience using sound. A popular 3D audio technology currently in use is EAX.

What are some standard channel configurations?

Audio can be split into multiple channels, which increases the sound quality and makes it more realistic. Some standard channel configurations are as follows: *2 channel audio is stereo. Examples of 2 channel audio include standard TV and radio. *4 channel audio is quadraphonic audio and was an early attempt at surround sound. *5.1 channel audio, also known as surround sound, has 6 audio channels: five speakers(front left, center, front right, rear left and rear right) and one low-frequency effects subwoofer (LFE) channel. Surround sound audio uses encoding and compression techniques to separate the sound into distinct channels. It also reduces the size of the audio stream. This can be done using either software decoding or hardware decoding. Software decoding often results in lower quality sound. Hardware decoding on the other hand results in very high quality sound. Because of this, you need to see which type of encoding is supported by the sound cards that you're looking at. Some common hardware decoding technologies are: Dolby Digital and DTS-ES. *7.1 channel has 8 audio channels: 7 speakers and one LFE subwoofer channel. This is the first technology providing error correction.

What do case fans do?

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. *Some cases have intake fans on the side case cover. *Fan filters can be installed to keep dust and debris inside the case to a minimum.

Which of the following will ensure optimal system cooling?

Consider the following recommendations to ensure optimal system cooling: -Leave space between the case and any walls or obstructions. -Keep the ambient temperature below 80° F. -Bundle cables together and secure unused cables to the case. ________ *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 (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 (unused expansion cards, I/O shield, front drive bays).

What are Self-powered USB devices?

Devices that rely on their own power supply (i.e., they are plugged into an AC outlet) are self-powered devices (sometimes called active devices). USB 2.0 devices that draw more than 500 mA of power are required to be self-powered; USB 3.0 devices that draw more than 900 mA of power are required to be self-powered. >>To install a USB device, you typically install the software driver before attaching the device. When you plug in the device, it will be automatically detected and configured.

What is digital audio?

Digital audio involves taking a standard audio signal and converting it into zeros and ones so that a computer can process and store it. The sounds that we hear in our everyday lives such as the sound of a voice or maybe the sound coming from a musical instrument are not digital in nature. Instead they use analog audio signals. Computers cannot directly process analog audio signals. They use digital signaling to transmit and store data including audio data. Therefore, in order for a computer to store audio data, the analog signals need to be converted into a digital signal first. Once that's done, the computer can process it and save it. But, later on when we decide we want to play back that same audio signal and listen to it with our ears from the computer, the digital data has to be converted back into an analog signal. The device that does all of this conversion back and forth is the sound card.

The PCI sound card in your computer has stopped working. You decide to use the motherboard's integrated sound until you can replace the PCI sound card. After removing the PCI sound card and powering on the computer, you have no sound ,and the built-in sound card does not show up in Device Manager. To solve this issue, which of the following is the BEST action to try first?

Edit the CMOS settings and enable the onboard sound. When installing dedicated expansion card, you will typically disable the onboard device so that only the device you want to use shows in Device Manager. To make the onboard device detectable to Windows, enable the device in the CMOS settings. You cannot update the device drivers or enable the device until Windows can detect the device and it appears in Device Manager. An audio codec is a file format for saving audio files. Sound cards require codecs to play sound files; however, the sound card must be properly configured before a codec can be used.

How does sampling rate look relative to a graph?

For example, let's say this is an analog wave of somebody talking and we sample this wave with only 8,000 samples every second. Instead of a continuous line like this, our sample would have discrete points of data with gaps in between. The computer will fill in the gaps and create an approximate line between the sample points and as you can see the approximation doesn't really look the same as the original analog source. But if you were to increase the sampling rate, in other words we were to take more samples every single second, this will add a lot more points to our digital sample and it'll create a much smoother approximation of the original analog wave. All this conversion is done by the sound card and as such it's the sound card that dictates the number of bits per sample and the sampling rate.

What type of device is a game controller?

Game controllers are input devices designed specifically for computer gaming. There are two main types of game controllers: *Gamepads are handheld controllers with directional controls on the left and buttons on the right. *Joysticks consist of a stick that pivots on a base. Both the stick and the base have several input buttons. Joysticks are typically used with flight simulator games..

When did USB 3.0 come out?

In 2008, USB 3.0 came along. It's sometimes called SuperSpeed USB. It offers a huge speed increase over previous versions. In 2013, 3.0 was enhanced to 3.1, which offers data rates up to 10 gigabits per second.

What are some additional ports that sound cards include?

In addition to audio input and output ports, some sound cards also include the following ports: *MIDI port to interface with MIDI sound devices *FireWire *Some high-end audio cards include HDMI video processors and video output, combining the features of an audio card with a video card. The sound card might have 1 or 2 HDMI ports (for input and/or output).

What are liquid cooling systems used for?

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. Cooling plates have tubes connected to them and are attached to components. Liquid coolant is then circulated through the system, cooling it. Because liquid cooling can dissipate heat much faster than air cooling, it is primarily used for high-end gaming computers and high-performance systems.

What are some internal obstructions that reduce airflow?

Make sure that there are no internal obstructions that reduce airflow. This includes sloppy wire management, improperly installed hard drives or optical drives, and even too many expansion boards installed. It's also a good idea to space out hard drives, instead of stacking them on top of each other.

Which port on a sound card should you connect a non-amplified microphone to?

Mic In Connect a non-amplified microphone to a sound card's Mic In (microphone in) port. The Speaker Out connector sends signals to external speakers. This signal is amplified, and the computer and the speakers can control the sound level. The Line Out connectors send unamplified audio signals to other sound devices. The Line In connector receives signals from the Line Out port of other audio devices.

What are mini TRS ports?

Mini TRS ports on the sound card accept 3.5mm plugs for analog audio I/O. The number of ports on the sound card depends on the type of I/O support (e.g., the number of speaker channels, microphone, or line-in support). Ports are often labeled with text or graphics to identify its function. Standardized color coding might also be helpful in determining the proper connection. -Pink = Mic in (mic-level) -Light blue = Line in (line-level) -Lime green = Line out (front speakers or headphones) -Black = Line out (rear speakers) -Orange = Line out (center and subwoofer) [https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_snd_port_pp6/audio-jacks-01.png] >>Although these colors are standard, be sure to consult the sound card documentation for specific details.

How should air flow through a computer case?

Modern computer cases are designed to create a sort of wind tunnel inside the case. Cool air is first pooled inside the case from the front. This air flows over the components that generate the least amount of heat, such as the hard drives and optical drives. The air then moves to the back of the case and flows over the hottest components, the video card, motherboard and chipset, memory modules, and CPU. The hot air is then exhausted out the back through the power supply, which helps cool it. Some cases also exhaust the hot air out the back of the case. This one way direction of air flow is important. It creates a constant flow of cold air coming in and keeps the hot air from getting stuck in the system. This is done by creating negative pressure inside the case. You might think that taking off the side panel would help cool the system off even more, but doing this has the opposite effect. With the side panel removed, the one way airflow is disrupted. Instead of a consistent flow of air from front to back, you get cold air escaping out the side before it reaches components to cool them. And instead of air moving through all the components, you might get pockets of stagnant air that just sit there. This is why it's important to make sure your case is properly sealed with the side panel, I/O shield, and all unused expansion port panels and front expansion secured. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_cooling_pp6/cooling-case.png

What does digital audio in a sound card do?

Most audio devices, such as stereo consoles, TVs, and speakers require analog audio. Newer devices, such as some CD players, DVD players, and HDTVs, are capable of processing digital audio signals. Digital audio support in a sound card: -Allows you to play digital audio directly from an internal CD player -Allows for compression of audio data to support Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound -Can use fiber optic cables to eliminate electrical interference Sound cards support digital audio in the following ways: -An internal connector on the sound card connects to a digital audio output connector on a CD/DVD drive. Through this connection, you can play CDs directly through the sound card. -An internal connector on the sound card sends HD audio, such as from a DVD or Blu-ray disc, to an audio pass-through on a video card. This allows the HD audio signal to be combined with the video signal through an HDMI connector. -Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) is a consumer standard for digital audio. These are either optical or coaxial external connectors and allow input and output between other digital audio-capable devices.

What heat sensors do motherboards have?

Most motherboards include the following heat sensors: -CPU sensor (located on the circuit board underneath the processor) -System case sensor (located either on the motherboard or on a cable attached to the motherboard) -Room temperature sensor (usually connected to the motherboard by a cable and mounted on a case slot) *Special software can monitor the temperature levels and be configured to send warnings when high temperature conditions exist. The BIOS in most motherboards can also be configured to automatically shut the system down when a specified thermal threshold is exceeded.

What are motion sensors?

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. Two types of motion sensors exist: -Active motion sensors use ultrasonic sound waves to detect movement in an area. If movement is detected, something happens (e.g., a door opens or an alarm triggers). -Passive motion sensors detect infrared energy, which is emitted by humans and animals. Passive motion sensors ignore small changes in infrared energy in order to avoid false alarms. Passive motion sensors are sometimes called passive infrared sensors (PIR).

What is Near Field Communication (NFC)/ Tap Pay Device?

NFC is a set of communication protocols that allows devices to communicate when they are within 1.6 inches of one another. NFC technology is most often employed between a base and a smart phone to allow Tap Pay transactions at stores and restaurants; the user places their phone within proximity of the base and uses an app to make an electronic transactions from their mobile phone. NFC is also used to share contacts, photos, videos, and documents, such as identity documents and key cards.

You are building a new computer and want to purchase a motherboard that has integrated sound with digital audio output. Which of the following ports would you MOST likely find on the motherboard faceplate that indicates digital audio support?

S/PDIF S/PDIF audio is a digital audio output. A TOSLINK connector is a connector used by fiber optic digital audio. An RCA connector for audio is also digital audio using coaxial cable. Mini-TRS ports on the sound card indicate analog audio input and output. A DB-15 connector on a sound card is used to connect MIDI devices. A mini-DIN connector is used on video cards for S-video input and output. An F-type connector is used for TV input from cable or an antenna.

What are scanners used for?

Scanners are used to scan hard-copy images and documents and convert them into digital input for the PC. For example, film photos can be scanned and saved as image files. >>Some scanners combine the functionality of a document scanner and are able to create editable documents.

What are signature pads used for?

Signature pads are used to obtain signatures for transactions and agreements. The user uses a stylus on a touch screen to sign his or her name. The signature is captured and stored digitally. Signature pads are commonly used in retail stores and restaurants.

What are common file types?

Sound card drivers and other software save digital audio into several different file types. Common file types include: -WAV (Windows standard), a widely used and compatible file type -AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format), the Macintosh equivalent of the WAV -AU (UNIX standard), supported by most web browsers -MP3 (MPEG-2 Layer III), a highly effective audio compression standard -AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), also known as MPEG-2, a compression expected to replace MP3 -WMA (Windows Media Audio), a highly compatible standard developed to compete with Real Audio -MIDI, not a true audio file, but contains data to reproduce sounds through electronic synthesis

What should you keep in mind with bus support when choosing a sound card?

Sound cards can be installed via an expansion slot (e.g., PCI or PCIe x1) on the motherboard. When selecting a sound card, make sure the bus type is compatible with your motherboard. >>Most new motherboards have an onboard sound card.

Susan works in the research and development department. She has recently purchased a large high-speed external drive and has attached the drive to her computer using a USB cable. Her drive requires a minimum bandwidth of 400 Mbps and at least 900 milliamps (mA) to function. Although the correct drivers are installed, the drive is not functioning. To troubleshoot the problem, she has connected her drive to her coworker's computer where the drive functions properly. No additional cables are required for this drive. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason Susan's external hard drive is not working?

Susan has connected her drive to a USB 2.0 port, which does not have enough power for her drive. Susan has connected her drive to a USB 2.0 port, which does not support the requirements for her drive. Large high-speed USB drives require more power than a USB 1.0 or 2.0 can provide. USB 2.0 supports a maximum bandwidth of 480 Mbps and is, therefore, fast enough for Susan's drive. A 2.0 port only supports a maximum power consumption of 500 milliamps.

What does a microB USB 3.0 connector look like?

The USB 3.0 Micro-B connector is used by portable devices, such as compact external storage devices, digital cameras, or smart phones. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-3-a-b.jpg

What does a USB 3.0 Type B connector look like?

The USB 3.0 Type-B connector is larger in size and designed to carry both data and power. Due to their increased size, USB 3.0 Type-B connectors cannot be plugged into older USB Type-B ports. However, USB 3.0 peripherals that use this port are able to accept older USB Type-B connectors. https://cdn.testout.com/pcpro2018v6-en-us/en-us/resources/text/t_usb_fact_pp6/usb-3-type-b.jpg

What is the most commonly used connection interface?

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is the most commonly used connection interface. Almost every device (e.g., laptops, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers) uses USB in some capacity. USB: -Uses serial communication (bits are sent sequentially) -Supports plug-and-play and hot plugging (adding and removing devices without rebooting) -Allows up to 127 devices to be connected to a single bus, directly to the host or via hubs (hubs are limited to five tiers) -Shares the bandwidth among all devices connected to a single bus -Provides 5 V of power through the cable Most computers have between four and six USB ports, so you might be wondering how we can connect 127 devices to one computer. The USB can support five tiers of hubs. This structure is called the tiered star topology. Each tier has a central connecting point where all devices connect and the root hub is the base. A single hub can have one or more USB ports. The primary hub that all the others connect to is called the root hub. This hub is typically integrated with the USB controller host on the motherboard. For example, on a computer, we have the root hub. We can connect a USB hub that has, say, eight ports, to this root hub. We can connect a second USB hub to that hub, and so on. The USB can support five tiers of hubs. This structure is called a tiered star topology. Each tier has a central connecting point where all devices connect, and the root hub is the base. One thing to note about USB is that each hub, including the root hub, counts as a device. This means they count toward the limit of 127 connected devices. And that's okay because you'll probably never need to connect 127 devices to one port.

What is bits per sample?

The bits per sample determines how many possible values one given sample can have to measure the wave at that point. For example, let's say we create a 4-bit digital sample of a guitar being played. Because we're using four digital bits to represent each of these samples, there's a maximum of only 16 possible values available to represent each sample. Notice with only 16 possible values, we really can't match the digital sample very closely to the real analog waveform. We can't match the position of the sample to the exact location of the analog signal. As a result, the sample's only an approximation of the sound. It's not very accurate, so a lot of fidelity is lost. However, if you were to increase the number of bits that are used to measure each sample, the fidelity will increase. For example, if we were to sample this same analog signal again but this time we were to use 16 digital bits to measure each sample, well now we've got up to 65,536 possible values that can represent each of these samples, the value of each sample. By having so many more possible values, we are able to create a much closer approximation of the original analog wave. This results in much higher quality sampling.

What is the correct order for installing a processor for proper cooling?

The following is the correct order for applying devices to cool a processor: 1. CPU 2. Thermal paste 3. Heat sink 4. Fan

What is compression?

The goal of audio compression is to reduce the file size while still maintaining a certain level of fidelity to the original sound. The most common compression scheme used for audio is Mpeg2 Audio Layer III compression, we just call it MP3. MP3 compresses audio files to about 9% of the original file size. Therefore, that same 200 MB uncompressed file will end up being only about 18 MB in size using MP3 compression. You have to be aware that with any compression scheme you do tend to lose quality. An MP3 is considered a lossy compression algorithm. Which means that some fidelity is lost during the compression and decompression process. However, the reduced file size is an acceptable trade off. Other common compression schemes used are Windows Media Audio, WMA; Advanced Audio Coding, AAC; as well as Dolby Digital.

What is the ideal ambient temperature for desktop computers?

The ideal ambient temperature range for desktop computers is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Though some server rooms can be as cool as 45 degrees. If the ambient temperature gets above 80 degrees, the computer will have a hard time maintaining optimal internal temperatures.

What is the sampling rate?

The sampling rate is the number of analog signal samples taken in over a period of time. Sample rates are expressed in cycles per second, called hertz (1,000 hertz (Hz) = 1 kilohertz (kHz)). For example, a sampling rate of 8,000 Hz means that 8,000 samples of this analog wave are taken every second. That sounds like a lot, but in reality an 8,000 Hz sample would result in a very poor quality recording. It would sound similar to somebody talking on a walkie talkie or an old telephone with a bad connection. A high sampling rate gives a more accurate representation of the sound. Examples of different sampling rates include: *8 kHz (telephone) This is adequate for conversation because the human voice's full range is about 4 kHz. *22 kHz (radio quality). *44 kHz (CD quality) This sample rate can accurately reproduce the audio frequencies up to 20,500 hertz, covering the full range of human hearing. *48 kHz (Digital TV, DVD movies). *96 kHz (DVD audio). *192 kHz, used by: -LPCM (Linear Pulse Code Modulation), a DVD-music production format. -BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc-ROM). Higher sample rates require more bits of data per sample. *8-bit sound cards use a sampling size of 256. *16-bit sound cards use a sampling size of 65,536. *20-bit sound cards use a sampling size of 1,048,576. *24-bit sound cards use a sampling size of 16,777,216. *32-bit sound cards use a sampling size of 4,294,967,296. >>The bit portion of a sound card's sampling size does not correspond with the bus size.

What is the standard output for a sound card?

The standard for sound cards is to be able to output at least 16-bit 44 kHz audio. This is considered CD quality. Now, higher end sound cards are able to produce even higher quality audio using 24-bit 192 kHz audio. It's important to know that the higher the bit rate and the sampling rate, the better the sound fidelity. But also, you're gonna end up with much larger file sizes. For example, if you were to create a 24-bit 96 kHz sample it'll use 34 MB of disk space for every one minute of audio. That means if you were to record a six-minute song that song's going to end up being around 200 MB in size. To get around this several compression schemes have been developed over the years to reduce the size of audio files.