COMPTIA A+ 220-901 - DOMAIN 1.0 - HARDWARE (part-3)

How many physical CPU chips are required for a quad-core processor? A. One B. Two C. Four D. Eight

A (A multi-core processor consists of a single physical processor that includes multiple processor cores on the chip.)

Which of these interface types provide the fastest throughput? A. SATA revision 1.0 B. USB 2.0 C. FireWire 400 D. Fast Ethernet

A (Although SATA revision 1.0 is the relatively old first-generation of SATA technology, the 1.5 gigabits per second of throughput exceed the other technologies listed here: SATA revision 1.0 = 1.5 gigabits per second, USB 2.0 = 480 megabits per second, Firewire 400 = 400 megabits per second, and Fast Ethernet = 100 megabits per second (200 megabits per second using full-duplex).)

Your laptop AC adapter states that it is "auto switching." What does this mean? A. The power supply can be used in many different countries B. The power supply can be used on many different laptop models C. The power supply can be used with many different operating systems D. The power supply can be used on both laptops and docking stations

A (An auto switching power supply can support multiple voltages without flipping a physical "switch." Most laptop auto-switching power supplies can support both 110 volts and 220 volts, which covers the power requirements in most countries. All you need is a power plug adapter, and you can take your laptop anywhere!)

Which of these items would you commonly find in a laser printer maintenance kit? A. Toner cartridge B. Printer head C. Toner vacuum D. Fuser unit

D (A laser printer maintenance kit usually contains parts that wear out, such as feed rollers or fuser units. Consumables such as ink and toner aren't usually included in a maintenance kit.)

Which printer type prints very quietly and produces output that is very sensitive to heat? A. Laser B. Inkjet C. Dot-matrix D. Thermal

D (A thermal printer causes special paper to turn color when heated. This allows for a very quiet printing process, but it also means that the thermal printer paper is very sensitive to heat.)

Which of these would be considered an output device? A. Digitizer B. Camcorder C. Microphone D. LCD Display E. Touch pad F. Scanner

D (LCD displays are some of the most popular PC output devices.)

Which of these methods would be the best way to view the voltages on motherboard power rails? A. Memory diagnostics B. Control Panel / System C. Windows Event Viewer D. BIOS hardware monitor

D (Many motherboards now include sensors for temperature, fan speeds, and voltages of the power rails. If your BIOS includes a section for hardware monitoring, you can check the performance of the hardware without booting your operating system!)

You're configuring Windows 7 to build a RAID array from a series of drives. Which of these would be NOT be a characteristic of software-based RAID arrays? A. Software-based RAID is a feature of the operating system B. Software-based RAID doesn't require any special hardware C. Software-based RAID supports mirroring and striping D. Software-based RAID is configured outside of the operating system

D (Many operating systems support RAID configurations as part of the operating system. Although the performance isn't usually as good as hardware-based RAID arrays, the low cost and convenience of building RAID arrays without any special hardware can be a significant advantage.)

Which of these components would be most commonly associated with a 6-pin power connector? A. PCIe video adapter B. SSD C. CPU fan D. Primary motherboard power

A (Both 6-pin and 8-pin power options are available to provide additional power to PCI Express devices that needto supplement power from the motherboard. It's common to use these power connectors on devices such as PCIe video adapters.)

What kind of memory might be used in a server to detect and correct data corruption? A. ECC B. SO-DIMM C. DDR3 D. Parity

A (ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory can detect memory data issues and correct the errors on the fly.)

Which of these would best describe a wireless network using frequencies of 2.4 GHz? A. There are 2.4 billion cycles transmitted in one second B. The maximum throughput of the network is 2.4 gigabits per second C. The network can communicate to 2,400 separate devices D. The maximum length of the wireless antenna is 2.4 inches

A (Hertz is defined as the number of cycles that occur in one second. On a 2.4 GHz wireless network, there are 2.4 billion cycles in a single second.)

Which of these would be considered a characteristic of IPS LCD displays? A. More expensive to produce than a TN display B. Poor color representation C. Low power draw D. Fast response times

A (IPS (In Plane Switching) LCD displays have an excellent color representation and do not tail when touched, but they are a bit more expensive to produce than TN (Twisted Nematic) displays.)

In a traditional Northbridge/Southbridge motherboard architecture, where would you expect to see the video adapter connected? A. Northbridge B. Southbridge C. FSB D. Memory bus

A (If it's a part of the computer that needs a lot of bandwidth, then you can bet that it's connected to (or near) the Northbridge. Lower bandwidth devices are often found near the Southbridge.)

Which of these best describes Secure Boot? A. Stops malware from infecting an operating system B. Encrypts operating system boot files C. Requires a password before starting the operating system D. Starts the operating system in Safe Mode

A (Secure Boot is a UEFI feature that will only boot an operating system that contains the correct digital signature. If malware modifies the boot files, the operating system will not load.)

Which of these motherboard bus types is designed for servers and has a throughput of 1,064 MB/s? A. PCI-X B. PCI Express C. PCI D. miniPCI

A (Since servers often require large bandwidths for networking and storage, an extension to the PCI standard was created to fill this need. Today, most servers will use PCI Express for their high-bandwidth applications.)

In which of these would you commonly find software-based RAID? A. The operating system B. The hard drive BIOS C. The drivers from the hard drive manufacturer D. The hard drive controller

A (Software-based RAID is part of the operating system and does not generally require any specialized hard drive controller or other hardware.)

Which of these motherboards would be best suited for low-power use? A. ITX B. ATX C. microATX D. BTX

A (The ITX line of motherboards was designed for very small form factors and use a minimum amount of power.)

Which motherboard chipset commonly connects to USB ports? A. Southbridge B. PCI Bus C. Front-side Bus D. Northbridge

A (The Southbridge chipset has traditionally connected slower-speed peripherals such as USB ports, SATA interfaces, and Ethernet connections.)

Which one of these interfaces is the fastest? Bonus question: Which is the slowest? A. USB 3.0 B. Gigabit Ethernet C. FireWire 800 D. SATA revision 2.0 E. IEEE 802.11n

A (The fastest interface: A) USB 3.0 The slowest interface: E) IEEE 802.11n USB 3.0 - 5 gigabits per second Gigabit Ethernet - 1 gigabit per second FireWire 800 - 800 megabits per second SATA revision 2.0 - 3 gigabits per second IEEE 802.11n - 150 megabits per stream, 600 megabits with the four stream maximum)

Which laser printing process permanently joins toner to paper? A. Fusing B. Transferring C. Exposing D. Developing E. Processing

A (The fusing process applies heat and pressure to permanently melt toner particles onto paper.)

All of the pages printed from your laser printer smudge and smear when you touch the page. Which part of the laser printing process is most likely to be the cause of this issue? A. Fusing B. Developing C. Transfering D. Cleaning

A (The fusing process heats the toner and permanently bonds the plastic toner powder to the paper. If the toner isn't properly heating the paper, then parts of the page will smear and smudge when you touch the powdery toner.)

Which of these would be a disadvantage of inkjet printers? A. Ink fades over time B. Requires on-printer memory C. Output is sensitive to light and heat D. Poor graphic output E. Loud operation

A (The ink used in an inkjet printer is very vibrant and colorful when first printed, but the image fades over time. You would not use inkjet printer output to archive information over an extended period of time.)

Why should a laser printer toner cartridge remain in the bag until it's replaced? A. The OPC drum could be damaged B. The toner will evaporate C. Toner can easily spill out of the cartridge D. Toner has a limited shelf life when exposed to air E. There are many small parts that can be lost

A (The organic photo conductor drum is sensitive to light, and you should avoid exposing the cartridge to any light before installation.)

Which of these would you commonly associate with the Southbridge? A. Ethernet interface B. Memory controller hub C. Front-side bus D. PCI express slots

A (The traditional role of the Southbridge has been to manage devices that require relatively low throughput. The Northbridge handles high-speed connectivity from devices such as the PCI Express slots, memory, and CPU,and the Southbridge effectively handles everything else.)

You've recently upgraded your motherboard, but now you find that the reset button on your case isn't working. Which of these would be the most likely cause of this issue? A. The reset switch wires are not connected to the new motherboard B. The new motherboard does not support the reset button option C. The motherboard reset circuits are faulty D. The reset function must be enabled in the BIOS

A (There are a lot of wires connecting to the motherboard that provide power lights, hard drive access lights, and audio connections. If one of those isn't working after a new motherboard install, then you probably missed a connection.)

You've recently performed a memory upgrade on your desktop computer, but now the storage drive access light is no longer working. Which of these would be the most likely cause of this issue? A. The drive access LED wires were disconnected from the motherboard B. The memory is incompatible with your storage device C. The memory requires heat sinks to lower the temperature for the storage devices D. All of the storage content is now cached to memory E. The drive access lights are damaged

A (There are a number of wires that run from the motherboard to the computer case, and the LED lights for power and drive access are two common connections.)

What is the name that describes the grouping of sectors on a hard drive? A. Cluster B. Bunch C. Track D. Segment

A (To optimize the overhead of managing such a huge amount of space, hard drives combine individual sectors together into groups called clusters.)

Sort these interfaces in order of slowest speed to fastest speed; USB 2.0, USB 3.0, FireWire 800, and Gigabit Ethernet. A. USB 2.0, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 B. FireWire 800, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 C. USB 2.0, FireWire 800, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet D. FireWire 800, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet

A (USB 2.0 runs at 480 megabits per second, FireWire 800 is 800 megabits per second, Gigabit Ethernet runs at 1 gigabit per second, and USB 3.0 is 5 gigabits per second.)

Which of these would be categorized as a PC input device? Pick two. A. Digitizer B. Smart card reader C. Laser Printer D. LCD display E. Speaker

A and B (A digitizer is a common input device using a stylus, and smart card readers commonly provide input for authentication)

Which of these functions would you expect to find embedded in a modern PC processor? Pick two. A. Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) B. BIOS C. Memory controller D. SATA controller

A and C (Modern CPUs have collapsed the traditional computer chipset by embedding the memory controller and the graphics processor directly into the primary CPU)

You have a set of files that totals 7 gigabytes of information. Which optical formats can store these files on a single optical disc? Choose two. A. DVD-ROM B. CD-ROM C. Blu-ray D. Secure Digital

A and C (The DVD-ROM format can store 8.5 gigabytes in dual-layer mode, and Blu-ray can store up to 50 gigabytes in dual-layer mode. CD-ROMs max out around 700 megabytes, and Secure Digital (SD) is a flash memory format.)

Your diagnostic software is reporting that your computer's CPU is overheating. The CPU has a heat sink, but it doesn't appear to be working very well. What should you check to ensure the heat sink is optimally cooling your CPU? Pick three. A. Check that all fans are working properly B. Make sure all vents are clear from obstruction C. Make sure your memory modules are using the correct clock rate D. Ensure the proper amount of thermal paste is on the CPU

A, B, and D (Your computer's cooling system works together to keep temperatures low. If your fans can't pull air through the computer, then the heat sinks can't dissipate the heat into the air.)

Which of these would be true of a SO-DIMM? A. Must be installed in groups of two B. Usually found in a mobile device C. Often included on video adapter cards D. Must be removed to clear the BIOS E. May require an upgrade if the operating system is changed

B (A SO-DIMM package is a smaller version of the DIMM, and it's common to find them in laptops and other mobile devices.)

One of your customers is asking you to replace their printer ribbon. Which type of printer would this most likely be? A. Laser B. Dot-matrix C. Inkjet D. LED E. Thermal

B (A dot-matrix is an impact printer that pushes small pins through an ink ribbon to transfer an image to the paper.)

Which of these printer types is also known as a dot-matrix printer? A. Inkjet B. Impact C. Laser D. Virtual E. Thermal

B (A dot-matrix printer uses small pins to press through a cloth ribbon and display the output on a piece of paper.)

Which of these is common to thin clients? A. The efficiency of the device is measured by the dimensions of the external case B. The client does not require a large number of computing resources C. An HDMI video connection is required D. The client runs many operating systems simultaneously on the local computer

B (A thin client usually has the basics for computing; a keyboard, mouse, and display. The hard work is done by a different device located somewhere else on the network.)

The PCI Express bus architecture sounds similar to the PCI bus architecture. What is the primary architectural difference between PCI and PCI Express? A. PCI provides for higher throughput than PCI Express B. PCI is a parallel bus architecture and PCI Express is a serial bus architecture C. PCI has more communication lanes than PCI Express D. PCI is a newer specification than PCI Express

B (Although it seems that a serial connection would provide slower throughput, PCI Express is actually the faster of the two architectures.)

Which of these would best describe an LCD display? A. Organic compound emits light when receiving an electric current B. A backlight is required to view the display output C. Must cool down before powering off D. Uses an electron gun on a phosphorescent screen E. Contains noble gas and mercury

B (An LCD display requires some type of backlight to shine through the LCD panel. Older displays used florescent lights, but most LCD displays today use LED backlights instead.)

How does an inkjet printer distribute the ink to the printed page? A. The ink is pressed on the page from a rotating drum B. The ink is moved around the page from a belt-driven printer carriage C. The ink is transferred from a set of pins on a print head D. A heated print head pulls the ink onto the page

B (An inkjet printer stores the printer ink and print heads in printer cartridges and moves the ink cartridges back and forth over the page on a carriage.)

Which of these technologies would be the best choice for finding Apple devices on the network? A. TCP sequence numbers B. Bonjour protocol C. Ping command D. Patch panel E. SSID broadcasts

B (Apple's Bonjour protocol is used to discover Apple devices on the LAN)

What kind of wireless network is designed to replace slow-speed wires over short distances? A. 802.11n B. Bluetooth C. Mobile Broadband D. 802.11a

B (Bluetooth networks are often called "personal area networks," due to their relatively short maximum distances and their tendency to replace the wires used on items such as mobile phone headsets, keyboards, and mice.)

Which of these would be the most likely to have a BNC connector? A. SCSI hard drive B. Component video C. Gigabit Ethernet network D. HDMI video

B (Component video consists of RGBHV cables for red, green, blue, horizontal sync, and vertical sync signals. In many cases, component video will use BNC connectors to ensure a good connection to video devices.)

Which of these are commonly sent over HDMI? A. Analog audio and video B. Digital audio and video C. YPbPr D. RGBHV E. Intensity and color

B (HDMI carries digital video and digital audio signals.)

What kind of data would commonly be transmitted through an HDMI connection? A. Streaming stock ticker information B. Digital video signals C. Audio podcasts D. Ethernet network control packets

B (High-Definition Multimedia Interface is a standard interface used for digital video and audio signals.)

Which of these is a common characteristic of an impact printer? A. Cannot print to carbon copies B. Low per-page printing cost C. High-resolution output D. Very quiet operation

B (Impact printers and dot-matrix printers can easily print to multiple-copy paper, but the output is not very high resolution and the printer itself is relatively loud when compared to other printer types. However, the cost perpage to print on a dot-matrix printer is relatively low.)

The power supply of your computer lists these specifications on the label: Input: 100-120V ~ / 4.0A 220-240V ~ / 2.0A What does this information mean? A. The power supply can support both 100-120V DC and 220-240V DC power sources. B. The power supply can support both 100-120V AC and 220-240V AC power sources. C. The power supply uses 4 amps of power when using a 220-240V AC power source. D. The power supply uses 2 amps of power when using a 110-120V DC power source.

B (Many computer power supplies are switched-mode power supplies that can support multiple voltage inputs. On these specifications, both 100 through 120 volt and 220 through 240 volt power sources are supported. Some power supplies can automatically switch between these input voltages and others have a physical switch on the outside of the power supply. You would normally switch the power input value based on your country's power specifications. The squiggly tilde (~) designates an alternating current (AC). If the specifications showed a solid line above a dashed line, it would be referencing direct current (DC). The amperage used by the power supply will differ when using different voltages, so the input amperage is listed as different values at 100-120 volts versus 220-240 volts.)

What partition type is required for a UEFI BIOS to boot from partitions larger than 2.2 TB? A. MFT B. GUID C. MBR D. Primary E. SSD

B (One significant advantage of UEFI BIOS is the ability to boot from a partition larger than 2.2 terabytes when using a GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) partition type.)

You are installing an internal modem into a desktop computer system, and you need to connect the telephone cable to the modem. What kind of cable connector is used for telephone and modem connections? A. IEEE 1394 B. RJ11 C. RJ45 D. USB

B (Registered Jack number 11 was created as a standard connector for telephone connections.)

Which port type is most commonly associated with an Ethernet connection? A. RJ-11 B. RJ-45 C. DB-9 D. FireWire

B (Registered Jack number 45 is most commonly associated with copper Ethernet connections using unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable.)

What throughput speed would you expect from SATA revision 3.0? A. 10 gigabits per second B. 6 gigabits per second C. 1 gigabits per second D. 3 gigabits per second E. 1.5 gigabits per second

B (SATA revision 1.0 operates at 1.5 gigabits per second, revision 2.0 operates at 3.0 gigabits per second, and SATA revision 3.0 operates at 6 Gb/s.)

Which of these motherboard types is best suited for small form-factor and low-power functions? A. microATX B. Mini-ITX C. ATX D. NLX

B (The ITX motherboard series consists of small form-factor motherboards, with the Mini-ITX a relatively small170mm by 170mm in size. Since these motherboards don't require much power, they're well suited for specialized applications and configurations.)

Which of these applications would be most suited for a Nano-ITX motherboard? A. High-end gaming B. Home automation control C. Media center server D. Database server

B (The Nano-ITX is a low-power motherboard that is best suited for utility functions that do not require a high-end graphics card, a fast processor, or any other application that would require a large number of computing resources.)

Which of these would be an advantage of using SATA-connected storage? A. Connect up to 16 devices to a single SATA port B. Smaller cables promote better airflow for cooling C. Support for storage drives over 1 TB D. High-speed network connectivity

B (The SATA standard is one of the newest standards, providing up to 6 gigabits per second of throughput for SATA revision 3.0. One of the more practical advantages of SATA is the smaller data cables that effectively replaced the larger PATA ribbon cables, which made the cooling airflow through computer cases much more efficient.)

Which of these would be the best description of the SATA standard? A. The drive number is based on the location of the drive on the cable B. All data is transmitted over a serial connection C. Up to 63 SATA devices can be connected over a single link D. The signal at the end of the SATA connection must be terminated

B (The Serial ATA standard transfers data serially. Unlike parallel connections that transmit many bits simultaneously over separate wires, a serial connection transmits data one bit at a time)

Which of these components would you commonly find associated with the Southbridge? A. SDRAM B. SATA interfaces C. PCI Express video adapter D. Main CPU

B (The Southbridge handles the relatively slower devices, such as keyboards, mice, storage drive interfaces, USB ports, and network interfaces.)

You are installing a PCI card into a desktop computer, and you notice that there are small spacers insideof the PCI slot. What function do these spacers provide? A. They keep the PCI adapters at equal distances from each other B. They ensure proper voltage to the adapter card C. They accommodate proper cooling of the motherboard D. They limit the throughput from the PCI bus

B (The keyways on the adapter cards match the voltage keys that are built into the PCI slots on the motherboard. This simple physical feature ensures that the adapters will be powered properly once they are installed.)

What is the most common use of the battery on a computer motherboard? A. Provides additional power for the PCI Express slots B. Maintains the date and time when power is not available C. Provides additional power when the system is under heavy use D. Boots the system when main power is not available E. Switches between CPU clock rates

B (The small battery on the motherboard is often used to maintain the date and time when main power is not connected. On older computer systems, the BIOS configuration may also be maintained with this battery.)

During a laser printer toner cartridge replacement, some of the black toner particles fell on the outside ofthe printer and on the desktop around the printer. What's the best way to clean the spilled toner? A. Use hot water and cloth towels. B. Use cold water and paper towels. C. Use fingernail polish remover. The solvents in the polish remover will dissolve the toner particles. D. Toner particles are notoriously permanent. There's no practical method to remove the toner particles from whatever they have touched.

B (The toner from a laser printer is a very fine dust that has an unfortunate tendency to drift onto the outside of printers and work areas. Because the toner is designed to melt when heated, the best cleaning methods use cold water. Because toner is also quite messy, it's easiest to use disposable paper towels.)

Which of these is the maximum theoretical throughput of 802.11g? A. 800 Mbit/s B. 54 Mbit/s C. 480 Mbit/s D. 100 Mbit/s

B (The wireless 802.11g standard provides a maximum throughput of 54 Mbit/s.)

Which of these speeds matches the bandwidth seen on a gigabit Ethernet link? A. 100 MB/s B. 1000 Mb/s C. 1000 MB/s D. 100 Mb/s

B (This is a two part question, because there's both a (relatively easy) conversion to complete, and then you have to know your abbreviations. For the first part of the question, you'll need to know that a gigabit Ethernet connection runs at 1 gigabit per second, which is also 1000 megabits per second. For the second part of the question, it's important to understand the importance of a lowercase "b" and an uppercase "B." When abbreviating speeds, a lowercase "b" represents bits, and an uppercase "B" represents bytes. Therefore, Mb/s is an abbreviation for megabits per second, and MB/s is an abbreviation for megabytes per second. With all of these details, the answer should be relatively clear; 1 gigabit Ethernet transports data at an equivalent speed of 1000 Mb/s.)

You have some memory marked PC2-6400. What DDR speed would match this memory? A. DDR2-6400 B. DDR2-800 C. DDR2-400 D. DDR2-3200

B (To convert between the PC2 module name and the DDR2 speed values, you would divide the PC2 module name value by 8.)

Which of these removable memory types would you be most likely to use with a mobile phone? A. SO-DIMM B. microSD C. USB flash D. Secure Digital E. DIMM

B (microSD memory is a small form factor that fits well with today's mobile devices.)

What is the advantage of a motherboard having a ZIF socket? A. Provides the ability of upgrading a computer's BIOS through downloadable software updates B. Enables the installation and removal of CPU chips without requiring tools or excessive pressure C. Allows the installation of option cards through standardized bus interfaces D. Provides for easy installation and upgrade of standard memory modules

B (ZIF is an abbreviation for Zero Insertion Force, and it references a specific type of CPU socket where the CPU chip can be inserted and removed without any pushing or pulling. Since the motherboard is relatively thin and the pressure of inserting chips with hundreds of pins might cause a cracking of the circuit leads, the ZIF socket was a welcome change to the traditional CPU slots or dual inline chips.)

Which of these would be an advantage to using an SSD? A. Increased dB B. Faster access time C. Higher video refresh rates D. Higher resolution

B (A solid-state drive's primary advantage is speed. Since the storage media has no moving parts, data can be read and written at speeds well above those of traditional hard drives.)

Which of these statements about Hyper-Threading Technology (HTT) are true? Pick two. A. You need at least two CPUs to take advantage of HTT B. HTT makes a single CPU appear as two separate processors to the operating system C. An operating system must be specifically designed to use HTT D. HTT doesn't provide any practical increase in performance

B and C (Hyper-Threading Technology was created to improve the performance of a single CPU by 15 to 30 percent. Although HTT is a CPU feature, the operating system must be written to take advantage of the technology.)

Which of these characteristics would be the most important when designing a virtualization workstation? Pick two A. High-end graphics adapter B. RAM C. CPU cores D. HDMI output

B and C (Virtualization of multiple operating systems requires plenty of memory and CPU power, but not necessarily any advanced video capabilities or HDMI output.)

Which of these interface types would you not commonly find connected to an external storage device? Pick two. A. USB B. PCI C. Firewire D. eSATA E. TRS

B and E (Many external storage devices will connect using USB, FireWire, or eSATA. The PCI interface is commonly found on internal storage devices, and the TRS connector is commonly used to connect analog audio devices.)

Which one of these is an input device? Pick two. A. LCD monitor B. Scanner C. Laser printer D. Speaker E. Keyboard

B and E (When working with computers, it's important to recognize what devices can get information in and sendinformation out. Some common input devices are keyboards and mice, but it's also useful to be familiar with others. As an input device, scanners are designed to take printed materials and create digital representations of them. Digitizers use a stylus to put information into our computers.)

Which memory form-factor includes 200 pin and 204 pin versions? A. DIMM B. SIMM C. SO-DIMM D. RIMM

C (A SO-DIMM has a small form factor that's perfect for portable devices. You can find DDR and DDR2 SODIMM packages that have 200 pins, and DDR3 SO-DIMM packages that have 204 pins.)

If you're copying a file from the command line to a printer interface, which of these best describes the method used to create the file? A. Print to PDF B. Print to XPS C. Print to file D. Print to image

C (A file created with "Print to File" is specific to a printer model. To print the file, you'll need to manually copy it to a printer interface that's compatible with the original printer type.)

You need to restrict access to the USB ports on your company computers so that the interfaces are completely unusable. Which of these configuration options would be the best choice? A. Disable the USB interfaces in Windows Device Manager and disable Administrator access B. Monitor the Windows Event Log for any USB access C. Disable the USB interfaces in the BIOS D. Remove all USB drivers from the \Windows\System32 directory

C (If you disable the USB interfaces at the BIOS level, then you'll prevent USB access from any operating system on the computer.)

The output from your dot-matrix printer is looking very faded. Which of these would be the best way to correct this problem? A. Replace the toner cartridge B. Replace the print head C. Replace the ribbon cartridge D. Replace the ink cartridge

C (Impact printers use tiny pins to press against a piece of paper, including a ribbon in the middle that transfers the ink to the page. As the ribbon gets used, the output becomes faded. Replacing the modular ribbon cartridge will provide a new source of ink for the output.)

You need to store thirty days of backups that total 2 TB in size each day. Which of these would be the best storage media to use for these backups? A. Blu-ray discs B. Hard drives C. Magnetic tapes D. Flash memory E. Solid-state drives

C (Magnetic tapes are a very inexpensive way to store large amounts of data over an extended period of time. The access times to save and retrieve information from magnetic tape is much longer than other storage types, but the cost of storing the data is significantly less than other storage types.)

Which of these ports is typically NOT used for video output? A. VGA B. HDMI C. USB D. DVI

C (Many LCD monitors include VGA, HDMI, and DVI interfaces.)

Which of these power connectors would be used to provide the main power to a motherboard? A. Berg connector B. PCIe 8-pin connectors C. 24-pin connector D. Molex connector E. P4 connector

C (Motherboards require many different power voltages, so you'll find a 20-pin or 24-pin connector is required to power most of the motherboard components. Additional power may be required for the CPU or video adapters)

Which bus type uses full-duplex lanes to provide communication between devices? A. PCI-X B. mini PCI C. PCIe D. AGP

C (PCI Express (PCIe) is a serial bus, unlike the parallel bus of PCI or PCI-X. With the serial connectivity, a device can communicate at top speed instead of being limited by the slowest device on the bus.)

Of these motherboard types, which one has the largest footprint? A. Mobile-ITX B. Mini-ITX C. ATX D. microATX

C (The ATX motherboard has one of the larger motherboard form factors, with dimensions around 305mm x 244 mm x 10mm.)

You're building a gaming PC, and you want to provide for future options and expansion. Which of these motherboard types would be the best choice? A. microATX B. ITX C. ATX D. Macro-ATX E. BTX

C (The ATX motherboard type is the largest and most flexible of modern motherboard types.)

You need to upgrade the memory in your laptop computer. Which of these memory options would be the most appropriate choice? A. SIMM B. SSD C. SO-DIMM D. Flash

C (The Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module is a DIMM that is designed for the smaller real-estate of a laptop motherboard.)

What kind of CPU socket is commonly paired with a PGA processor package? A. LGA B. SFP C. ZIF D. SECC E. DIP

C (The Zero Insertion Force socket is commonly paired with a processor that uses the PGA package. The PGA processor has pins that are gently placed on a ZIF (the zero insertion force). A bar is used to lock the processor in place without using any undue pressure on the motherboard.)

Which printer type is good for multiple copies, but is relatively noisy when it operates? A. Laser B. Inkjet C. Dot-matrix D. Thermal

C (The dot-matrix printer has been around for a long time, and it's one of the best choices for multiple copies because it physically hits the paper with a matrix of small pins. Because of this constant banging of pins onto paper, the dot-matrix printer also is louder than most printer types.)

In which of these cases would you be most likely to use a thermal printer? A. Multiple copies are required B. The document will be archived C. The printer will be used in a library D. Documents are printed in full color E. A relatively heavy stock paper is required

C (Thermal printers are very quiet, and are often used in places where the noise level is a factor.)

Which of these would you most commonly use to connect a microphone to a computer? A. FireWire B. eSATA C. USB D. MIDI E. XLR

C (USB is one of the most common interfaces for a digital microphone connection.)

How many pins would you expect to find on an ATX12V v2.2 motherboard connector? A. 16 pins B. 20 pins C. 24 pins D. 36 pins

C (Version 2.0 of the ATX12V standard extended the main power connector to 24 pins, and a version 2.2 power connector is a minor update that adds new requirements without changing the connector.)

Which of these would be the best advantage of multiple power rails over single rails? A. Increases the throughput of the primary CPU B. The overall system temperature is cooler C. Adds additional power protection D. Supports higher wattage power supplies

C (With a single power rail, it's easy to create an overload and damage your power supply or your motherboard. With multiple rails, overloading a smaller capacity rail shuts down the power supply instead of burning up your hardware.)

You've been asked to upgrade the memory in a computer on the 4th floor. What's the best way to determine what kind of memory you need? A. Open the computer and examine the existing memory and available slots B. Ask the end-user what kind of memory they prefer C. Get the make and model of the computer or motherboard, and reference the manufacturer documentation D. Most memory is interchangeable. Use the corporate standard for memory modules

C (Your computer is especially sensitive to the type of installed memory. Incorrect memory can cause a problem during the startup process, or it can appear to work normally before suffering through random crashes. Always double check with the manufacturer's documentation before installing the RAM.)

Which of these socket types would you associate with an AMD CPU? Pick two. A. Socket 2011 B. Socket 775 C. Socket AM3 D. Socket FM2

C and D (Some of the AMD sockets include the AM3, AM3+, FM1, FM2, and FM2+.)

You have recently upgraded to Bluetooth 2.0. What type of data throughput would you expect to see with your new Bluetooth connection? A. 256 kilobits per second B. 512 kilobits per second C. 1 megabit per second D. 3 megabits per second

D (The Bluetooth 2.0 specification increased speeds to 3 megabits per second, three times faster than the 1 megabit per second throughputs of Bluetooth 1.0)

What is the maximum number of pins that can be found in a DVI port? A. 9 B. 15 C. 20 D. 28

D (The DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port has many different layouts, but the maximum number of pin connectors that could be found in a single DVI port is 28 pins.)

What port is also known as IEEE 1394? A. Parallel B. USB C. HDMI D. FireWire

D (The IEEE 1394 standard is also called FireWire, i.LINK, and Lynx by some manufacturers)

You've just installed a new motherboard, but you notice that the speaker isn't providing the normal beeping noise when you start the computer. What is the most likely cause of this issue? A. The speaker is not compatible with the motherboard B. The speaker driver is not properly installed C. The speaker is not large enough for the motherboard D. The speaker connector on the motherboard is improperly installed

D (The motherboard includes a number of wire connections for the speaker, the power switch, status lights, and other case features. During the installation, it's common to miss a connector or to connect a wire to the incorrect port. Make sure you double-check your wire connections!)

The output from your dot-matrix printer appears to show missing or incomplete characters. Which of these would be the most likely cause of this issue? A. Print ribbon is worn B. Impact printer paper is required C. The computer is sending incomplete data to the printer D. Print head is faulty

D (The print head of a dot-matrix printer is made of many small pins, and a bad print head may cause some of these pins to stop working.)

Which HDMI connector type is designed for smaller devices? A. RCA B. DB-15 C. DVI D. Type C

D (The traditional size of HDMI interface is a Type A, and the smaller, more compact HDMI interface is a Type C. You will commonly see Type C interfaces on cameras and mobile devices.)

You'd like to configure a computer so that it won't start the operating system unless the correct password is provided. What's the best way to accomplish this? A. Configure a Windows Administrator password B. Configure a supervisor password in the BIOS C. Define drive encryption options in Windows D. Configure a user password in the BIOS

D (The user password option in the BIOS is designed to stop the boot process and prompt the user for a password. The computer will only continue with the boot process if the correct password is provided.)

What is commonly used to create a thermal connection between a component and a heat sink? A. Pressure B. Cooling fan C. Liquid coolant D. Thermal paste

D (Thermal compound or thermal paste is a substance designed to create a thermal connection between a hot component and the heat sink that sits on the component. Without the thermal paste, the hot component would not be able to transfer as much heat to the heat sink, thereby limiting the cooling process.)

Performance-based question: Put these computer interface standards in order from slowest speed to fastest. Use all of the available options. A. USB 2.0 B. SATA revision 2.0 C. 802.11g D. Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR

D C A and B (The answer: D) Bluetooth version 2.0 + EDR (3 Mbit/sec), C) 802.11g (54 Mbit/sec), A) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec), B) SATA revision 2.0 (3.0 Gbit/sec))

What memory configuration increases throughput when more than one memory module is installed? A. CPU RAM B. Northbridge memory C. Hyper-threading D. Overclocking E. Multi-channel memory

E (Multi-channel memory provides the best throughput when multiple modules are installed rather than a single memory module. Your motherboard documentation should tell you if multi-channel memory is an option on your computer.)

Which of these most commonly use a mini-DIN connector? A. HDMI B. IEEE 1394 C. USB Micro-B D. eSATA E. PS/2 keyboard

E (PS/2 keyboard and mouse devices use 6-pin mini-DIN connectors.)

Which of these contrast ratios would provide the highest quality display? A. 1:1 B. 2:1 C. 100:1 D. 1,000:1 E. 5,000:1

E (The contrast ratio is the ratio between the luminance of the brightest white and darkest black. The higher the ratio, the better quality picture.)

What occurs during a laser printer's fusing process? A. The photosensitive drum inside of the laser printer is given an electrostatic charge, effectively creating a clean slate for the laser to expose an image. B. A laser "writes" the image to the photosensitive drum, reversing the electrostatic charge on the drum and creating an image to which the toner will "stick." C. Toner particles are exposed to the photosensitive drum and are electrostatically attracted to the areas charged by the laser. D. The toner on to the photosensitive drum is transferred to the paper. E. Heat and pressure melts the toner particles so they will bond with the paper.

E (The fusing process combines heat and pressure to melt and "fuse" the toner onto the paper. Without this part of the process, the toner particles would smear and fall from the paper.)