Practice Exam 1

What is the minimum number of hard drives necessary to implement RAID 5? Select one: a. Four b. Two c. Five d. Three

Because RAID 5 uses striping with parity, a third disk is needed. You can have more than three disks as well. Incorrect answers: Two disks are enough for plain RAID 0 striping, so two is the exact number you need for RAID 1 mirroring. RAID 6 and RAID 10 require four disks. The correct answer is: Three

You just configured the IP address 192.168.0.105 in Windows. When you press the Tab key, Windows automatically configures the default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Which of the following IP addresses is a suitable gateway address? Select one: a. 192.168.10.1 b. 192.168.0.1 c. 192.168.1.100 d. 192.168.1.1

192.168.0.1 is the only suitable gateway address. Remember that the gateway address must be on the same network as the computer. In this case, the network is 192.168.0, as defined by the 255.255.255.0 subnet mask. Incorrect answers: 192.168.1.100 is on the 192.168.1.0 network; so is 192.168.1.1. 192.168.10.1 is on the 192.168.10.0 network. Don't forget that a zero at the end of an IP address denotes the network number. The correct answer is: 192.168.0.1

Which of the following is the default subnet mask for IP address 192.168.1.1? Select one: a. 255.0.0.0 b. 255.255.255.0 c. 255.255.255.255 d. 255.255.0.0

192.168.1.1, by default, has the subnet mask 255.255.255.0, which is the standard subnet mask for class C IP addresses. However, remember that some networks are classless, which means that a network can use a different subnet mask. Incorrect answers: 255.255.0.0 is the class B default subnet mask. 255.0.0.0 is the class A default subnet mask. 255.255.255.255 is the broadcast address for IP. It is not usable as a subnet mask for typical computers on the LAN. The correct answer is: 255.255.255.0

Which of the following is necessary for a CAD/CAM workstation? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. High-end video b. SSD c. HDMI output d. Surround sound

A computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing workstation requires an SSD, high-end video, and as much RAM as possible. The CPU can also be important to run the latest design applications such as AutoCAD. Always check the minimum and recommended requirements for applications. Incorrect answers: HDMI output and surround sound are often necessary on gaming computers and home theater PCs (HTPCs). The correct answers are: SSD, High-end video

Which device connects multiple computers together in a LAN? Select one: a. Firewall b. Modem c. Router d. Switch

A switch connects computers together in a local-area network (LAN). In SOHO networks, it is usually a part of a multifunction network device. In larger networks, the switch is an individual device that has 24, 48, or 96 ports. Incorrect answers: A modem connects a PC to the Internet either by way of a coaxial cable connection (as in a cable modem) or a dial-up connection over a plain old telephone service (POTS) line (as in a dial-up modem). A router connects one network to another. Though a SOHO multifunction device is often referred to as a router, it is not the router portion of that device that connects the computers together in the LAN. A firewall protects all the computers on the LAN from intrusion. The correct answer is: Switch

Which of the following might you find as part of a tablet computer? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. Multi-touch touchscreen b. Flash memory c. SATA hard drive d. 24-inch display

A tablet computer will almost always contain flash memory as main storage and a multi-touch touchscreen. Incorrect answers: SATA hard drives and 24-inch displays are more likely to be found on PCs, not tablet computers. The correct answers are: Flash memory, Multi-touch touchscreen

Which of the following terms best describes two or more LANs connected together over a large geographic distance? Select one: a. WLAN b. WAN c. MAN d. PAN

A wide-area network (WAN) is a network in which two or more LANs are connected together over a large geographic distance - for example, between two cities. The WAN requires connections to be provided by a telecommunications or data communications company. Incorrect answers: A personal-area network (PAN) is a small network made up of short-distance devices such as Bluetooth. WLAN stands for wireless local-area network. This is the name that the IEEE uses for its 802.11 standards. The reason is that the term Wi-Fi, though widely used, is copyrighted. A MAN is a metropolitan- (or municipal-) area network; it can connect two or more LANs together but does so in a small city-based area. The correct answer is: WAN

A color laser printer produces images that are tinted blue. Which of the following steps should be performed to address this problem? Select one: a. Change the fusing assembly b. Clean the toner cartridge c. Clean the primary corona d. Calibrate the printer

After you install a printer, it is important to calibrate it for color and orientation, especially if you are installing a color laser printer or an inkjet printer. These calibration tools are usually built in to the printer's software and can be accessed from Windows, or you can access them from the printer's display. Incorrect answers: If a toner cartridge needs to be cleaned, it probably has a leak and should be replaced. The fusing assembly needs to be changed only when it fails. Many printers will indicate when the fuser is at 20 percent life and needs to be replaced soon. If the fuser fails, the toner will fail to stick to the paper. The primary corona wire can be cleaned; it is near the drum. Cleaning it can help with other types of print quality problems, such as lines and smearing, though on many printers this is not necessary. The correct answer is: Calibrate the printer

Which of the following steps enables you to take control of a network printer from a remote computer? Select one: a. Installing the printer locally and accessing the Ports tab b. Installing the printer locally and accessing the spool settings c. Connecting to the printer via FTP d. Installing the printer locally and accessing the Sharing tab

After you install the driver for the printer locally, you can then take control of it by going to the properties of the printer and accessing the Ports tab. Then click the Add Port button and select the Standard TCP/IP Port option. You have to know the IP address of the printer or the computer that the printer is connected to. Incorrect answers: The Sharing tab enables you to share the printer so that remote users can use it; however, the remote user would then somehow have to connect to the printer. The spool settings can be set so that the computer spools documents before sending pages to the printer, which helps with less powerful printers and printer congestion. Some printers can be accessed via FTP, but usually they are controlled and accessed in another way. Either way, making a connection to the printer is not taking control of the printer. The correct answer is: Installing the printer locally and accessing the Ports tab

Beep codes are generated by which of the following? Select one: a. Windows b. RTC c. CMOS d. POST

As the power-on self-test (POST) checks all the components of the computer, it may present its findings on the screen or in the form of beep codes. Incorrect answers: The complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) stores information such as time and date and UEFI/BIOS passwords. RTC stands for real-time clock; it is the device that keeps time on the motherboard. Windows generates all kinds of error codes but not beep codes. The beep codes come from the POST, which happens before Windows boots. The correct answer is: POST

After you replace a motherboard in a PC, the system overheats and fails to boot. Which of the following is the most likely cause? Select one: a. The GPU is not compatible with the CPU. b. The case fan failed. c. Thermal paste was not applied between the heat sink and the CPU. d. The new motherboard's firmware is out of date.

If a motherboard were just replaced and the system overheats when booted, then there's a good chance that thermal paste was not applied to the CPU. When you install a new motherboard, the CPU must be removed from the old board and installed to the new one, or a new CPU needs to be installed. Either way, the heat sink must come off. Whenever a heat sink is connected (or reconnected) to a CPU, thermal compound (also known as thermal paste) should be applied; otherwise overheating can easily occur. Incorrect answers: The GPU is the video card's processor; it is not quite possible for this to be incompatible with the CPU. It is possible for the video card to be incompatible with the expansion bus slots on the new motherboard, though. Even if the new motherboard's firmware has not been updated, the system should not overheat. If the case fan fails, the computer should not overheat. The CPU will still have its own fan, and the power supply will still be exhausting hot air. The correct answer is: Thermal paste was not applied between the heat sink and the CPU.

Which of the following IP addresses would a technician see if a computer running Windows is connected to a multifunction network device and is attempting to obtain an IP address automatically but is not receiving an IP address from the DHCP server? Select one: a. 172.16.10.10 b. 169.254.10.10 c. 192.168.10.10 d. 192.168.0.10

If the computer fails to obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, Windows will take over and apply an Automatic Private IP Address (APIPA). This address will be on the 169.254.0.0 network. Incorrect answers: All of the other addresses could possibly be obtained from a DHCP server. 172.16.10.10, 192.168.0.10, and 192.168.10.10 are all private IP addresses that could typically be obtained through DHCP. The correct answer is: 169.254.10.10

A user's time and date keep resetting to January 1, 2012. Which of the following is the most likely cause? Select one: a. The BIOS needs to be updated. b. The Windows Date and Time Properties window needs to be modified. c. Windows needs to be updated. d. The lithium battery needs to be replaced.

If the time and date keep resetting - for example, to a date such as January 1, 2012 - chances are that the lithium battery needs to be replaced. These are usually nickel-sized batteries; most PCs use a CR2032 lithium battery. Incorrect answers: Updating the UEFI/BIOS allows the PC to "see" new devices and communicate with them better, but it will not fix the time issue. Updating Windows will not fix this problem, but it should be done often to keep the computer secure. Other date and time synchronization problems can be fixed in the clock settings within the Notification Area. Windows client computers should be configured to synchronize to a time server. The correct answer is: The lithium battery needs to be replaced.

An exclamation point next to a device in the Device Manager indicates which of the following? Select one: a. A driver is not properly installed for this device. b. The driver is not digitally signed. c. The device is disabled. d. The device driver needs to be upgraded.

If you see an exclamation point in the Device Manager, this indicates that the device does not have a proper driver. Incorrect answers: If the device is disabled, it will have a down arrow. If a driver was not digitally signed, the device might show up in the Unknown Devices category until it is installed properly. If a device has a working driver, upgrading it will be up to you, but you won't necessarily be notified that the driver needs to be upgraded. This question may seem more like a 220-1002 question, but you have to be prepared for some overlap. Remember, some of the concepts of the 220-1001 and the 220-1002 are heavily intertwined! The correct answer is: A driver is not properly installed for this device.

Which type of printer uses impact to transfer ink from a ribbon to the paper? Select one: a. Thermal b. Inkjet c. Impact d. Laser

Impact is a type of impact printer. It uses a printhead to physically impact the ribbon and transfer ink to the paper. Incorrect answers: Laser printers apply toner to paper through varying voltages. Inkjet printers spray ink from a cartridge onto the paper. Thermal paper is specially coated and forms text when it is heated properly. The correct answer is: Impact

Which of the following occurs last in the laser printing process? Select one: a. Exposing b. Charging c. Cleaning d. Developing e. Fusing

In the laser printing process, also known as the imaging process, the cleaning stage happens last. Incorrect answers: The printing process includes the following steps in order: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing, and cleaning. The correct answer is: Cleaning

Which kind of CPU incorporates "lands" on the chip to ensure connectivity? Select one: a. LGA b. Copper c. Chipset d. PGA

LGA (land grid array) is the type of chip that uses "lands" to connect the the CPU to the socekt. Incorrect answers: PGA (pin grid array) sockets have pinholes that make for connectivity to the CPU's copper pins. The chipset is either a single chip or the combination of the northbridge and southbridge on the motherboard. LGA is the best answer. The correct answer is: LGA

You use your laptop often. Which of the following is a simple, free way to keep your laptop running cool? Select one: a. Put the laptop in the freezer when not in use. b. Direct a fan at the laptop. c. Keep the laptop turned off whenever possible. d. Keep the laptop on a flat surface.

Laptops have airflow underneath them; if the unit is not on a flat surface, that airflow will be reduced or stopped altogether, leading to component damage. Incorrect answers: The freezer is not a good idea because condensation could build up inside the unit. A fan won't do much good unless the laptop is on a flat surface, and although it is plausible to keep the laptop turned off, doing so negates the reason for using the laptop. The correct answer is: Keep the laptop on a flat surface.

Which of the following should not be connected to a UPS? Select one: a. Monitors b. Laser printers c. Speakers d. PCs

Laser printers use large amounts of electricity, which in turn could quickly drain the battery of the UPS. They should be plugged in to their own individual power strips. Incorrect answers: PCs, monitors, and speakers can be connected to a UPS. In fact, if you want to have continued use (and protection) during a power outage, they should be! The correct answer is: Laser printers

Which type of printer uses a toner cartridge? Select one: a. Laser b. Thermal c. Inkjet d. Impact

Laser printers use toner cartridges. Incorrect answers: Inkjet printers use ink cartridges. Impact printers (for example, dot-matrix printers) use a ribbon. Thermal printers use specially coated paper that is heated. The correct answer is: Laser

Which of the following are important factors when purchasing a replacement laptop AC adapter? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. Current and voltage b. Connector size and shape c. Inverter type d. Battery type

Make sure to purchase an AC adapter that is a true replacement. You can find one on the laptop manufacturer's website. When you enter your model number, the website will tell you everything you need to know about current, voltage, and connector type (these details are also listed on the brick portion of the power adapter). Incorrect answers: The battery and AC adapter do need to work in conjunction with each other; because of this, they both need to be compatible with the laptop. The AC adapter does several things, including reducing voltage and converting from AC to DC, but it does not invert the signal. However, there is an inverter in the laptop; it powers the display. This question does not refer to that, but if you are ever troubleshooting a display, the inverter type is very important. The correct answers are: Current and voltage, Connector size and shape

Which of the following are ports you might find on smartphones and tablets? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. USB-C b. DVI c. Lightning d. eSATA

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets commonly incorporate ports such as USB-C (and micro USB) and Apple's Lightning connector. Incorrect answers: eSATA (used by external storage devices) and DVI (used by video cards) are commonly found on PCs. The correct answers are: USB-C, Lightning

Which device connects to the network and has the sole purpose of providing data to clients? Select one: a. NAC b. NAS c. IaaS d. NAT

Network-attached storage (NAS) devices store data for network use. They connect directly to the network. Incorrect answers: Network Address Translation (NAT) is used on routers to take a group of computers on a private LAN and connect them to the Internet by using a single public IP. NAC stands for network access control - a group of technologies designed to allow or deny access by authenticating users. IaaS stands for infrastructure as a service, a cloud-based technology by which organizations can offload their network infrastructure to a third-party. Threw in a tougher one there - have to keep you on your toes! The correct answer is: NAS

You have been tasked with blocking remote logins to a server. Which of the following ports should you block? Select one: a. 23 b. 443 c. 21 d. 587 e. 80

Port 23 should be blocked. It is associated with the Telnet service, which is used to remotely log in to a server at the command line. You can block this service at the company firewall and individually at the server and other hosts. It uses port 23 by default, but it can be used with other ports as well. Telnet is considered to be insecure, so it should be blocked and disabled. Incorrect answers: Here are the default port numbers for the incorrect answers: Port 21 is FTP. Port 80 is HTTP. Port 443 is HTTPS. Port 587 is the default secure port for SMTP. (Keep in mind that, originally, SMTP used port 25 - and sometimes still does - but it is usually not a secured port.) The correct answer is: 23

Which of the following has the fastest data throughput? Select one: a. Hard drive b. RAM c. USB d. CD-ROM

RAM is much faster than the rest of the options listed. For instance, if you have PC4-25600 DDR4 RAM (aka DDR4-3200), your peak transfer rate is 25,600 MB/s. Incorrect answers: The rest of the devices in the incorrect answers are listed in descending order of data throughput: Hard drive: for example, 600 MB/s for SATA 3.0, 1969 MB/s for SATA Express, and 3500 MB/s for typical M.2 drives. M.2 is very fast but still a fraction of RAM speeds (as of the writing of this book in 2019). USB: for example, 5 Gbps for version 3.0 and 20 Gbps for version 3.2 (which equates to 2.5 MB/s) CD-ROM (typically 7.5 MB/s). The correct answer is: RAM

Which of the following components could cause the POST to beep several times and fail during boot? Select one: a. Power supply b. Hard drive c. Sound card d. RAM

RAM is one of the big four (RAM, CPU, motherboard, and video) that can cause the POST to fail. Different RAM errors can cause the POST to make a different series of beeps. Consult your motherboard documentation for more information about the different beep codes. Incorrect answers: The sound card does not have an effect on the POST. If the power supply has a problem, the computer either will not boot at all (and not even enter POST) or will have intermittent problems - for example, shutting down unpredictably. Hard drive problems result in a variety of errors. Although the POST will complete in these cases, the operating system will not boot. The correct answer is: RAM

Which of the following are output devices? (Select the three best answers.) Select one or more: a. Touchpad b. Keyboard c. Mouse d. Display e. Speakers f. Printer

Speakers, printers, and displays are output devices. A speaker outputs sound. A printer outputs paper with text and graphics. A display (or monitor) displays video. Incorrect answers: Keyboards, mice, and touchpads are input devices. Another input device used by mobile devices is the stylus. A stylus is used on mobile devices that incorporate touchscreens. This pen-like device is used to manipulate the display, similar to a mouse. However, most mobile devices now allow a person to simply use a finger and tap on the screen. The correct answers are: Speakers, Printer, Display

Which of the following is a common type of CPU for a smartphone? Select one: a. LPDDR b. Core i7 c. LGA 2011 d. SoC

System on a chip (SoC) is a type of CPU used in smartphones and tablet computers. The 64-bit versions are common in mobile devices; they incorporate a variety of functionality within the CPU. Incorrect answers: LGA 2011 is a type of CPU socket used in PCs. It is designed for Intel Core i7 and other Intel CPUs. LPDDR is a common type of RAM used in mobile devices. The correct answer is: SoC

Which of the following could cause the POST to fail? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. Optical drive b. Hard drive c. Memory d. CPU e. Power supply

The CPU and memory need to be installed properly for the POST to run (and to pass). Incorrect answers: The hard drive and optical drive may or may not be installed properly, but they are not necessary for the POST to complete. If the power supply is defective, the system simply will not boot and will not even get to the POST stage. The correct answers are: CPU, Memory

Which of the following translates a computer name into an IP address? Select one: a. TCP b. FTP c. UDP d. DNS

The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol translates a computer name into an IP address. Whenever you type a web server name such as dprocomputer.com, a DNS server translates that name to its corresponding IP address. Incorrect answers: The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is used to send data from one computer to another utilizing a guaranteed delivery system. User Datagram Protocol (UDP), on the other hand, sends data in a streaming format, without the need for guaranteed delivery. The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) allows you to send files between computers over the Internet. The correct answer is: DNS

Which protocol uses port 53? Select one: a. HTTP b. DNS c. FTP d. SMTP

The Domain Name System (DNS) protocol uses port 53 by default. Incorrect answers: FTP uses port 21. SMTP uses port 25 (or 587 or 465). HTTP uses port 80. The correct answer is: DNS

Which key on a laptop aids in switching to an external monitor? Select one: a. Alt b. Ctrl c. Fn d. Shift

The Fn (Function) key is used for a variety of things, including toggling between the built-in LCD screen and an external monitor/TV. The Fn key could be a different color (for example, blue) and offers a sort of "second" usage for keys on the laptop. Incorrect answers: Ctrl may also have secondary functions but is otherwise used the same as on a PC's keyboard. Alt and Shift work in the same manner as they do on a PC. The correct answer is: Fn

Which port number is used by HTTPS by default? Select one: a. 25 b. 443 c. 80 d. 21

The Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) uses port 443 (by default). Incorrect answers: Port 21 is used by the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Port 25 is used by the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). Port 80 is used by regular HTTP, which is considered to be insecure. The correct answer is: 443

Which of the following connector types is used by fiber-optic cabling? Select one: a. LC b. RJ-11 c. RJ-45 d. RG-6

The LC connector is used by fiber-optic cabling. Other fiber connectors include SC and ST. Incorrect answers: RJ45 is the connector used by twisted-pair networks. RG-6 is the cable used by cable Internet and TV; an F-connector is attached to the ends of an RG-6 cable. RJ11 is the standard phone line connector. The correct answer is: LC

Which of the following connectors is used for musical equipment? Select one: a. DVI b. HDMI c. DisplayPort d. MIDI

The Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) connector is used for musical equipment such as keyboards, synthesizers, and sequencers. MIDI is used to create a clocking signal that all devices can synchronize to. Incorrect answers: The other three connectors, HDMI, DVI, and DisplayPort, are all video connectors. The correct answer is: MIDI

Which port is used by RDP? Select one: a. 3389 b. 80 c. 110 d. 443

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) uses port 3389 by default. This protocol allows one computer to take control of another remote system. Incorrect answers: Port 80 is used by HTTP. Port 110 is used by POP3. Port 443 is used by HTTP Secure (or HTTPS), a protocol used during secure web sessions. The correct answer is: 3389

How many pins are inside an SATA 3.0 data connector? Select one: a. 24 b. 15 c. 7 d. 127

The SATA version 3.0 data connector has seven pins. Note: SATA Express uses a triple connector with 18 pins (7 + 7 + 4). Incorrect answers: The SATA power connector has 15 pins. ATX 12V 2.0 and higher power connections have 24 pins. Among other things, 127 is the maximum number of USB devices you can connect to the computer. The correct answer is: 7

A wireless network is referred to as which of the following? Select one: a. DHCP b. WPA c. SSID d. DMZ

The Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the name of the wireless network. This is the name you look for when locating a wireless network. Incorrect answers: WPA stands for Wi-Fi Protected Access, a connectivity protocol for wireless networks. A demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area between the LAN and the Internet that often houses web, email, and FTP servers. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a service that assigns IP addresses automatically to computers and other devices. The correct answer is: SSID

You are tasked with fixing a problem with a video editing workstation. There is an unexpected clicking noise every time the video editing program is started. The case fans have been replaced, but the noise remains. Diagnostics have also been run on the video card, and it appears to be operating normally. What action should you take first? Select one: a. Replace the video card. b. Perform a System Restore. c. Replace the hard drive. d. Scan for malware. e. Perform a full data backup.

The first action you should take is to perform a full data backup. Clicking noises can indicate that the computer's magnetic-based hard drive is damaged and might fail. Immediately back up the drive's contents before taking any other action. Incorrect answers: It is less likely, but the clicking noise can also be caused by a fan. However, the case fans have already been replaced, and it is uncommon for a video card fan to make that noise unless a cable is brushing against it (which is also unlikely). As you gain experience, you will find that fan noise and hard disk drive clicking are usually two different sounds. The damage to the hard drive could possibly be caused by malware. After backing up data, scan the drive, and if necessary, run a System Restore. The video card should not need to be replaced because the diagnostics indicate that it is running normally. After the backup, you should strongly consider replacing the hard drive, for two reasons: (1) the drive is clicking and is probably going to fail, and (2) video editing workstations require faster hard drives. The scenario implies that the system is using a magnetic-based hard drive. A solid-state drive (SATA or M.2) would run the video editing program more efficiently and would be better in the file-rendering phase. The correct answer is: Perform a full data backup.

Which device stores data over the long term? Select one: a. CPU b. Video card c. Hard drive d. RAM

The hard drive stores data over the long term. The hard drive stores the OS and data in a nonvolatile fashion, meaning the data won't be erased when the computer is turned off. Incorrect answers: The CPU calculates data and sends it to RAM for temporary storage; the RAM (which is volatile) is cleared when the computer is turned off. The video card stores temporary video data within its onboard memory, but this, like RAM, is volatile and is cleared when the computer is turned off. The correct answer is: Hard drive

Which of the following IP addresses can be routed across the Internet? Select one: a. 127.0.0.1 b. 192.168.1.1 c. 10.52.50.13 d. 129.52.50.13

The only listed answer that is a public address (needed to get onto the Internet) is 129.52.50.13. Incorrect answers: All the other answers are private IPs, meant to be behind a firewall. 127.0.0.1 is the IPv4 local loopback IP address. 192.168.1.1 is a common private IP address used by SOHO networking devices. 10.52.50.13 is a private address. Note that the 10 network is common in larger networks. The correct answer is: 129.52.50.13

Which of the following cable types have a copper medium? (Select the three best answers.) Select one or more: a. Cat 7 b. Coaxial c. Fiber optic d. Multimode e. Twisted pair

Twisted-pair, coaxial, and Category 7 cable are all examples of network cables with a copper medium. They all send electricity over copper wire. Incorrect answers: Multimode is a type of fiber-optic cable; it uses light to send data over a glass or plastic medium. Twisted pair is the most common type of cabling used in today's networks. The correct answers are: Twisted pair, Coaxial, Cat 7

You have been tasked with setting up a specialized computer for video editing. Which of the following should you include with the computer? (Select the two best answers.) Select one or more: a. Dual monitors b. Docking station c. SSD d. NAS e. Hypervisor f. Gigabit NIC

You should incorporate a solid-state drive (SSD) and dual monitors for the video editing workstation. Video files, such as .MP4 and .AVI are considerable; they are big files that require a decent-size hard drive. An SSD, possibly an M.2 or similar drive, helps to work with these files efficiently, especially in the video rendering stage. And having dual monitors (or more than two) is important when editing. You will generally want to have an editing window and a separate playback window. Incorrect answers: A gigabit NIC is quite common. Chances are that the computer will have it already, but this, and especially 10 Gbit NICs, are more important for servers. The hypervisor is the type of virtualization software manager that you are using - for example, VMware or VirtualBox. A docking station is a device used with a laptop to charge it and to replicate video and other peripherals. Network-attached storage (NAS) is a storage device with multiple hard drives that connects directly to the network. It often uses magnetic drives; SSDs are not required. It doesn't use a screen; instead, you remotely administer it, usually from a browser. The correct answers are: SSD, Dual monitors