Week 1 Taking Computers Apart and Putting it Back Together

A desktop computer with a hybrid processor has four memory slots. However, it only has two DIMMs installed; the size of each DIMM is 4 GB. How large is the data path of each DIMM?

64-bit Correct. All DIMMs have a 64-bit data path.

Orlando's company is upgrading their networking equipment and gave him an older enterprise grade router. He wants to configure it using an old computer he found in his garage. What type of serial cable will most likely fit his old computer?

A cable that will plug into the DB9 port Correct. 9-pin ports are called DB9 or serial ports. Serial ports have been largely replaced by USB ports, but can still be found on routers and other hardware. Most older desktop computers and many older laptops have/had a DB9 serial port.

For maximum efficiency and performance, a highly tuned and specialized application needs to run on a system capable of handling exactly 16 threads at the same time from the operating system. Which two of the following will best meet the specified requirement?

A motherboard with four dual-core processors Correct. The number of threads is determined by multiplying the number of CPUs times the number of cores times 2 (each core can handle two threads). 4 CPUs x 2 cores x 2 threads = 16. A system board with two quad-core processors Correct. The number of threads is determined by multiplying the number of CPUs times the number of cores times 2 (each core can handle two threads). 2 CPUs x 4 cores x 2 threads = 16.

At what point during the motherboard installation should you install the motherboard drivers?

After Windows successfully boots without errors Correct. You need to verify Windows will boot without errors and there are no conflicts reported.

Yesterday you installed a new game on your computer. When you ran the computer, you noticed that the application was running very slow. After you exited the game and restarted it (the game), you received an error message saying, "Insufficient memory or disk space." You checked the hard drive, and it has more than 250GB of free space.What should you check next in Task Manager?

Amount of RAM available . Correct. Check the percentage of RAM being used by the game and other applications. If the percentage is too high because of another application, you can close that application and run the game.

What three characteristics are true about SRAM and DRAM?

Both are considered volatile because they only hold data while power is on Correct. Once power is removed from SRAM and DRAM the information stored is lost. SRAM is faster than DRAM because it does not need to be refreshed Correct. SRAM does not need additional clock cycles to refresh the data. DRAM, or dynamic RAM, is the most common type of RAM and loses its data rapidly, so the memory controller must refresh it several thousand times a second. The type of memory used in a memory cache is SRAM because it is faster Correct. The type of memory used in cache memory is SRAM; it is faster than DRAM

Maria has a laptop with a motherboard that is beyond repair. She comes to your computer repair shop and requests that you replace the motherboard. What are two of the most likely responses you will give her?

Buy a new laptop because replacing it will be more cost-effective than repairing it. Correct. Replacing the motherboard on a laptop can be time-consuming and costly so this is not a recommended course of action Your shop has made a conscious decision not to replace motherboards on laptops. Correct. Choosing not to replace motherboards on laptops is a reasonable policy to adopt because it is time-consuming and costly.

You are troubleshooting a laptop with multiple sticking keys that result in misspelled words while the user types. Other than several sticking keys, the laptop appears to be functioning properly. You have cleaned the keyboard with compressed air, but the problem persists. After removing one of the key tops, it becomes apparent that a liquid was spilled into the keyboard.Which of the following is the next step in resolving the issue of sticking keys?

Clean the keyboard keys with a contact cleaner. Correct. Contact cleaner can be used to clean a keyboard in which liquid has been spilled. Contact cleaners readily evaporate without leaving any residue. If the keys continue to stick, you will need to replace the keyboard.

Ana buys a computer from a surplus sale event at a local university. When she boots it up, it asks for a password even before the operating system loads. How can she overcome this problem?

Configure jumpers to clear the BIOS/UEFI settings. Correct. If a power-on user password and/or a supervisor password is configured, they can be cleared by setting a jumper on the motherboard to clear any customized BIOS/UEFI settings.

A help desk technician is reading the manual for the motherboard in a server to ensure the right type of memory is installed during an upgrade. The documentation says it provides additional reliability because it is capable of correcting single bit errors. What technology do the memory modules use?

Correct. ECC, or error-correcting code, is an error checking technology used in DIMMs for servers to ensure extreme reliability by detecting and correcting single bit errors.

Motherboards may contain which three of the following ports on the I/O panel?

Correct. Multiple USB ports may be found on the I/O panel. Correct. RJ-45 LAN ports may be found on the I/O panel Correct. Video ports such as HDMI, DVI, and/or DisplayPort may be found on the I/O panel.

What is the maximum throughput speed of PCI Express Version 6.0 using 16 lanes?

Correct. PCI Express Version 6.0 has a throughput speed of up to 126 GB/sec.

You are upgrading the RAM in a home computer you bought in 2018. The motherboard supports a quad channel memory configuration. What two types of memory will help maximize performance?

DDR3 Correct. DDR3 has dual, triple, and quad channel configuration capabilities. DDR4 Correct. DDR4 has both dual and quad channel configuration capabilities.

Brandon purchased a new processor online for an upgrade. When he purchased the processor, he made sure that it used the same socket his computer's motherboard used. But he did not check to see whether the motherboard chipset was compatible. What will happen if you install a processor on a motherboard that can fit the socket but is the wrong chipset?

Damage to both the processor and the motherboard. Correct. Installing a processor that fits the socket of a motherboard but is not compatible with the motherboard's chipset can damage both the processor and the chipset. You need to make sure the processor is compatible with the chipset before installing and testing the processor.

What type(s) of port transmits both digital audio and digital video with a single connector? Select all that apply.

DisplayPort Correct. DisplayPort transmits both digital video and audio, but not analog transmissions. DisplayPorts are slowly replacing older ports, such as VGA and DVI ports. HDMI Correct. HDMI or High-Definition Multimedia Interface ports transmit digital video and audio, but not analog transmissions. HDMI connections are commonly found in home theater equipment and as ports on both laptop and desktop computers.

A technician needs to service a laptop computer that is experiencing an intermittent problem with the display.Which of the following will be most effective at helping the technician complete the work in a timely and efficient manner? (Select two.)

Document and label the location of the screws and cables before removing them. Correct. While most desktop computers contain only one or two types of screws, a laptop may have a variety of screws and washers in various sizes and lengths. It is imperative that a technician document and label screws and cables before removing them. Inserting a screw that is too long may penetrate a cable or circuit board and cause damage. Inserting a screw that is the wrong size can also strip the threads, causing the correct-sized screw not to tighten properly. Documenting and labeling locations will assist in reassembling the unit. Organize and place all parts and screws and in one place. Correct. After documenting and labeling the location of the parts and screws, the technician needs to organize them and keep them in one place. Doing so will assist in reassembling the unit.

Kai needs to compile information on the motherboard brand and model for a few computers running important applications. He does not have the motherboard manuals. How can he obtain the information with relative ease?

Enter the msinfo32.exe command in Windows Correct.   Entering the msinfo32.exe command in Windows will display the desired information.

You need to fix a system that sometimes hangs during the boot process. In addition, it also hangs at random times after booting successfully. What could be a possible remedy?

Flash the BIOS/UEFI Correct. Flashing the BIOS/UEFI or updating the firmware may resolve system hangs.

Which statements are true regarding motherboards? (Select two)

Has a CPU socket Correct. Motherboards have CPU sockets. CPU sockets hold the processor or CPU. Has slots for DIMMs Correct. Motherboards have DIMMs. DIMM or dual inline memory module slots hold the temporary memory or RAM.

A user called to inform you that the laptop she purchased yesterday is malfunctioning and will not connect to her wireless network. You personally checked to verify that the wireless worked properly before the user left your office. The user states she rebooted the computer several times but the problem still persists.Which of the following is the first step you should take to assist the user in resolving this issue?

Have the user press the appropriate function key combination to enable the wireless radio and then attempt to connect to the wireless network. Correct. Modern laptop computers provide an easy method of toggling the Wi-Fi, GPS, and cellular radios on and off by means of the keyboard function keys. For example, to toggle the Wi-Fi radio on/off, the user may be required to depress and hold the Fn key and then press F5.

A company needs to upgrade their servers and workstations to support the latest 64-bit applications and deliver better performance. Which two processors will satisfy the company's requirements?

Itanium Correct. The Itanium processor is a 64-bit processor designed for use in servers and workstations. Xeon Correct. The Xeon processor is a 64-bit processor designed for use in servers and workstations. It requires a 64-bit operating system and can handle 32-bit applications by simulating 32-bit processing.

What type of processor memory is located on the processor chip (processor die)?

Level 1 cache Correct. Level 1 cache, or L1 cache, is the memory on the processor chip (called a die).

A customer takes a computer to a repair shop because the system did not boot successfully after adding a memory module to help increase performance. What is likely to be the problem?

One memory stick in unbuffered, the other is registered Correct. Mixing unbuffered with registered memory will not work.

You are asked to install a new high-end graphics card. In which motherboard slot should you install it?

PCI Express 5.0 x16 Correct. The PCI Express 5.0 x16 slot would make use of all data lanes and would be the best choice. It supports up to 63 GB/sec for 16 lanes.

What tool can help discover and report computer errors and conflicts that occur when you first turn on a computer and before the operating system is launched

POST card Correct. Power On Self Test or POST is a diagnostic program built into a computer to test the hardware components before the computer boots up. A POST card is a specialized card that helps identify and report computer errors and conflicts that occur after you first turn on a computer, but before the operating system launches. Results of the test are displayed as a coded number on the card for reference.

What is the second step in opening the case of a working computer?

Power down the system and unplug it Correct. After backing up important data, you should power down the system and unplug it.

You decide you want to overclock the processors on your system. What is the first step in the process?

Press a key or combination of keys during POST to access the BIOS/UEFI setup program

What is the set of rules and standards that any two entities use for communication?

Protocol Correct. Protocol is the set of rules and standards that any two entities use for communication.

A software development firm needs to test a high-end application on a system with a family of 64-core AMD processors. Which processor will meet their needs?

Ryzen Threadripper Correct.   Ryzen Threadripper is an AMD processor with 64 cores and 128 threads. (AMD)

Jenny is working on a laptop computer and notices that the computer is not running very fast. She looks and realizes that the laptop supports 8GB of RAM and that the computer is running only 4GB of RAM. Jenny would like to add four more gigabits of RAM. She opens the computer and finds that there is an open slot for RAM. She checks the other module and determines that the module has 204 pins.What module should Jenny order?

SO-DIMM DDR3 Correct. SO-DIMM DDR3 has 204 pins. The amount of data transferred using DDR 3 per second can range from 8.5GB to 14.9GB, depending on the speed of the FSB (front-side bus).

What are two resources that may be useful in disassembling a laptop computer?

Service manual Correct. Since laptop computers are unique to manufacturers and models, a service manual will be useful for disassembly User manual Correct. User manuals may provide guidance on replacing or removing components without full disassembly of the case

What has occurred if you see the message, "Chassis Intruded! System has halted." the next time you start your computer?

The case has been opened Correct. The intrusion detection alert feature in the BIOS/UEFI was triggered by opening the locked case.

A technician has determined that a laptop keyboard will need to be removed in order to replace the laptop's CPU cooling fan.Which of the following steps will most likely be required before the technician can remove the keyboard from the laptop? (Select two.)

The keyboard cable(s) will need to be disconnected from the ZIF socket(s). Correct. Typical laptop keyboards are connected to the system board via one or more ribbon cables. The system board end of the ribbon cable utilizes ZIF (zero insertion force) sockets. These cables will need to be disconnected prior to removal of the keyboard. The keyboard bezel will need to be removed. Correct. The keyboard bezel is a part of the plastic covers of a laptop and is the cover that surrounds the top of the keyboard. For some laptops, the case top covers the keyboard. Regardless of whether the cover is the bezel or the case top, it will need to be removed first in order to remove the keyboard.

Gina is upgrading your computer with a new processor. She installs the processor into your motherboard and adds the cooling system. She powers up the computer, and it begins to boot but then shuts down.What could be the cause of this problem?

Thermal compound was not used. Correct. Gina forgot to add thermal compound, and the processor is overheating. Thermal compound is applied to create an air-tight seal between the processor and the heat sink. If thermal compound is not applied, the CPU will overheat, and the computer will shut down.

Jose is about to upgrade the processor in a computer. What should he do first?

Update the firmware on the motherboard if needed. Correct. Check the manufacturer's website to determine if the firmware needs to be updated. If required, update the firmware before changing the CPU.

An employee informs the help desk the laptop they are using cannot update the login credentials when they plug it in to the company's wired network. Wireless connectivity is fine, but the login credentials cannot be updated using Wi-Fi. What is a possible action the help desk could take to troubleshoot the problem?

Use a loopback plug Correct. A loopback plug can be used to test whether the network port on the laptop is working properly.

Joanna is researching high-end motherboards for a gaming computer with the best performance possible. Which consideration should be highest on the list?

Use the highest-performing processor Correct. The best performance possible is a term that cannot be measured objectively. But getting the highest-performing processor the motherboard supports is a good way to ensure one can extract the best performance the motherboard can deliver.

Joanna is researching high-end motherboards for a gaming computer with the best performance possible. Which consideration should be highest on the list?

Use the highestRyzen Threadripper

After installing the processor and reassembling the computer, the system begins the boot process and suddenly turns off before completing the boot. You turn everything off, unplug the power cord, press the power button to drain the power, and open the case. What should you do next?

Verify the cooler is securely seated and connected Correct. If the cooler is not installed correctly, the system will boot but shut down before the process is complete as the processor is overheating.

After installing the processor and reassembling the computer, the system begins the boot process and suddenly turns off before completing the boot. You turn everything off, unplug the power cord, press the power button to drain the power, and open the case. What should you do next?

Verify the cooler is securely seated and connected Correct. If the cooler is not installed correctly, the system will boot but shut down before the process is complete as the processor is overheating

Your manager wants you to build a custom computer for a dedicated application. Which of the following is NOT a factor that needs to be considered?

What operating system will be installed? Correct. The type of operating system is not a consideration when selecting a motherboard for conventional use such as deploying it for a dedicated application.

Which statement best describe when you would need to use a Thunderbolt 3 port as opposed to a DisplayPort or an HDMI port?

When you need to transmit video, audio, data, and power on the same port and cable

A system administrator boots a Windows PC using a Live Linux CD/DVD and list the files on the system. One of the files is called pagefile.sys. What is this file used for? Select all that apply.

Windows normally stores virtual memory in this file. Correct. Pagefile.sys is a hidden file in the C: drive. It stores data from RAM that is not accessed frequently. The goal is to free up memory in RAM for additional data that is frequently accessed Used to enhance the amount of RAM in the system. Correct. Pagefile.sys is a hidden file in the C: drive. It stores data from RAM that is not accessed frequently. The goal is to free up memory in RAM for additional data that is frequently accessed.

When handling a motherboard, cards, or drive, which statement is NOT accurate?

You should not hold expansion cards by the edges. Correct. Holding expansion cards by the edges is the correct method of handling.

What is the very first step that should be taken when performing work with a computer?

You should power down the system and unplug it. Incorrect. Powering down the system and unplugging it is the second step.

What type of socket ensures that even force is applied when a processor is being installed in the socket?

ZIF Correct. ZIF, or zero insertion force socket, ensures that even force is applied when the processor is being installed in the socket. This is a feature on modern motherboards for both Intel and AMD processors.

A company is researching motherboards for a small / compact low-end system they are designing to be used in a home theater system. Which motherboard form factor is the company most likely to use?

mITX

A technician is building a custom gaming computer for a customer. In what order should the technician install the main components?

power supply, drives, motherboard, cards

What two different power-on passwords can be set to lock down a computer from unauthorized access?

supervisor password Correct. Setting the supervisor password in the BIOS/UEFI can help prevent unauthorized access user password Correct. Setting the user password in the BIOS/UEFI can help prevent unauthorized access.