1.2.5 Adapter Cards and Expansion Slots

Questions and Answers

What does a Sound Adapter provide?

Video capability

Data storage

Audio capability (correct)

Network connection

What does a Network Interface Card (NIC) do?

Provides the physical connection to the network at the PC.

What is the function of a Wireless NIC?

Connects a computer to a network using radio frequencies.

What does a Video Adapter provide?

Graphic capability. Signup and view all the answers

What does a Capture Card do?

Sends a video signal to a computer for recording. Signup and view all the answers

What is a TV Tuner Card?

An adapter that receives a TV signal and displays TV on the computer screen. Signup and view all the answers

What does USB stand for?

Universal Serial Bus. Signup and view all the answers

What is eSATA used for?

An external interface for SATA connections. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary usage of the PCI slot?

Expansion slot for connecting hardware components. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mini PCI Express?

A smaller version of PCI found in some laptops. Signup and view all the answers

What is PCI-X?

An updated version of the standard PCI. Signup and view all the answers

What does PCIe stand for?

PCI Express. Signup and view all the answers

What is a riser card?

A card that allows expansion cards to be mounted parallel to the motherboard. Signup and view all the answers

What is AGP used for?

A high-speed slot for attaching a video card. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sound Adapter

Provides audio capabilities for computers and devices.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Also known as LAN adapter.
Establishes the physical connection between a device and a network.

Wireless NIC

Connects computers to networks via radio frequency, enabling wireless connectivity.

Video Adapter

Enhances graphic capabilities, crucial for tasks requiring graphical output.

Capture Card

Allows video signals to be sent to a computer for recording using Video Capture software.

TV Tuner Card

Receives television signals, enabling TV display on computer screens.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Standard interface for computer ports.
Supports data transfer rates up to 12 million bits per second.

eSATA

External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
Provides an external interface for SATA with a transfer rate of 3 Gbps.

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

An expansion slot that comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
Mostly obsolete, found in fewer modern computers.

Mini PCI Express

A compact version of PCI designed for laptops.
Available in three form factors: type I, type II, and type III.

PCI-X (PCI Extended)

An upgraded version of standard PCI.
Operates on a 32-bit bus with higher bandwidth, up to four times faster than PCI.
Expansion slots have also become mostly obsolete.

PCIe (PCI Express)

Utilizes serial communication with varying lane configurations (x1, x2, x4, x8, x16, x32).
Offers high performance for high-end devices like graphics adapters.
Throughput per lane ranges from 250 MB/s to 2 GB/s in each direction.

Riser Card

Plugs into a motherboard, allowing for the mounting of expansion cards parallel to it.

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)

A high-speed slot originally for video cards.
Mostly replaced by PCI, with only a few motherboards still using this technology.

Description

Test your knowledge about adapter cards and their functions with these flashcards. Learn about sound adapters, network interface cards, wireless NICs, and video adapters. Perfect for students studying computer hardware.