Questions and Answers
What are the main differences between DVI and VGA video cables?
DVI supports both digital and analog signals while VGA is purely analog. Additionally, VGA has low bandwidth compared to DVI.
Explain the role of SCSI ID and termination in a Small Computer System Interface.
SCSI ID identifies each device on the SCSI bus, while termination prevents signal reflections that can lead to data corruption. Proper configuration is essential for communication between devices.
What is the significance of channels in the Integrated Drive Electronics Interface?
Channels in EIDE, specifically IDE1 and IDE2, allow for the connection of multiple devices to a single controller. Each channel can have two devices (Device 0 and Device 1).
Describe the characteristics of serial cables and their connectors.
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What is the difference between passive and active adapter cables?
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Which of the following are types of USB connectors?
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What is the primary function of a motherboard?
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Thunderbolt cables are only compatible with Apple devices.
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Which connectors are typically found on a motherboard?
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The data connector for SATA cables is called the ______.
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Which of the following cable types supports higher resolutions and refresh rates?
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What does ESD stand for?
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Which format of motherboard is known for its compatibility with cases and power supplies?
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The __________ interface is known for its high data transfer speed and is used for video output.
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Name one advantage of using Lightning cables.
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SATA connectors are primarily used for video output.
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Study Notes
Installing Motherboards and Connectors
Personal Computers
- System case: tower versus all-in-one
- Side panel: access system components for upgrades and maintenance
- Front panel ports and features
- Rear panel ports and features: power supply and fans, motherboard input/output (I/O) ports, expansion card ports and blanking plates
Peripheral Devices
- Input/output ports and peripheral cable types
- Interfaces, ports, and connectors
- Binary data storage and transfer units
Cable Types and Connectors
Universal Serial Bus Cables
- Multipurpose external bus: controllers, ports, and maximum supported devices
- Power and charging
- USB 2.x versus USB 3.x: data rates
- USB connector types: version compatibility and cable considerations
HDMI and DisplayPort Video Cables
- Video requirements: bandwidth (resolution and refresh rate)
- High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI): versions and cable considerations
- DisplayPort: daisy chaining
Thunderbolt and Lightning Cables
- Thunderbolt: versions and connectors, active versus passive cabling, USB compatibility
- Lightning connector: iOS device connector, adapter cables
SATA Hard Drive Cables
- Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA): data connector, SATA power connector
- Molex power connectors
- External SATA (eSATA)
Installing and Configuring Motherboards
Motherboard Functions
- PC system architecture: binary data and instructions, central processing unit (CPU) and cache, system memory, mass storage, removable storage
- Clock speed and frequency multipliers
Electrical Safety and ESD
- Electrical safety: disconnect power
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD): use anti-static tools to prevent damage to chips
Motherboard CPU and System Memory Connectors
- CPU sockets: socket form factors, chipset
- System memory slots: Random Access Memory (RAM), DIMM slots for system memory
Motherboard Storage Connectors
- SATA
- M.2
- eSATA
Motherboard Adapter Connectors
- PCI Express (PCIe): lanes and link bandwidth, PCIe versions and compatibility, power
- Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI): legacy interface, 3.3V versus 5V
Motherboard Form Factors
- Form factor: physical dimensions, case/power supply compatibility, number of adapter cards supported
- Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX): full size and micro-ATX
- Information Technology eXtended (ITX): mini-ITX
- Motherboard installation: standoffs
Motherboard Headers and Power Connectors
- Headers: connections to case components
- Power connectors: P1 motherboard connector, fan connectors
Video Cards, Capture Cards, Sound Cards, and Network Interface Cards
Video Cards
- Video output for monitor
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): frame rate and 3D effects and textures
- Graphics memory
- Video ports: type and number
Capture Cards
- Video input/recording
Sound Cards
- Audio jacks: output (speakers and headphones), input (microphones)
- Surround sound support
- External audio interfaces
Network Interface Cards
- Onboard Ethernet networking
- Network Interface Card (NIC): cable type (copper versus fiber optic), number of ports
- Wi-Fi adapter
Legacy Cable Types
DVI and VGA Video Cables
- Digital Visual Interface (DVI): analog versus digital
- Video Graphics Array (VGA): analog only, low bandwidth
Small Computer System Interface
- Parallel interfaces
- Small computer system interface (SCSI): versions and connector considerations, SCSI ID and termination configuration
- Modern SCSI usage as Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
Integrated Drive Electronics Interface
- Enhanced integrated drive electronics (EIDE) or parallel ATA (PATA): channels, devices per channel, EIDE cable and connectors
Serial Cables
- RS-232 interface: low bandwidth, DB-9 connector, software COM port
- PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports
Adapter Cables
- Passive cables with different connectors on each end
- Active cables with circuitry to translate signaling between different interface types
- Video: HDMI to VGA, HDMI to DisplayPort, HDMI to DVI, …
- USB: USB-C to USB-A, USB hubs, USB to Thunderbolt, USB to Lightning
Installing Motherboards and Connectors
Personal Computers
- A system case can be tower or all-in-one
- Side panels provide access to system components for upgrades and maintenance
- Front panel ports and features include input/output ports and buttons
- Rear panel ports and features include power supply, fans, motherboard input/output (I/O) ports, and expansion card ports and blanking plates
Peripheral Devices
- Input/output ports and peripheral cable types are used for data transfer
- Interfaces, ports, and connectors are used to connect peripherals to the system
- Binary data storage and transfer units are used to store and transfer data
Cable Types and Connectors
Universal Serial Bus (USB) Cables
- USB is a multipurpose external bus that supports controllers, ports, and maximum supported devices
- USB 2.x has a data rate of 480 Mbps, while USB 3.x has a data rate of 5 Gbps
- USB connector types include standard-A, standard-B, mini-A, mini-B, micro-A, micro-B, and micro-AB
HDMI and DisplayPort Video Cables
- Video requirements include bandwidth (resolution and refresh rate)
- HDMI supports high-definition video and audio
- DisplayPort supports high-definition video and audio, and daisy chaining
Thunderbolt and Lightning Cables
- Thunderbolt is a high-speed cable that supports data transfer and display
- Thunderbolt versions include Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 3
- Lightning is a proprietary connector used for iOS devices
SATA Hard Drive Cables
- SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is a hard drive interface
- SATA data connectors are used for data transfer, while SATA power connectors are used for power supply
- Molex power connectors are used for older systems, while eSATA is used for external SATA devices
Installing and Configuring Motherboards
Motherboard Functions
- PC system architecture includes binary data, instructions, CPU, cache, system memory, mass storage, and removable storage
- Clock speed and frequency multipliers determine the CPU's processing power
Electrical Safety and ESD
- Electrical safety precautions include disconnecting power and using anti-static tools to prevent damage to chips
Motherboard CPU and System Memory Connectors
- CPU sockets include socket form factors and chipsets
- System memory slots include DIMM slots for system memory
Motherboard Storage Connectors
- SATA, M.2, and eSATA are used for storage devices
Motherboard Adapter Connectors
- PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is used for expansion cards
- PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is a legacy interface used for older systems
Motherboard Form Factors
- Form factors determine the physical dimensions, case/power supply compatibility, and number of adapter cards supported
- ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) and ITX (Information Technology eXtended) are common motherboard form factors
Motherboard Headers and Power Connectors
- Headers include connections to case components
- Power connectors include P1 motherboard connector, fan connectors, and other power connectors
Video Cards and Capture Cards
- Video cards include video output, GPU, graphics memory, and video ports
- Capture cards are used for video input/recording
Sound Cards
- Sound cards include audio jacks for output (speakers and headphones) and input (microphones)
- Surround sound support and external audio interfaces are also included
Network Interface Cards
- Onboard Ethernet networking is used for wired connections
- Network Interface Card (NIC) is used for wired or wireless connections
- Wi-Fi adapter is used for wireless connections
Explain Legacy Cable Types
DVI and VGA Video Cables
- DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a digital video interface
- VGA (Video Graphics Array) is an analog video interface
Small Computer System Interface
- SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) is a parallel interface
- SCSI ID and termination configuration are important for SCSI devices
Integrated Drive Electronics Interface
- EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics) or PATA (Parallel ATA) is used for hard drives
- EIDE cables and connectors are used for data transfer
Serial Cables
- RS-232 interface is used for low-bandwidth serial communication
- DB-9 connector is used for serial communication
Adapter Cables
- Passive cables with different connectors on each end are used for simple connections
- Active cables with circuitry are used to translate signaling between different interface types
- Examples of adapter cables include HDMI to VGA, HDMI to DisplayPort, and USB-C to USB-A
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Description
This quiz covers the installation and configuration of motherboards and connectors, including explaining cable types and legacy cable types. It is part of the CompTIA A+ Core 1 Exam 220-1101 curriculum.
