Computer Hardware Basics

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What is the primary function of the physical components of a computer?

To execute software instructions
To provide the physical infrastructure necessary to run the system (correct)
To provide instructions to the computer
To act as the 'soul' of the computer

What is the primary function of the BIOS/UEFI chip on a motherboard?

To connect peripherals to the motherboard
To provide power to the CPU
To initialize the hardware during the booting process (correct)
To manage the RAM slots

What is the role of the motherboard in a computer system?

To tie all the computer's components together, allowing them to communicate (correct)
To provide power to the system
To store data temporarily
To execute software instructions

Which type of port is often used for connecting graphics cards, sound cards, or networking cards?

Expansion slot (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the RAM slots on a motherboard?

To insert memory (RAM) modules (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between hardware and software in a computer system?

Hardware is the 'body' of the computer, while software is the 'soul' (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a type of CPU architecture?

AMD's AM4 (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the CPU Socket on a motherboard?

To insert the central processing unit (CPU) (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the bus on a motherboard?

To transfer data between parts (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Input/Output (I/O) Panel on a motherboard?

To contain ports for external connections (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most appropriate analogy for the relationship between hardware and software in a computer system?

Hardware is the body, while software is the soul (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of slot is sometimes found on older motherboards?

AGP (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mechanism by which Solid State Drives (SSD) store data?

Flash memory (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a disadvantage of Solid State Drives (SSD) compared to Hard Disk Drives (HDD)?

SSDs are more expensive than HDDs per gigabyte (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of Hybrid Drives (SSHD) over traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDD)?

Faster access to frequently used data (D) Signup and view all the answers

When would it be most beneficial to choose a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) over a Solid State Drive (SSD)?

When storage capacity is the main concern (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) that is not shared by Solid State Drives (SSD)?

Presence of moving parts (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of Solid State Drives (SSD) when it comes to operating system and application performance?

Faster speeds (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of having more RAM in a computer?

Faster performance and ability to run multiple programs simultaneously (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between DRAM and SRAM?

DRAM is slower and more common, while SRAM is faster and more expensive (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) over Solid State Drives (SSD)?

HDDs are more cost-effective and offer higher maximum capacity than SSDs (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism used by Hard Disk Drives (HDD) to store data?

Rotating magnetic disks and a read/write head to access data (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a major disadvantage of using Hard Disk Drives (HDD) compared to Solid State Drives (SSD)?

HDDs are slower than SSDs, especially when booting up the OS (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between storage devices and RAM?

Storage devices are non-volatile, while RAM is volatile (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of having a GPU with its own CPU and memory?

It can free up the CPU and RAM for other tasks (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of VRAM in a GPU?

To store data temporarily while it is being processed (C) Signup and view all the answers

How have GPUs evolved over time?

They have expanded to handle computational tasks beyond graphics rendering (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a GPU?

To accelerate the processing of images and videos (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between a GPU and the CPU and RAM?

The GPU can free up the CPU and RAM for other tasks (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of using a combination of an SSD and an HDD in a computer?

It allows for faster access to frequently used data and applications (A) Signup and view all the answers