Computer Monitors and Their Components

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Questions and Answers

What type of display is commonly referred to as a flat-panel display?

LCD (liquid crystal display) (correct)
CRT (cathode ray tube)
Plasma display
Direct view display

What is the primary purpose of a UPS (uninterruptable power supply)?

To act as a surge protector and provide temporary power (correct)
To increase the computer's processing speed
To connect multiple devices to a single outlet
To provide permanent power to devices

Which of the following is NOT a type of personal computer?

Smartphone (correct)
Server
Desktop computer
Laptop computer

Who is credited with coining the term 'debugging'?

Grace Hopper (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is essential for communicating with a computer?

Mouse (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of an operating system (OS)?

To manage the computer's hardware and software (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a server do?

Serves information to other computers on a network (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following devices is primarily portable?

Laptop computer (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of older monitor is significantly larger and heavier than modern displays?

CRT (cathode ray tube) (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of the +12V output voltage?

Powering devices such as disk drives and cooling fans (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which output voltage is typically used in older types of serial port amplifier circuits?

-12V (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the black wire in a power supply connector represent?

Ground (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the feedback controller in the described power supply system?

To stabilize output voltage and current based on load (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which voltage is primarily powering some types of memory and AGP video cards?

+3.3V (D) Signup and view all the answers

How many total pins are there in the standard ATX connector when combined?

24 (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which voltage is generally limited to 1A in older systems?

-5V (A) Signup and view all the answers

What color wire is typically used for the +5V standby in a power supply?

Purple (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these voltages is referred to as the 'zero-volt ground'?

0V (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the ATX 12V (P4) connector?

To supply dedicated power to the processor (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the Master drive in a two-drive setup?

It is the main drive on the cable. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bus is used to connect the CPU to the main memory on the motherboard?

System Bus (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the Data Bus?

Transfers actual data. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does a wider bus width allow in a computer system?

More bits to be transmitted at once. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which bus is considered old and slow, commonly used for devices like mice?

ISA Bus (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of a MOLEX connector?

To power IDE disk drives and CD-ROM/DVD drives (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which bus type is designed specifically for fast 3D graphics and video?

AGP Bus (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which connector is specifically designed for floppy disk drives?

Berg (Mini-MOLEX) (C) Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage is lost when the computer's power is turned off?

Volatile memory (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which device is an example of an input device?

Mouse (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the SATA connector primarily power?

SATA hard drives (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which component is classified as a secondary storage device?

SSD (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common function of output devices?

Displaying processed information (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes non-volatile memory?

Memory that retains data without power (A) Signup and view all the answers

What type of connector is used for PCI Express graphics cards?

6-pin or 8-pin connector (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is not an input or output device?

Hard Disk Drive (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of an operating system?

To manage hardware and software resources (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a closed-source operating system?

Microsoft Windows (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of operating system is Linux classified as?

Open-source software (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which version of Microsoft Windows was released in 2007?

Windows Vista (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does a power supply unit (PSU) do?

Converts AC to DC (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key advantage of using an open-source operating system like Linux?

Free to use and modify (A) Signup and view all the answers

What technology does a modern power supply unit typically use to convert AC to DC?

Switch mode power supply unit (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following operating systems is not developed by Apple Inc.?

Windows Vista (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does 'proprietary software' mean in relation to operating systems?

Source code is not available to the public (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding the advantage of Linux?

It is less prone to malware (A) Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Monitor Technology

Modern monitors typically use LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-emitting diode) technology, known for being thin, classified as flat-panel displays.
Older monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube) technology, which is bulkier and heavier, taking up more desk space.

Key Parts of a Computer

Power Cord: Connects the computer to a power outlet. UPS (uninterruptable power supply) protects against surges and provides temporary power during outages.
Keyboard: Primary input device for data entry and communication with the computer.
Mouse: A pointing device used for navigation and control.

Types of Personal Computers

Desktop Computers: Available in small, medium, or large sizes; used in work, school, or libraries.
Laptop Computers: Portable, battery or AC-powered; allow for use in various locations.
Servers: Provide information to other computers in a network; commonly used for file storage and sharing.
Tablet Computers: Portable devices with touch screens.
Mobile Phones: Smartphones serve multiple functions including computing.
Game Consoles: Specialized devices for video gaming.
TVs: Can function as smart devices with computing capabilities.

Computer Bug History

Grace Hopper discovered the first computer bug, literally a moth in the Mark I, blocking readings; led to the term "bug" describing programming defects since 1889.
Hopper is credited with coining "debugging," the process of fixing program faults.

Operating System (OS)

OS is essential software for managing computer memory, processes, and all hardware/software components, facilitating user interaction without needing programming knowledge.
Without an OS, a computer becomes non-functional.

Examples of Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows: Created in the mid-1980s, with versions like Windows 8 (2012), Windows 7 (2009), and Windows Vista (2007).
Apple Mac OS X: Developed by Apple, with versions including Mavericks (2013), Mountain Lion (2012), and Snow Leopard (2009).
Linux: An open-source OS that is modifiable and free, with popular distributions like Ubuntu, Mint, and Fedora.

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

The PSU powers the computer by converting AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current).
Modern PCs typically use switch mode power supplies, which are lighter and more efficient, using electronic switching for voltage conversion.

Standard Output Voltages

-12V: Used for older serial port amplifier circuits.
-5V: For early floppy disk controllers and ISA cards.
0V: Ground reference point.
+3.3V: Powers processors and some memory types.
+5V: Supplies power to motherboards.
+12V: Powers motors in disk drives and cooling fans.

Common PSU Connectors

ATX 20-pin/24-pin: Provides power to the motherboard.
ATX 12V (P4): Powers the processor.
Molex: Supplies power to IDE disk drives.
SATA: 15-pin connector for SATA hard drives.
PCI Express: Provides power to graphics cards, available in 6-pin or 8-pin configurations.

Basic Hardware Components of Computer Systems

Primary Storage: Temporary data storage while the CPU processes, consisting of volatile (lost when powered off) and non-volatile (retained when powered off) memory types.
Secondary Storage: Enduring data storage outside the computer, includes HDD, USB, CDs, and DVDs.
Input Devices: Tools for data input like keyboards and mice.
Output Devices: Tools for processed information display, such as printers and monitors.

Computer System Architecture

Buses: Electrical pathways that facilitate communication within the computer.
Data Bus: Transports actual data.
Address Bus: Carries information regarding memory location.
Bus Width: Determines the amount of data transmitted simultaneously.
Clock Speed: Measured in MHz; higher speeds lead to improved performance.

Types of Buses

System Bus: Connects CPU to main memory.
Expansion Bus: Links CPU with peripheral devices.

Common Expansion Buses

ISA Bus: Older, slower bus used for basic peripherals.
PCI Bus: Faster than ISA, supports expansion cards.
PCI Express (PCIe) Bus: High-speed bus for modern components.
AGP Bus: Specialized for 3D graphics and video enhancements.

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