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Questions and Answers
What is one possible consequence of exchanging AC adapters between different devices?
What should you consult to find the location of high-voltage components in a printer?
How many volts of static electricity must accumulate before a person can feel ESD?
Which practice is recommended to prevent ESD damage when handling computer components?
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What does the form factor of a computer case influence?
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Which of the following characteristics is NOT desired in a computer case?
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Which of the following components is housed inside a computer case?
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What is a potential issue of using a case that doesn't match the dimensions of the motherboard and power supply?
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What does the chipset on a motherboard primarily control?
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Which part of the chipset is responsible for controlling access to RAM and the CPU?
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Which motherboard form factor is known for its larger size and expandability?
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What is the main function of the CPU in a computer system?
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Which characteristic is determined by the motherboard's form factor?
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Which component mainly handles communication between the CPU and I/O ports such as USB?
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In terms of CPU architecture, what does RISC stand for?
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What is the primary purpose of the CPU socket on a motherboard?
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What is the primary characteristic of a Land Grid Array (LGA) CPU socket?
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Which of the following statements about CPU speed is correct?
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What does hyperthreading in CPUs aim to achieve?
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Which of the following cooling methods is considered active cooling?
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What is the purpose of overclocking a CPU?
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Which type of CPU has the most cores among the options provided?
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Which of the following best describes passive cooling solutions?
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What is the relationship between CPU architecture and the data bus size?
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What is a primary advantage of SODIMM compared to standard DIMM?
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Which type of RAM is specifically designed for video graphics?
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Which cache memory type is integrated directly into the CPU?
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What is a key characteristic of ECC memory?
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Which type of RAM is typically used as cache memory to speed up data access?
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What is the function of adapter cards in a computer?
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Which of the following types of RAM has the highest data access speed?
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What error checking method allows for no error detection?
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Which of the following input devices is primarily used for digitizing images or documents?
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What type of device is a stylus considered to be?
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Which device is used to read the information encoded on plastic cards?
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What is the primary function of a KVM Switch?
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Which of the following input devices captures digital images and videos?
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Which device identifies a user based on their unique facial features?
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What is one purpose of a microphone in relation to input devices?
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What type of input can NFC devices process?
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Study Notes
Electrical Safety
- Exchanging AC adapters between different devices can harm both the adapter and the device.
- Some printer components contain high voltage, consult the manual for their locations.
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) can damage computer equipment if not discharged properly.
- At least 3,000 volts of static electricity must build up before a person can feel ESD.
Preventing ESD Damage
- Keep all components in antistatic bags until ready to install them.
- Use grounded mats on workbenches and in work areas.
- Wear antistatic wrist straps when working inside computers.
- Ensure wrist straps are in contact with the skin.
Computer Cases and Form Factors
- Form Factor refers to the size and layout of a computer case.
- The form factor influences motherboard and power supply choices.
- Cases should be durable, easy to service, and offer expansion space.
- Case manufacturers have their own naming conventions, including super tower, full tower, mid tower, mini tower, and cube case.
Motherboard Components
- Contains the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), expansion slots, chipset, BIOS, UEFI, SATA connectors, and an internal USB connector.
Motherboard Chipset
- Controls how system hardware interacts with the CPU and motherboard.
- Affects system performance and limitations.
- Determines the amount of memory a motherboard can support.
- Northbridge controls access to RAM, the video card, and the CPU, as well as the communication speed between the CPU and other components.
- Southbridge controls communication between the CPU and expansion ports.
Motherboard Form Factors
- Common form factors include ATX, Micro-ATX, and ITX.
- The form factor dictates how components attach, the power supply requirements, and the computer case shape.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Interprets and executes commands.
- Often referred to as the "brain" of the computer.
- Uses either Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) or Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) architecture.
CPU Connections
- Connects to the motherboard via a CPU socket.
- Modern CPU sockets and packages use PGA, LGA, or BGA architectures.
- PGA sockets have pins on the underside of the processor package that insert into the motherboard.
- LGA sockets have pins on the socket itself.
- BGA sockets have pins soldered to the motherboard, commonly found in laptops, phones, and tablets.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) - Performance and Features
- Some CPUs use hyperthreading or hypertransport to improve performance.
- The size of the processor data bus determines how much data the CPU can process at once.
- CPU speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).
- Overclocking can increase the processor's speed beyond its original specifications.
- Modern CPUs can incorporate multiple cores onto a single chip, such as:
- Dual Core CPU - Two cores.
- Triple Core CPU - Three cores.
- Quad Core CPU - Four cores.
- Hexa-Core CPU - Six cores.
- Octa-Core CPU - Eight cores.
- Some CPUs have as many as sixteen cores.
Cooling Systems
- Keep computer components cool for optimal performance.
- Case fans improve cooling efficiency.
- Heat sinks draw heat away from the CPU core.
- Fans on top of heat sinks move heat away from the CPU.
- Fans can also be dedicated to cooling the GPU.
- Cooling solutions include active and passive methods:
- Active cooling requires power, such as a case fan.
- Passive cooling does not require power, and might include reducing component speed or adding heat sinks.
Types of Memory
- Different types of memory chips store data in the form of bytes.
- SODIMM (Small Outline DIMM) is a smaller, more condensed version of DIMM, ideal for laptops, printers, and other space-constrained devices.
Types of RAM
- Common types of RAM include:
- SRAM (Static RAM)
- DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
- SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
- DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
- DDR2 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 2 Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
- DDR3 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
- DDR4 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 4 Synchronous Dynamic RAM)
- GDDR SDRAM (Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM), specifically designed for video graphics and used with a dedicated BPU.
Cache Memory
- SRAM is used as cache memory to store frequently accessed data.
- Provides faster data access for the processor than retrieving data from DRAM (main memory).
- Memory speed directly impacts how much data a processor can handle in a given time.
- Different cache levels:
- L1 cache: Integrated into the CPU.
- L2 cache: Originally mounted on the motherboard, but now integrated into the CPU.
- L3 cache: Used in some high-end workstations and server CPUs.
Error Checking in Memory
- Memory errors occur when data is not correctly stored in memory chips.
- Methods to detect and correct memory errors:
- Nonparity: Does not check for errors.
- Parity: Uses 8 bits for data and 1 bit for error checking.
- ECC (Error Correction Code): Can detect multiple bit errors and correct single bit errors.
Adapter Cards
- Enhance computer functionality by adding controllers for specific devices or replacing faulty ports.
Input Devices
- Classic input devices:
- Keyboard and Mouse
- ADF/Flatbed Scanner
- Joystick and Gamepad
- KVM Switch: Controls multiple computers using a single keyboard, video (monitor), and mouse.
New Input Devices
- Touch screen
- Stylus
- Magnetic strip reader
- Barcode scanner
- Digital camera
- Webcam
- Signature pad
- Smart card reader
- Microphone
Newest Input Devices
- NFC devices and terminals: Near Field Communication (NFC) "tap to pay" devices.
- Biometric Devices:
- Facial recognition scanners: Identify users based on unique facial features.
- Fingerprint scanners: Identify users based on unique fingerprints.
- Voice recognition scanners: Identify users based on unique voices.
Output Devices
- Output devices take binary information from the computer and present it to the user in a usable form.
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Description
Test your knowledge on electrical safety and electrostatic discharge (ESD) prevention. This quiz covers essential guidelines for handling computer components safely and understanding the importance of form factors. Ensure you're well-versed in practices that protect both you and your devices.
