Name Key

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Personal Computer

Section 1.1.2 1. What exam is required as part of the A+ certification? CompTIA A+ Essentials 2. What other exams make up the A+ certification? IT Technician Remote Support Technician Depot Technician Section 1.2 3. A computer system consists of hardware and so tware components . 4. !ardware is the physica equipment such as the case! stora"e dri#es! key$oards! monitors! ca$ es! speakers! and printers. %. &he term so tware inc udes the operatin" system and pro"rams. '. &he operatin" system instructs the computer ho( to operate. &hese operations may inc ude identifyin"! accessin"! and processin" information. Section 1.3 ). A po(er supp y con#erts AC to DC. Section 1.3.1 *. &he si+e and ayout of a computer case is kno(n as a orm actor. ,. What three thin"s shou d a computer case pro#ide? a. support and protection rom the en#ironment $. coolin" c. protection rom static electricity 1-. What three factors must $e considered (hen choosin" a computer case? a. the si$e o the mother%oard $. the num%er o e&ternal or internal dri#e locations called %ays c. a#aila%le space 1

Section 1.3.2 11. What does the term .keyed/ mean on connectors? Keyed connectors are desi"ned to %e inserted in only one direction' Section 1.3.2! 0i"ure 2 12. 1omp ete the fo o(in" chart2 4o ta"e Wire 1o or (ellow 5se 3o(er Supp y 0orm A& A&6 A&6#12

+124

Dis) dri#e motors* ans* coolin" de#ices* and the system %us slots Some types o serial port circuits and early pro"ramma%le read only memory ,PR-./

7124

+lue

+3.34

-ran"e

.ost newer CP0s* some types o system memory* and A1P #ideo cards

+%4

Red

.other%oard* +a%y AT and earlier CP0s* and many mother%oard components

7%4

2hite

ISA %us cards and early PR-.s

-4

+lac)

1round 3 0sed to complete circuits with the other #olta"es

Section 1.3.2 13. A mo ex connector is used to connect an optical dri#e or a hard dri#e. 14. A $er" connector is used to connect a loppy dri#e. 15. A 2-7pin or 247pin s otted connector is used to connect to connect to the mother%oard. The 456pin slotted connector has two rows o 146pins each* and the 476pin slotted connector has two rows o 176pins each' 1'. 8 der A& mother$oard connectors used (hat type of connectors? P8 and P9 1). When the A& mother$oard connectors (ere insta ed! (hat (ires needed to $e to"ether? %lac) wires 1*. 9f you ha#e a difficu t time insertin" a connector! (hat mi"ht $e the pro$ em? Try a di erent way* or chec) to ma)e sure that there are no %ent pins or orei"n o%:ects in the way' 19. :efine #o ta"e2 ;olta"e is a measure o the orce re<uired to push electrons throu"h a circuit' 2-. ;o( is #o ta"e measured? ;olts 21. :efine current2 Current is a measure o the amount o electrons "oin" throu"h a circuit' 22. ;o( is current measured? in amps 23. :efine po(er2 Power is a measure o the pressure re<uired to push electrons throu"h a circuit* called #olta"e* multiplied %y the num%er o electrons "oin" throu"h that circuit* called current' 24. ;o( is po(er measured? in watts 2%. :efine resistance2 Resistance is the opposition to the low o current in a circuit' 2'. ;o( is resistance measured? in ohms 2). 1omputers norma y use po(er supp ies ran"in" from 4777W to =777W. ;o(e#er! some computers may need =777W to 8777W po(er supp ies.

Section 1.4.1 2*. A mother$oard is a so kno(n as the system %oard! the %ac) plane! or the main %oard. 2,. What can $e found on a mother$oard? a. CP0 $. RA. c. e&pansion slots d. heat sin)> an assem%ly e. +I-S chip f. chip set ". em%edded wires that interconnect the mother%oard components h. Soc)ets* internal and e&ternal connectors* and #arious ports are also placed on the mother%oard' 3-. What is the function of the chipset on a mother$oard? The chip set o a mother%oard allows the CP0 to communicate and interact with the other components o the computer* and to e&chan"e data with system memory* or RA.* hard dis) dri#es* #ideo cards* and other output de#ices' The chip set esta%lishes how much memory can %e added to a mother%oard' The chip set also determines the type o connectors on the mother%oard' 31. What are the t(o distinct components of the chipset? ?orth%rid"e and South%rid"e 32. What does the North$rid"e contro ? access to the RA.* #ideo card* and the speeds at which the CP0 can communicate with them' The #ideo card is sometimes inte"rated into the ?orth%rid"e' 33. What does the South$rid"e contro ? The South%rid"e allows the CP0 to communicate with the hard dri#es* sound card* 0S+ ports* and other I>- ports'

Section 1.4.2! 0i"ure 1 34. What three socket types are supported $y 3entium 4 c ass 135s? a. Soc)et 54@ $. Soc)et 5A8 c. Soc)et T ,B1AAA=/ 3%. A<: =) c ass 135s use t(o (hat socket specifications? a. Slot A $. Soc)et A ,5C4/ 3'. A<: =* c ass 135s use (hat three socket specifications? a. Soc)et AC5 $. Soc)et 9@9 c. Soc)et 957 Section 1.4.2 3). Whi e the 135 is executin" one step of the instruction set pro"ram! (here are the remainin" instructions and the data stored? in cache 3*. What are the t(o ma>or 135 architectures re ated to instruction sets2 a' Reduced Instruction Set Computer ,RISC/ 3 Architectures use a relati#ely small set o instructions* and RISC chips are desi"ned to e&ecute these instructions #ery rapidly' %' Comple& Instruction Set Computer ,CISC/ 3 Architectures use a %road set o instructions* resultin" in ewer steps per operation' 3,. :escri$e hyperthreadin"2 The CP0 has multiple pieces o code %ein" e&ecuted simultaneously on each pipeline' To an operatin" system* a sin"le CP0 with hyperthreadin" appears to %e two CP0s' 4-. ;o( is the speed of current 135s rated? in millions o cycles per second

41. &he amount of data that a 135 can process at the one time depends on the si+e of the processor data $us. &his is a so ca ed the 135 $us or the ront side %us. &he (ider the processor data $us (idth! the more po(erfu the processor is. 1urrent processors ha#e a @47$it or a C57$it processor data $us. 42. :escri$e o#erc ockin"2 -#ercloc)in" is a techni<ue used to ma)e a processor wor) at a aster speed than its ori"inal speci ication' 43. What is <<6? ..D is a set o multimedia instructions %uilt into Intel processors' ..D ena%led microprocessors can handle many common multimedia operations that are normally handled %y a separate sound or #ideo card' 44. :escri$e a sin" e core 1352 -ne core inside a sin"le CP0 chip that handles all o the processin" capa%ility' 4%. :escri$e a dua core 1352 Two cores inside a sin"le CP0 chip in which %oth cores can process in ormation at the same time' Section 1.4.3 4'. What components dra( heat off the 135 and other computer periphera s? ans and heat sin)s Section 1.4.4 4). What is stored in ?8<E %asic instructions or %ootin" the computer and loadin" the operatin" system Section 1.4.4! 0i"ure 1 4*. :escri$e an @@3?8<? Electronically erasa%le pro"ramma%le read6only memoryF an EEPR-. chip can %e erased and re6written without ha#in" to remo#e the chip rom the computer ,called Glash R-.s/ 4,. :escri$e ?A<2 Random access memory ,RA./ is the temporary stora"e or data and pro"rams that are %ein" accessed %y the CP0' RA. is #olatile memory* which means that the contents are erased when the computer is powered o ' %-. 9s the contents of ?A< ost (hen a computer is po(ered off? yes 6

Section 1.4.4! 0i"ure 3 %1. What t(o confi"urations are a#ai a$ e in S9<<S? @76pin and A46pin %2. ;o( many pins are on S:?A< modu es? 1C8 pins %3. ;o( many pins are on ::? :9<< modu es? 185 pins %4. ;o( many pins are on ::?2 :9<< modu es? 457 pins %%. ;o( many pins are on ?A< Aus 9n ine <emory <odu es B?9<<SC? 185 pins %'. :escri$e S?A<2 SRA. is used as cache memory to store the most re<uently used data' SRA. pro#ides the processor with aster access to the data than retrie#in" it rom the slower DRA.* or main memory' Section 1.4.4! 0i"ure 4 %). :escri$e D1 cache2 internal cache inte"rated into the CP0 %*. :escri$e D2 cache2 e&ternal cache and was ori"inally mounted on the mother%oard near the CP0' B4 is now inte"rated into the CP0' %,. :escri$e D3 cache2 used on some hi"h6end wor)stations and ser#er CP0s Section 1.4.4! 0i"ure % '-. :escri$e nonparity error checkin"2 does not chec) or errors in memory '1. :escri$e parity error checkin"2 contains ei"ht %its or data and one %it or error chec)in"F the error6chec)in" %it is called a parity %it '2. :escri$e @112 can detect multiple %it errors in memory and correct sin"le %it errors in memory Section 1.4.% '3. :escri$e the fo o(in" adapter cards2 N91 Wire ess N91 connects a computer to a networ) usin" a networ) ca%le connects a computer to a networ) usin" radio re<uencies

Sound adapter pro#ides audio capa%ility 4ideo adapter pro#ides "raphic capa%ility

<odem adapter connects a computer to the Internet usin" a phone line

S1S9 adapter ?A9: adapter 5SA port 3ara e port Seria port

connects SCSI de#ices* such as hard dri#es or tape dri#es* to a computer connects multiple hard dri#es to a computer to pro#ide redundancy and to impro#e per ormance connects a computer to peripheral de#ices connects a computer to peripheral de#ices connects a computer to peripheral de#ices

Section 1.4.%! 0i"ure 2 '4. :escri$e the fo o(in" expansion s ots2 9SA @9SA <1A 319 AE3 3197@xpress Industry Standard ArchitectureHan 86%it or 1C6%it e&pansion slot E&tended Industry Standard ArchitectureHa @46%it e&pansion slot .icrochannel ArchitectureHan I+. proprietary @46%it e&pansion slot Peripheral Component InterconnectHa @46%it or C56%it e&pansion slot Ad#anced 1raphics PortHa @46%it e&pansion slot or #ideo adapters a serial %us e&pansion slotHhas &1* &5* &8* and &1C slots

Section 1.4.' '%. What are some common types of stora"e de#ices? a. loppy dri#e $. hard dri#e c. optical dri#e d. lash dri#e e. networ) dri#e ''. ;o( much data can a f oppy dri#e store? 1'55.+ '). What is the defau t dri#e etter for a hard dri#e? C: 8

'*. &he stora"e capacity of a hard dri#e is measured in 1+s. ',. ;o( is the speed of a hard dri#e measured? RP.s )-. What are the t(o types of optica dri#es? CD and D;D )1. ;o( much can $e stored on a 1: dri#e? A77.+ )2. ;o( much can $e stored on a :4: dri#e? 8'=1+ on one side 1A1+ on two sides )3. :escri$e the fo o(in"2 1: 1:7? 1:7?W :4:7?8< :4:7?A< :4:+F7? :4:+F7?W CD read6only memory media that is pre6recorded CD6recorda%le media that can %e recorded once CD6rewrita%le media that can %e recorded* erased* and re6 recorded D;D read6only memory media that is pre6recorded D;D6random access memory media that can %e recorded* erased* and re6recorded D;D6recorda%le media that can %e recorded once D;D6rewrita%le media that can %e recorded* erased* and re6 recorded

)4. :escri$e the fo o(in" interfaces2 9:@ Inte"rated Dri#e Electronics* also called Ad#anced Technolo"y Attachment ,ATA/ is an early dri#e controller inter ace that connects computers and hard dis) dri#es' An IDE inter ace uses a 576pin connector' Enhanced Inte"rated Dri#e Electronics* also called ATA64* is an updated #ersion o the IDE dri#e controller inter ace' EIDE supports hard dri#es lar"er than =14 .+* ena%les Direct .emory Access ,D.A/ or speed* and uses the AT Attachment Pac)et Inter ace ,ATAPI/ to accommodate optical dri#es and tape dri#es on the EIDE %us' An EIDE inter ace uses a 576pin connector' Parallel ATA re ers to the parallel #ersion o the ATA dri#e controller inter ace' Serial ATA re ers to the serial #ersion o the ATA dri#e controller inter ace' A SATA inter ace uses a A6pin connector' 9

@9:@

3A&A SA&A

S1S9

Small Computer System Inter ace is a dri#e controller inter ace that can connect up to 1= dri#es' SCSI can connect %oth internal and e&ternal dri#es' An SCSI inter ace uses a =76pin* C86pin* or 876pin connector'

Section 1.4.) )%. :escri$e the fo o(in"2 0 oppy disk dri#e data ca$ e Data ca%le has up to two @56pin dri#e connectors and one @56pin connector or the dri#e controller' 3A&A B9:@C data ca$ e Parallel ATA data ca%le has 57 conductors* up to two 576pin connectors or dri#es* and one 576pin connector or the dri#e controller' Parallel ATA data ca%le has 87 conductors* up to two 576pin connectors or dri#es* and one 576pin connector or the dri#e controller' Serial ATA data ca%le has se#en conductors* one )eyed connector or the dri#e* and one )eyed connector the dri#e controller' There are three types o SCSI data ca%les' A narrow SCSI data ca%le has =76conductors* up to se#en =76 pin connectors or dri#es* and one =76pin connector or the dri#e controller* also called the host adapter' A wide SCSI data ca%le has C86conductors* up to i teen C86pin connectors or dri#es* and one C86pin connector or the host adapter' An Alt65 SCSI data ca%le has 876conductors* up to I1=I 876pin connectors or dri#es* and one 876pin connector or the host adapter'

PATA B@9:@C data ca$ e

SA&A data ca$ e

S1S9 data ca$ e

)'. What does a co ored stripe on a ca$ e indicate? Pin 1 on the ca%le Section 1.% )). :escri$e seria ports and ca$ es A serial port can %e either a D+69 or a D+64= male connector' )*. ;o( many $its does a seria port transmit at one time? one %it o data at a time ),. What de#ices use seria ports? modem or printer *-. What is the maximum en"th of a seria ca$ e? =7 eet

10

*1. 5SA de#ices are .hot7s(appa$ e./ What does .hot7s(appa$ e mean/? can connect and disconnect the de#ices while the computer is powered on *2. What type of de#ices are connected to computers usin" 5SA? cameras* printers* scanners* stora"e de#ices* and many other electronic de#ices *3. A sin" e 5SA port in a computer can support up to 14A separate de#ices (ith the use of mu tip e 5SA hu$s. *4. 5SA 1.1 a o(ed transmission rates of up to 14 <$ps in fu 7speed mode and 1'= <$ps in o( speed mode. 5SA 2.- a o(s transmission speeds up to 587 <$ps. *%. A sin" e 0ireWire port in a computer can support up to C@ de#ices. *'. 0ireWire uses the 1@95 standard and is a so kno(n as i.Dink. *). &he 9@@@ 13,4a standard supports data rates up to 577 <$ps and ca$ e en"ths up to 1= feet B4.% mC. &his standard uses a 57pin connector or a C7pin connector. &he 9@@@ 13,4$ standard supports data rates in excess of 877 <$ps and uses a 97pin connector. **. A para e ca$ e has a :A74= fema e connector on one end and a Type + @C7pin Centronics connector on the other end. ,Some newer printers may use a Type C hi"h6density @C6pin connector'/ *,. 3ara e ports can transmit 8 $its of data at one time and use the 9@@@ 1485 standard. ,-. A S1S9 port can transmit data at rates in excess of @47 <$ps and can support up to 1= de#ices. ,1. 9f a sin" e S1S9 de#ice is connected to an S1S9 port! the ca$ e can $e up to 87 feet B24.4 mC in en"th. 9f mu tip e S1S9 de#ices are connected to an S1S9 port! the ca$ e can $e up to 57 B12.2 mC feet in en"th.

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,2. What are the three types of S1S9 ports? D+64= emale connector !i"h6density =76pin emale connector !i"h6density C86pin emale connector ,3. S1S9 de#ices must $e terminated at $oth ends of the S1S9 chain. ,4. A net(ork port is a so kno(n as a RJ65= port. ,%. Standard @thernet can transmit up to 17 <$ps! 0ast @thernet can transmit up to 177 <$ps! and Ei"a$it @thernet can transmit up to 1777 <$ps. &he maximum en"th of net(ork ca$ e is @48 feet B1-- mC. ,'. &he 3SF2 port is a C7pin mini7:9N fema e connector. ,). :escri$e the fo o(in" audio ports2 Dine in <icrophone Dine out EameportF<idi connects to an e&ternal source* such as a stereo system connects to a microphone connects to spea)ers or headphones connects to a :oystic) or .IDI6inter aced de#ice

,*. :escri$e the fo o(in" #ideo ports2 4EA :49 has a @6row 1=6pin emale connector and pro#ides analo" output to a monitor has a 456pin emale connector or a 496pin emale connector and pro#ides a compressed di"ital output to a monitor' D;I6 I pro#ides %oth analo" and di"ital si"nals' D;I6D pro#ides di"ital si"nals only' has a 196pin connector and pro#ides di"ital #ideo and di"ital audio si"nals has a 56pin connector and pro#ides analo" #ideo si"nals has three shielded ca%les ,red* "reen* %lue/ with RCA :ac)s and pro#ides analo" #ideo si"nals 12

;:<i S74ideo 1omponentF?EA

Section 1.) ,,. What is a 1?&? Cathode6ray tu%e monitor is the most common monitor type' Red* "reen* and %lue electron %eams mo#e %ac) and orth across the phosphorous6coated screen' The phosphor "lows when struc) %y the electron %eam' Areas not struc) %y the electron %eam do not "low' The com%ination o "lowin" and non6"lowin" areas is what creates the ima"e on the screen' .ost tele#isions also use this technolo"y' 1--. What are the t(o forms that D1:s come in? acti#e matri& and passi#e matri& 1-1. What does .pixe / stand forE an a%%re#iation or picture element' Pi&els are the tiny dots that comprise a screen' Each pi&el consists o red* "reen* and %lue' 102. What is dot pitch? the distance %etween pi&els on the screen' A lower dot pitch num%er produces a %etter ima"e'

1-3. Which dot pitch is $etterG o(er or hi"her? lower dot pitch 1-4. What is .refresh rate/? is how o ten per second the ima"e is re%uilt' A hi"her re resh rate produces a %etter ima"e and reduces the le#el o lic)er' 1-%. <ost 1?& monitors today are non6interlaced. 1-'. What is aspect ratio? the hori$ontal to #ertical measurement o the #iewin" area o a monitor' Gor e&ample* a 5:@ aspect ratio would apply to a #iewin" area that is 1C inches wide %y 14 inches hi"h' A 5:@ aspect radio would also apply to a #iewin" area that is 45 inches wide %y 18 inches hi"h' A #iewin" area that is 44 inches wide %y 14 inches hi"h has an aspect ratio o 11:C' Section 1.)! 0i"ure 2 1-). What is the standard disp ay of 4EA? C57 & 587 1-*. What is the standard disp ay of S4EA? 877 & C77 Section 1.* 1-,. Why are 9?Hs used? IRKs are used %y computer components to re<uest in ormation rom the CP0' The IRK tra#els alon" a wire on the mother%oard to the CP0' 2hen the CP0 recei#es an interrupt re<uest* the CP0 determines how to ul ill this re<uest' The priority o the re<uest is determined %y the IRK num%er assi"ned to that computer component'

13

Section 1.*! 0i"ure 1 11-. Dist common 9?Hs2 IRK 1 2 3 4 % ' ) * , 111 12 13 14 1% Standard Gunction System Timer Key%oard Controller 4nd IRK Controller Cascade Serial 4 ,C-.4:/ Serial 1 ,C-.1:/ Sound>Parallel 4 ,BPT4:/ Gloppy Dri#e Controller Parallel 1 ,BPT1:/ Real6Time Cloc) A#aila%le ,as IRK4 or IRK9/ A#aila%le A#aila%le .ouse Port>A#aila%le .ath Coprocessor Primary IDE Secondary IDE

111. Why are 9F8 port addresses used? to communicate %etween de#ices and so tware' The I>- port address is used to send and recei#e data or a component' As with IRKs* each component will ha#e a uni<ue I>- port assi"ned' 112. ;o( many 9F8 addresses are there in a computer? C=*=@= 113. ;o( are they referenced? %y a he&adecimal address in the ran"e o 7777h to GGGGh Section 1.*! 0i"ure 2 114. Dist common 9F8 addresses2 De#ice 18<1 18<2 18<3 18<4 D3&1 D3&2 I>- Port Address @G8 4G8 @E8 4E8 @A8 4A8

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Section 1.* 11%. What are :<A channe sE used %y hi"h6speed de#ices to communicate directly with main memory' These channels allow the de#ice to %ypass interaction with the CP0 and directly store and retrie#e in ormation rom memory' -nly certain de#ices can %e assi"ned a D.A channel* such as SCSI host adapters and sound cards' Section 1.*! 0i"ure 3 11'. Dist common :<A channe s2 D.A Channe 1 2 3 4 % ' ) Recommended 0se Sound Sound Gloppy Dri#e Controller BPT1: in ECP .ode Cascade or D.A 76@ Sound A#aila%le A#aila%le

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