1.
During the start-up of the system, the Plug and Play process collects information about all the intelligent devices in the system. Where is this information stored.
Correct Answer
A. In the Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) area of the CMOS RAM
Explanation
The BIOS stores the PnP Information it collects from the devices in a special section of the CMOS RAM known as ESCD area.
2.
What factors must be taken into account when ordering a new power supply for a desktop PC?
Correct Answer
A. Form factor and wattage
Explanation
The major difference between power supply types is in their form factors. Different power supply form factors produce power supplies that are smaller in size than other power supply form factors, and their hole patterns are different. Another point that differentiates power supplies is their power (or wattage) rating. Typical power ratings include 450 watt, 500 watt, and greater versions. Voltage is generally not a decision point. When you buy a power supply for a PC you generally do not have the option a 110 Vac versus a 220 Vac supply. Typically PC power supplies offer a voltage selector switch and exchangeable power cable connection to handle this function.
3.
What is the purpose of parity?
Correct Answer
D. To detect memory errors
Explanation
Parity checking is a simple self-test used to detect RAM read-back errors.
4.
What does ECC RAM do that other RAM types do not?
Correct Answer
B. ECC RAM detects memory errors and corrects them
Explanation
The ECC RAM detects and corrects errors in the information it processes.
5.
When you are discussing the memory capacity of a memory module the capacity is specified in
Correct Answer
C. Bytes
Explanation
The capacity of memory modules is specified in bytes. however, teh geometry of the device involves an x-by-y format that corresponds to word size. A 512MB memory module designed to work directly with a 64-bit microprocessor would be designed to deliver data in 8-byte words (64 bits x 8 million words). Under this format the capacity of the device in bytes is derived by multiplying the two numbers and then dividing by eight or nine for parity chips.
6.
How many devices can a single USB hub support?
Correct Answer
C. 127
Explanation
The USB bus is a high-speed serial interface that has been developed to provide a fast, flexible method of attaching up to 127 peripheral devices to the computer. USB peripherals can be daisy-chained or networked together using connection hubs that enable the bus to branch out through additional port connections.
7.
Your are helping a user over the phone and you need to have the user plug in his/her SVGA monitor. how would you describe the connector and number of pins in the SVGA connector?
Correct Answer
A. 15-pin, 3-row D Shell
Explanation
The monitor is attached to the video adapter card in the system unit via a signal cable or cables. The signal cable permits the monitor to be positioned away from the system unit if desired. With most CRT monitors, the signal cable is permanently attached to the monitor and plugs in to the video adapter card using a 3-row, 15-pin D-shell connector.
8.
How is the information stored in the system's BIOS updated? Select all that apply
Correct Answer
A. By pHysically removing and replacing the BIOS device on the system board.
Explanation
Answers A & C. When the microprocessor is upgraded the BIOS should be flashed with the latest compatibility firmware, If the BIOS does not possess the flash option and does not support the new microprocessor a new BIOS chip that does support it must be obtained and installed. If not then the whole system needs replaced.
9.
Which one of the following types of memory can be used to permanently store data and instructions that do not change?
Correct Answer
B. ROM devices
Explanation
ROM devices store information permanently and are used to hold programs and data that does not change. RAM devices retain the information stored in them only as long as electrical power is applied to the IC. This is referred to as volatile memory, ROM on the other hand is nonvolatile.
10.
What is the stated clock speed for a DDR 3200 double-pumped DIMM?
Correct Answer
B. 200MHz
Explanation
The PC3200 double data rate module is designed for use with a double-pumped front-side bus that runs on a 400MHz effective FSB. To understand this relationship, consider that DDR memory chips used to make DDR modules and they are designed to transfer data on both the rising and falling edges of the memory bus's squarewave clock signal. This means that these devices transfer at twice the actual bus frequency.
11.
You are upgrading your PC significantly and need to install an upgrade power supply to handle all the new equipment you have installed. You use the Internet to check pricing and features and find thousands of power supplies listed. What specification is key in choosing a new power supply for the system?
Correct Answer
D. Wattage
Explanation
When you are upgrading power supplies, power consumption (expressed as wattage rating) is important so that enough power is delivered to drive all components installed.
12.
What system board structure makes it easy to install upgrade processors in a system?
Correct Answer
B. A ZIF socket
Explanation
Special Zero Insertion Force sockets are designed to allow the microprocessor to be set in the socket without force and then be clamped in place. An arm-activated clamping mechanism in the socket shifts to the side, locking the pins into place.
13.
How many wires are there in a standard IDE signal cable?
Correct Answer
B. 40
Explanation
The original IDE interface used a single 40-pin ribbon cable to connect the hard drive to the host adapter card or system board and supported a maximum throughput of 8.3 MBps.
14.
The mechanism in a CD-ROM/DVD drive is reponsible for positioning the drive's Read mechanism in the correct position is the?
Correct Answer
D. Head actuator
Explanation
CD-ROM/DVD drives have an actuator motor that moves the laser/detector module in and out under the disc.
15.
Which of the following devices is based on Flash memory technology?
Correct Answer
A. SD cards
Explanation
Secure Digital (SD) is a flash memory card format used in a variety of different portable devices, including notebook computers, digital cameras and PDAs.
16.
Which of the following would a high-level game player most likely choose for a video card?
Correct Answer
B. 256MB PCIe card
Explanation
PCI express (PCIe) slots are a collection of high-speed serial versions of the PCI bus standard. These PCI versions employ new slot specifications that are not compatible with older PCI devices. PCIe pushes performance levels to 2.5GHz and data transfer rates bgetween 250MBps and 32GBps. high-end video adapter cards such as thse used by artists and serious game players are designed to plug into more advanced PCI-X or PCIe slots.
17.
You are asked to upgrade a customer's PC at his place of business and no one can remember the Supervisor password to get into the machine. how can you reset the password to gain access to the system and perform the upgrade?
Correct Answer
C. Remove the CMOS backup battery and unplug the system from the power source for a minute
Explanation
You must remove the backup battery or short across the reset jumper to reset the CMOS information. It is also necessary to unplug the power from the commercial outlet to reduce the voltage to the CMOS registers. When the content of the CMOS is reset, you must manually restore any none-default CMOS settings being used by the system.
18.
What part of a hard disk drive reads the information stored on a disk?
Correct Answer
B. The R/W head mechanism
Explanation
To perform a read or write operation, the address of the particular track and sector to be access is applied to a stepper motor, which moves a Read/Write head over the desired track. As the desired sector passes beneath the R/W head the data transfer happens.
19.
A computer system with a 1GHz CPU installed is operating at only 700MHz. What is most likely the problem?
Correct Answer
A. The processor is employing CPU throttling to operate more efficiently
Explanation
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology enables the operating system software to dynamically control the clock speed of a processor. This feature allows the system to speed up the processor when higher performance is required and then slow it down to a lower power xconsumption speed, when demands on the processor are lower. This trhottling technique is used to conserve battery power in noteboods, and extend processor life and reduce noise from cooling devices. Like dual core Intel processors, the Athlon 64X2 supports a 64-bit extension to the x86 instruction set, enhanced virus protection with supported operating systems, and speed throttling features.
20.
What is a 3-1/2 floppy is best used for?
Correct Answer
D. Booting a failing system to a command prompt
Explanation
Few new desktop and tower PCs include a floppy drive as a standard component. Re-writable CD's and Flash drives have replaced the floppy disk in many cases, however floppies are still widely used to boot oder PC systems to a command prompt for troubleshooting.
21.
How many pins are in a USB connector
Correct Answer
B. 4
Explanation
USB transfers are conducted over a four-wire cables. The signal travels over a pair of twisted wires (D+ and D-) in a 90-ohm cable. The four wires are connected to four pins within the connector end.
22.
How many pins are in a SVGA connector?
Correct Answer
B. 15
Explanation
The most widely used display device for current PCs is the color VGA/SVGA display. The display monitor's signal cable normally connects to a 15-pin 3-row femal D-shell (DE-15F connector at the back of the system unit.
23.
Which portion of the PC system is responsible for controlling the operating temperature of the microprocessor?
Correct Answer
D. The Health Management portion of the BIOS
Explanation
The BIOS controls the cooling system through its Health Management system. This includes monitoring the actual temperature of the microprocessor and manipulating the cooling system to maintain a designated temperature leve.
24.
Cache memory is used to
Correct Answer
A. Increase the speed of memory access
Explanation
Cache memory is a fast RAM system used to hold information that the microprocessor is like to use.
25.
What type of device would you expect to find in an AGP slot?
Correct Answer
D. A video adapter card
Explanation
Many Pentium system boards include an AGP interface connector for video adapter cards.