A+ Jason Dion (220-1101) Complete Course Exam with complete accurate questions and answers ( 2025-2026 latest release )

IoT (Internet of Things)

a large network of physical objects including sensors and equipment

driver

A small program that instructs the operating system on how to operate specific hardware.

Frimware

Specialized type of software on a chip

Troubleshoot Steps

Identify the problem

Theory

Set up Plan

Verify full system function

Document finding

what is

B=

b=

B= Byet

b= bit

DB9

connectors used for a mouse

DVI

Digital Visual Interface - used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller, to a display device, such as a computer monitor.

DVI-D

A DVI (Digital Visual Interface) video port that works only with digital monitors.

DVI-A (Analog)

Provides an analog video signal. Used by older HDTVs. Cables typically have a DVI-A connector on one end and a VGA connector on the other. Maximum supported resolution of 1920 × 1200 @ 60 Hz

DVI-I

A DVI (Digital Visual Interface) video port that supports both analog and digital monitors.

PATA

flat parallel connectors

Molex power connector

A 4-pin power connector used to provide power to a PATA hard drive or optical drive.

how long is USB 1.0

3 meters

how long is USB 1.1

how long is USB 2.0

temporary storage

RAM / Non persistent

how long is USB 3.0 and how long is USB 4

permanent storage

Permanent storage remains active when the computer is on and when it is off. Hard drives and solid state drives are permanent storage devices.

volatile storage

Temporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.

non-volatile storage

Storage which does not lose its contents when the power is removed.

ATX Motherboard

Most popular motherboard type, 12 in X 9.6 in

Mini-ATX

A smaller variation of the ATX standard.

• Measures 11.2" x 8.2"

• Lower number of bus and possibly memory slots on the motherboard.

• Mounting holes for both are located in the same place.

Micro-ATX

A smaller variation of the ATX standard.

• Maximum size of 9.6" x 9.6".

Designed to keep the same benefits of ATX but reduce overall cost. Less I/O slots and smaller motherboard. Still good for games.

• Mounting holes for both are located in the same place.

ITX (Information Technology Extended)

Smaller form factor than any ATX, this form factor was released to meet the needs of very small (SFF-Small Form Factor) PCs.

Nano/Pico/Mobile ITX

used for Smart phones/ smart devices

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The internal operating unit or "brain" of a computer.

x86 processors

A family of processors manufactured by Intel and AMD that use a common instruction set (list of commands that the processor can execute).

uses a 8, 16, 32 bit processor

x64

Indicates a 64-bit processor supporting a 64-bit operating system. 64-bit versions of Windows can run on x64-based systems.

Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Processors

ARM processors use a reduced instruction set, which means they can't do as many types of things as x86 processors. The tradeoff is that they are smaller, consume less power, and generate less heat.

CPU Socket

The connector on the motherboard that houses a CPU and forms the electrical interface and contact with the CPU.

ZIF

Zero Insertion Force

Land Grid Array (LGA)

-Does not contain any pins

-CPU is completely flat

-All pins are located on the motherboard CPU socket

-Possible damage to the CPU socket if objects are dropped onto it (pins can bend)

pin grid array (PGA)

-Many pins that are underneath the CPU

-CPU socket matches the pins on the CPU

-Plugs into a ZIF socket

-Possible damage to the CPU if not inserted correctly

multi socket plug

multiples CPus in a motherboard go in to a

Hyper-Threading

A CPU technology that allows two threads to execute at the same time within a single execution core. This technology is considered to be partially parallel execution. Intel introduced it in the Pentium 4 Xeon CPU. Also known as simultaneous multithreading (SMT). (1)

SMP

Symmetric Multiprocessing / used on workstations

Multi-Processor

More than one processor sharing same memory, also know as parallel systems

dual-core processor

a single chip that contains two separate processors.

quad processor

computer with 4 CPUs

hexa-core

6 cores on single chip

Extended Page Table (EPT)

The term used for SLAT extensions by Intel.

slat

Nested Page Tables supported when Intel® Virtualization Technology

Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI)

The term used for SLAT extensions by AMD.

PCIe (PCI Express)

a faster version of PCI used to connect peripheral devices to a computer

common PCie used today

x-1 and x-16

what is PCie x1 used for ?

network cards, modems and input/ output systems

what is PCie x16 used for ?

Graphic cards

how much watts does Pcie x1 provide

25 watts

how much watts does PCIE x16 provide

75 watts

un-plugging / PCIe

putting smaller card in larger port

down-plugging

putting larger cards in smaller slots

Mini PCI Express

A standard used for laptop internal expansion slots that follows the PCI Express standards applied to laptops.

video card (graphics card)

combines video processing and storage onto an expansion card, or integrates them onto the motherboard to manage video images for display

GPU (graphics processing unit)

A processor on a video card used to create graphics. It takes the load off the CPU.

high-speed memory

Dedicated video cards can store data on their own using ___________.

Graphic Port

installed outside of the card

tv capture card

Cables are plugged in to computer to get cable tv

Audio card (sound card)

Gives better Output Audio

Riser Card

A card that plugs into a motherboard and allows for expansion cards to be mounted parallel to the motherboard. Expansion cards are plugged into slots on the riser card.

A "thermal" load is a load that is created through ___

A set of items inside of a CPU heating up

Passive Cooling

A type of cooling process which does not use a fan or other type of forced-air cooling.

Active Cooling

A type of cooling process in which a fan is mounted directly onto a heatsink for forced-air cooling.

Liquid Cooling

A method of cooling a PC that works by running some liquid—

usually water—through a metal block that sits on top of the CPU, absorbing heat. The

liquid gets heated by the block, runs out of the block and into something that cools the

liquid, and is then pumped through the block again.

Closed Loop System

cooling of a sinlge component

Open Loop System

Liquid cooling based system of diffrent things

PSU

Power Supply Unit

AC

alternating current

ATX

A standard PC case, motherboard, and power supply specification. Mini-, Micro-, and Flex-ATX specify smaller board designs. with a 20 pin connector

ATX 12V

24 PIN mother board

Molex connector

Computer power connector used by optical drives, hard drives, and case fans. Keyed to prevent it from being inserted into a power port improperly.

Y connector

A connector that has three wires with a connector on the end of each. All the wires are tied together in the middle. The three ends of a Y-connector are used to split one signal into two signals, or to combine two signals into one.

USA voltage

120

Europe and Asia voltage

230

volt sensing

Detects the outlet and converts

12 VDC Rail

common rail used in PC

RAM

Random Access Memory

Addressing memory

Processor reaching the files inside RAM

cache

High speed Memory

mass storage devices

Devices such as file servers, RAID systems, tape libraries, optical jukeboxes, and more.

disk cache

Storage space on a computer hard disk used to temporarily store downloaded data.

Addressing Memory

Processor reaching the files inside RAM

single channel memory