CompTIA A+ 220-1201: 6th Set of Videos

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)

A parallel communication interface that sends multiple bits of data simultaneously.

PCIe (PCI Express)

A serial communication interface using bidirectional lanes for high-speed data transfer.

PCIe Notation (e.g., ×16)

The number of lanes in a slot; ×16 has 16 bidirectional lanes.

PCIe Lane Compatibility

Backward compatibility allowing a smaller PCIe card (e.g., ×1) to work in a larger slot.

Front Panel Pin Headers

Tiny 2-pin connectors on the motherboard for power buttons, reset switches, and LEDs.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

A hardware security chip used for encryption, BitLocker, and hardware authentication.

PCIe 6-pin vs. 8-pin Power

Connectors providing 75W and 150W respectively to high-end GPUs.

Motherboard 24-pin Connector

The main power connector; often includes a detachable 4-pin section for 20-pin compatibility.

ZIF (Zero Insertion Force)

A socket design where a CPU is dropped in and locked with a lever.

Multisocket Motherboard

A board with two or more physical CPU sockets, typically used in high-power servers.

19-inch Rack

The standard width for data center equipment like servers, switches, and patch panels.

POST (Power-On Self-Test)

A diagnostic process run by the BIOS to check for hardware failures before booting.

UEFI vs. Legacy BIOS

UEFI supports mouse input, GUI, Secure Boot, and GPT disks over 2TB.

BIOS Flash Memory

The non-volatile memory that allows BIOS firmware to be updated or "flashed."

CPU Virtualization Extensions

Settings (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) that must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI to run VMs.

HSM (Hardware Security Module)

A dedicated appliance for centralized enterprise key management and accelerated cryptography.

TPM vs. HSM Scope

TPM protects a single local device; HSM protects multiple systems or network infrastructure.

Root of Trust

A hardware foundation (like a TPM) used to verify device identity and security.

32-bit (x86) RAM Limit

Architecture limited to referencing approximately 4 GB of RAM.

64-bit (x64) RAM Limit

Architecture capable of referencing 2⁶⁴ addresses (roughly 17 billion GB of memory).

ARM (Advanced RISC Machine)

An efficient, low-power architecture dominant in mobile phones and tablets.

RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing)

A CPU design focusing on simpler instructions and high efficiency.

CPU Core

An individual processing unit inside a CPU that executes instructions independently.

CPU Cache Memory

High-speed temporary memory inside the CPU that stores frequently used data.

CPU Die

The physical silicon chip inside the processor package containing the circuitry.