CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Domain 3 Review

Flashcards covering display technologies, networking, storage, hardware, and printer concepts for the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 Domain 3 exam.

IPS (In-Plane Switching)

A display type known for providing the best color accuracy and wide viewing angles.

TN (Twisted Nematic)

An LCD type known for being fast and having the highest refresh rates, making them ideal for gaming.

VA (Vertical Alignment)

A display that offers high contrast ratios and deep blacks, serving as a middle ground between TN speed and IPS color.

Resolution

Measures the total number of pixels (width $\times$ height) on a screen.

Refresh Rate

The number of times per second (measured in $Hz$) the screen updates its image, affecting the smoothness of motion.

UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)

Ethernet cabling used in standard indoor environments with normal/minimal interference.

STP (Shielded Twisted Pair)

Ethernet cabling designed for environments with high electromagnetic interference (EMI).

T568A and T568B

Standards that define the arrangement of internal wires for an Ethernet cord connector.

Single-Mode Fiber

A type of fiber optic cable that uses laser light and a narrow core for long-distance data transmission.

Multi-Mode Fiber

A type of fiber optic cable that uses LED light and a wider core for short-distance data transmission.

HDMI

A cable that carries uncompressed digital video and digital audio signals over a single connection.

DisplayPort

Preferred interface for high-performance PC setups, supporting multi-monitor daisy-chaining, high refresh rates, and adaptive sync.

DIMM

The standard memory module used in desktop PC motherboards.

SODIMM

A smaller form-factor memory module designed for laptops and small devices.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A storage device that offers a cheaper cost-per-gigabyte using mechanical platters, primarily for bulk storage.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

Storage that uses flash memory to provide much faster speeds, higher durability, and silent operation.

NVMe SSD

A storage type that is faster than SATA because it runs directly on high-speed PCIe lanes instead of being limited by legacy SATA bus speeds.

RAID 0

A configuration that provides maximum performance via data striping but offers zero fault tolerance.

RAID 1

Protects data by mirroring (duplicating) data across two drives in real-time.

RAID 5

Requires a minimum of 3 drives and uses parity (error-checking data) to rebuild lost data if a single drive fails.

RAID 6

Similar to RAID 5 but uses double parity, requiring at least 4 drives and allowing the array to survive two simultaneous drive failures.

RAID 10 (1+0)

Combines the speed of RAID 0 striping with the redundancy of RAID 1 mirroring, requiring at least 4 drives.

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)

A high-speed serial expansion bus standard used for connecting components like GPUs and NVMe SSDs directly to the motherboard.

UEFI

Modern firmware replacing legacy BIOS, featuring faster boot times, a mouse-driven interface, support for larger hard drives, and better security.

TPM (Trusted Platform Module)

A dedicated microchip that provides hardware-based cryptographic key storage for full-disk encryption like BitLocker.

PCL (Printer Command Language)

A faster, driver-dependent printer standard used for general office printing.

PostScript

A platform-independent printer language designed for high-end vector graphics and desktop publishing.

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display)

A technology using liquid crystals to block or pass light to create an image, typically requiring a backlight.

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode)

A technology where each pixel emits its own light, allowing for perfect blacks and infinite contrast ratios.

Mini-LED

A technology using thousands of tiny LEDs for backlighting an LCD, allowing for better local dimming and contrast control.

Digitizer

A layer on a screen that converts touch or pen input into digital signals.

Inverter

A component in older CCFL-backlit LCDs that converts DC power to AC for the backlight.

Pixel Density (PPI)

Pixels Per Inch; measures how many pixels are packed into an inch of the screen, affecting sharpness and clarity.

Color Gamut

The range of colors a display can reproduce; measures color depth and accuracy.

Coaxial

Cabling commonly used for cable internet and television signals, often using an F-Type connector.

Plenum Cable

Cable required for air-handling spaces due to its fire-retardant, low-smoke jacket.

Direct Burial Cable

Designed for installation directly into the ground without the need for protective conduit.

USB 3.0 vs USB 2.0

USB 3.0 offers speeds up to $5\,Gbps+$ while USB 2.0 is limited to $480\,Mbps$.

Thunderbolt

A high-speed interface combining data, video, and power delivery that supports daisy-chaining of peripherals.

Serial (DB9)

A legacy connector used primarily for configuring network equipment like routers and switches.

DVI

A legacy connector supporting digital and analog signals but limited in resolution and lacking audio support.

VGA

An analog-only video connector considered legacy due to limited resolution and signal quality.

USB-C

A versatile, reversible connector capable of carrying data, power, and video signals.

SATA vs eSATA

SATA is for internal hard drives, while eSATA is for external storage devices.

RJ11

A connector used primarily for telephone landline connections.

RJ45

The standard connector type for Ethernet network cables.

F-Type

A threaded connector used for coaxial cables.

Punchdown Block

A device used to terminate and organize Ethernet cable wires in a network closet.

Molex

A legacy power connector used for internal drives and fans.

Lightning

A proprietary connector used for older Apple mobile devices.

ECC (Error-Correcting Code)

RAM that identifies and fixes data corruption in real-time, essential for servers and workstations.

Dual Channel

A memory architecture that doubles the data transfer rate between RAM and CPU using matching pairs of RAM sticks.

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)

A high-performance storage interface designed for enterprise environments and servers requiring high reliability.

M.2 vs mSATA

M.2 is a modern form factor supporting SATA and NVMe; mSATA is an older, smaller standard limited to SATA speeds.

2.5-inch vs 3.5-inch

2.5-inch is standard for laptop drives/SSDs; 3.5-inch is the standard size for desktop HDDs.

Motherboard Form Factors

Includes ATX (full-size), microATX (smaller square), and Mini-ITX (most compact).

PCI vs PCIe

PCI is a legacy parallel bus; PCIe is the modern high-speed serial replacement.

CPU Socket

The physical interface on a motherboard where the processor is installed; must match the specific socket type of the CPU.

Secure Boot

A UEFI security standard ensuring only trusted, digitally signed software can load during the computer's startup.

Boot Password vs BIOS Password

BIOS/UEFI password restricts firmware settings access; boot password prevents the operating system from starting.

Virtualization

Technology that allows a physical CPU to run multiple independent operating systems simultaneously via a hypervisor.

HSM (Hardware Security Module)

A physical device that manages digital keys and performs encryption/decryption functions to safeguard sensitive data.

x64 vs ARM

x64 is the standard architecture for desktop/laptop processors; ARM is highly efficient and common in mobile devices.

Multi-socket

Motherboards with two or more physical CPU sockets, used in high-end servers and workstations.

Heat Sink

A passive metal cooling component that draws heat away from the CPU and dissipates it into the air.

Thermal Paste/Pads

Materials used between the CPU and heat sink to fill microscopic air gaps and ensure efficient heat transfer.

Liquid Cooling

Uses a pump and coolant to transport heat away from components more effectively and quietly than air cooling.

20+4 Pin Connector

The main power connector for the motherboard; the extra 4 pins support the power needs of modern PCIe slots.

12V Rail

The voltage supplied by the PSU used for high-power parts like the CPU and GPU.

Modular PSU

A power supply that allows users to attach only required cables to improve airflow and cable management.

Redundant PSU

A setup with multiple power supplies where one can take over immediately if another fails to ensure uptime.

80 Plus

A standard measuring how effectively a PSU converts AC wall power into DC power with minimal waste.

Duplex

A printer feature enabling automatic printing on both sides of a sheet of paper.

ADF (Automatic Document Feeder)

A device that allows a scanner to process multiple pages automatically.

Printer Share vs Print Server

A share is a local printer shared from a PC; a print server is a dedicated device managing network print queues.

Secure Print

Holds a print job in memory until the user authenticates at the printer using a PIN or badge.

Audit Logs

Records maintained by a printer that track printing activity for security and usage monitoring.

Badging

Security method using an ID card tap to authenticate and release private print jobs.

Laser Printer Maintenance

Involves regular replacement of toner cartridges, the drum unit, and the fuser assembly.

Inkjet Printer Maintenance

Includes cleaning print heads to prevent clogs and performing calibration for alignment.

Thermal Printer

Uses heat-sensitive paper and requires no toner or ink, resulting in very low maintenance.

Impact Printer

Also known as dot-matrix; used for multi-part forms and requires ribbon replacement and tractor feed maintenance.