Cable Types, Connectors, and Motherboards

Flashcards covering PC hardware components, connector types (USB, Video, SATA), motherboard functions, safety procedures, and form factors based on lecture notes.

What is a personal computer (PC)?

A programmable electronic device designed for individual use that receives data through input devices, processes it via the Central Processing Unit (CPU), stores it in RAM or storage devices, and produces results through output devices.

What is the purpose of a blanking plate?

A metal strip used to cover unused adapter card slots to ensure proper air flow, prevent overheating, and reduce dust accumulation.

How is a byte (B) distinguished from a bit (b)?

A bit (b) is a single binary digit ($0$ or $1$), while a byte (B) consists of multiples of eight bits.

In theory, how many devices can a single USB host controller support?

Up to $127$ connected devices.

Which USB connector type was introduced with USB 3.1 as a compact, reversible hardware interface?

USB-C

What are the maximum cable length limits for LowSpeed and HighSpeed USB devices?

LowSpeed has a limit of $3\,m$, while HighSpeed (and FullSpeed) have a limit of $5\,m$.

Which video interface is a royalty-free standard developed by VESA?

DisplayPort

What is a major advantage of DisplayPort over HDMI for multi-monitor setups?

DisplayPort supports daisy-chaining multiple monitors to a single video source, whereas HDMI requires one port per monitor.

What physical interface do Thunderbolt versions 1 and 2 utilize?

The same physical interface as MiniDP.

Which proprietary port is used exclusively on Apple mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad?

Lightning

What is the standard cable length and pin count for internal SATA connections?

Cables up to $1\,m$ ($39\,in.$) terminated with $7$-pin connectors.

What are the voltage levels and corresponding wire colors for a legacy Molex power connector?

Red ($5\,VDC$), yellow ($12\,VDC$), and black (ground).

What does the term 'nonpersistent' or 'volatile' mean in relation to RAM?

The device can only hold data while the PC is powered on; it loses its contents when power is removed.

What unit is used to measure the system clock speed on a motherboard?

Megahertz ($MHz$) or gigahertz ($GHz$).

What safety step should be taken after disconnecting the power cord before opening a PC case?

Hold the power button for a few seconds to ensure all internal components are drained of charge.

What is the function of the motherboard's chipset?

It consists of controllers that handle data transfer between the CPU and various devices, determining support for RAM, processors, and integrated ports.

What are the four common physical lengths for M.2 adapter cards?

$42\,mm$, $60\,mm$, $80\,mm$, and $110\,mm$.

What is the difference between up-plugging and down-plugging in PCIe slots?

Up-plugging is fitting a card into a slot with more lanes (e.g., $x8$ card in $x16$ slot); down-plugging is fitting a longer card into a shorter slot.

How is the raw transfer rate of a PCIe lane measured?

In gigatransfers per second ($GT/s$).

What are the dimensions of a full-size Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) motherboard?

$12\,inches$ wide by $9.6\,inches$ deep ($305\,mm \times 244\,mm$).

How many expansion slots are supported by the Micro-ATX (mATX) standard?

A maximum of $4$ expansion slots.