CompTIA 220-1201 CORE 1

CompTIA 220-1201 CORE 1

Bit

Binary digit, storing either 1 or 0 used in digital computing and communications. It is the smallest unit of data in a computer.

Nibble

4 bits that are combined.

Byte

Contains 8 bits.

Translation of 1 Kbps

“1 kilo bit per second”

Kilobits (Kb)

1000b

Megabits (Mb)

1 million b

Gigabits (Gb)

1 billion b

Terabits (Tb)

1 trillion b

Translation of Gb, vs GB

Gigabit, Gigabyte

What data transfer is measured in

Bits

What data storage is measured in

Bytes

USB Type A

Used for older USB standards

Most commonly used for desktop and laptops

USB Type B

Found on large devices like the back of printers. Square shape with corners rounded

Three different types: Standard, Mini, Micro

USB Type C

Used with USB 3 and USB 4

Small oval in size, and can be reversible; modern laptops, smartphones, and tablets tend to use this

Theoretical maximum of USB ports being connected in a daisy chain

Up to 127 connected devices

Host Controller

Uses the same amount of bandwidth for all devices on a particular port

USB 2.0 Hi-Speed transfer speed

480 Mbps

USB 3.1 GEN1 SUPERSPEED transfer speed

5 Gbps

USB 3.1 GEN2 SUPERSPEED transfer speed

10 Gbps

USB 3.2 SUPERSPEED transfer speed

20 Gbps

USB 4 transfer speed

40 Gbps

Downside of a longer cable

The longer it is, the more resistance and the more the speed and signal will deteriorate.

Powered Device (PD) Port

Can give up to 7.5 watts of power

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

Most widely used interface for a video cable, used on almost everything

HDMI Digital Content Protection (HDCP)

Allows a device to validate and do a handshake with the display its connected to, which makes sure that both the display and the device are authorized to receive that signal

DisplayPort

competitor to HDMI, with the same capabilities

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Designed to support both analog and digital outputs

Legacy system

DVI-A

Supports analog signals

DVI-D

Supports digital signals

DVI-I

Supports both analog and digital

Thunderbolt cables

Similar to DisplayPort and HDMI, but its also for data transfer

Data transfer and video cable

Thunderbolt 1 & 2

Physical connector that is a mini DisplayPort

Thunderbolt 3 & 4

Same port connector as USB-C

Not all ____ works on USB-C, but all ___ will work on Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt, USB-C

Lightning Cable

Considered to be reversible, developed by Apple and used by those products

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

Standard method of connecting a storage device to the motherboard inside of desktop computer

SATA 7-Pin Cable

Transfers Data only

SATA 15-pin Power Connector

Provides the power

External SATA (eSATA)

The same type of cable as SATA but is used outside of the case

SCSI: Small Computer Systems Interface

Legacy parallel bus connector that actually allowed multiple devices to be daisy-chained together

SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)

• Newer version of SCSI

• High performance data transfer technology used mainly in enterprise environments for connecting storage devices to servers and workstations

Motherboard

Printed circuit board that contains the principal components of a computer. The central communication backbone and connection point

Input

Process of accepting data in a form that a computer can used

Output

Process of showing the user process data or information in a form that the users can use

Processing

Occurs when the CPU receives information and takes action on the information

Storage

Process of saving digital data either temporarily or permanently

Temporary Storage

Storing of data in cache memory inside of CPU or RAM

Permanent Storage

Comes in the form of HDDs, SSDs, USB Flash drives

ATX Motherboard Form Factor

Around for a long time as a full size motherboard. Expansions slot run paralle to the shorter size.

Mini-ATX Motherboard Form Factor

Smaller but contains many of the features of a regular one, with a rear port cluster and expansion card.

microATX Motherboard Form Factor

Square board using 7 expansion cards, not 14.

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)

Mechanism that allows the users to install the CPU without pressing down on it

Land Grid Array (LGA)

No pins on the motherboard

Used by Intel

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

Pins on the processor, holes on the motherboard

Used by AMD

Threading

Single stream of instructions sent by a software application to a processor

MultiThreading

The ability of an application to execute multiple instructions at the same time

Multi-core Processors

Single CPU with multiple processors inside, called cores. Instructions can be divided amongst these cores.

Dual-core processor

Two CPUs inside a single chip

CPU

“Brains” of the computer

Performs basic operations on each and every instruction

x86 (IA-32)

Developed by Intel with an 8 bit, 16 bit, and up to 32 bit instruction set. Can only support a maximum of 4 GB of RAM

x64

Supports 64-bit instruction set

Advanced RISC Machine (ARM)

Used for low-power devices, with a smaller instruction set. Important to extending battery life and producing less heat

M.2 Connector

Used for storage devices, looks like a memory module

CMOS Battery

Battery on computer to retain settings, lasting three years

PS/2 Port

An old standard that has now been replaced by USB

USB red port transfer speed

10 Gbps

Network Jacks (RJ45)

A way to connect to Ethernet

SPDIF Out

Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format

PCIe x1

Used for modems, network cards, audio cards, wireless cards, etc

PCIe x16

Used for graphics cards, supporting a large amount of data

Mini PCIe

Used in laptops

Expansion Cards

Used to add functions or ports that are not supported by default as an integrated part of your motherboard

Video Cards (Graphic Adapters)

Gives quality signal for monitors

Video Capture Card

Takes video signals and processes them inside the computer

TV Capture Card

Plugged in directly to get all cable TV channels, but not used today

Sound/Audio Card

Better output through audio

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Many shapes and sizes for outputs and input

Riser Card

Goes into a dedicated slot on the motherboard

Purpose of transformers in PSUs (Power Supply Units)

Standard outlets gives Alternating Current (AC). The PSU uses a transformer, to reduce the voltage as well as filters and regulators to create a consistent voltage unit

Thermal Load

Heat from different components inside the computer

Passive Cooling

Type of cooling that rely on components that do not have any moving parts or power

Thermal Paste

Compound that ensures heat transfer by eliminating air gaps

Active Cooling

Uses a fan to cool down the heat from the device

Liquid Cooling (Closed Loop System)

Simple systems for liquid cooling that cool for a single component

Liquid Cooling (Open Loop System)

A liquid cooling based system that have different components and able to cool several components across the system

PSU Main Purpose

deliver DC to all components inside the PC

SATA Power Connector

Used to power the SATA drives

Molex Connector

Legacy connector used for IDE and PATA hard disks, CDs, and DVD drives

Y Connector

One connectors that can support multiple devices

Voltage Sensing/Dual Voltage Power Supplies

Automatically detects the outlet voltage and converts it

Rail

A wire that provides current at a particular voltage

Wattage Rating

Power supply unit’s capability

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Used to load applications and files into a non-persistent fast storage area

Cache

High speed memory

Storage

Storage device that holds more data but is slower than cache

Permanent area

Disk Cache

Pulls the files from the disc into memory and replaces the old file

Single Bank Memory Module

Can put any size of module in any slot

Paired Bank Memory Module

Requires Installation in pairs

DDR (Dual Data Rate)

The most common type of memory used in most systems

Dynamic Memory

Oldest type of memory that requires frequent refreshing