comptia

comptia+

Storage, Input, Processing, Output, Storage

Computers use these 5 steps to operate.

System Unit

The full enclosure system that holds the motherboard, RAM, GPU, PSU, harddrives, cooling, etc.

Monitor

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to display output to the user via a readable and/or interactive interface.

Keyboard

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the user. It has many keys available to input in the form of alphabets, numerals, and symbols.

Mouse

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for input from the user in the form of a handheld device that is moved around on top of a surface. It is used to interact with the monitor. It moves a pointer on the screen.

Speaker

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used for auditory output to the user.

Printer

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create hardcopy data. Some types of these may also have built-in scanners, and/or fax. It is an output device.

Scanner

This is a peripheral of the system unit, used to create softcopies of hardcopy data. It is an input device.

USB

This port comes in 3 different flavors and supports plug and play. It is one of the most common port types today, replacing the older ports.

Ethernet

This port is used primarily with wired networks, using an 8-pin RJ-45 connector.

ESATA

This port is used almost exclusively with external hard drives.

S/PDIF

This port is supported by fiber optic cabling, occasionally by a coaxial-type connector that screws on. It is used for audio transfer.

DVI

This port is used for monitors or projectors.

HDMI

This port is used for both audio and video, connecting to televisions or any type of media receiver.

1/8 inch mini RCA jack

Used as direct links to microphones or speakers, they are small round jacks used for audio transfer.

Power

This plug is located on the back of a PSU, used to transfer power from a wall socket to the PC.

Firewire

A declining connector, this plug is mainly used in camcorders for video/audio transfer.

mini DIN

A legacy connector, this connector is used for mouse and keyboard inputs. May also be referred to as PS/2 connector, named after the first PC that used them.

9 pin DB

A legacy connector with a D sub serial port, it was used with an adapter to support mice, keyboards, printers, etc.

25 pin D sub

A legacy connector with a D sub parallel port, it was used primarily with printers.

VGA

A legacy connector consisting of 3 rows of 5 pins each with a D sub connector, it was used for monitors or projectors.

Power Supply

This box takes standard household current and converts it to either 5v or 12v DC. It is used to power the system unit.

Video card

a printed circuit board controlling output to a display screen, it is used to render graphics from a simple GUI to a complex 3d game. The more powerful the card, the better the application that it can render.

RAM stick

These cards hold the computer memory. Any active program, such as the OS, a game, or application, is stored here for quick access by the processor.

CPU

This is the brains of a computer. It handles every process that goes through from the hard drive to the motherboard, managing every element of a computer.

Motherboard

Every piece of the computer is connected either directly or indirectly together from this central point. It is where the CPU is located, controlling every element of the computer.

Optical drive

These play disk media, such as CD's, DVD's, or blu-ray disks, or some can copy data to special disks in the form of burning data. It uses a laser to read the data on the disk.

Hard drive

This uses platters to store data by means of magnetic force. It uses actuator arms to record the data to the platters. It is where every element of a program is permanently stored until otherwise deleted by the user, or by accidental means.

Solid State Drive

This uses semiconductors to store data as electronic means. It uses no moving parts, and can be generally quicker than the platter variants. Like it's cousin, every element of a program is stored permanently here, until otherwise deleted by the user, by accidental means, or simply by conductor burnout.

CPU

Abbreviate: Central Processing Unit

AMD, Intel

Two of the largest CPU manufacturers

CPU-Z

This program is available free on the internet. It allows the user to see the specifications of their computer, from the CPU to the GPU.

Hertz

This is the term used for Cycle per second.

Giga

This is the term used for Billion, will also be found in combination with other terms.

System Crystal

A small, tiny quartz crystal located near the CPU that regulates the general speed of the CPU and the overall system.

3.5 ghz

Modern CPU's do not run much faster than this maximum speed. It is possible, but very expensive to do.

Hyperthreading

This takes one core and makes it simulate 2 cores. Intel is one of the only manufacturers that use this technology.

Level 1

This is the first CPU cache level, generally smaller in size, but faster, and runs at a similar speed to the CPU

Level 2

This is the second CPU cache level, larger than the first, but slower, and runs around half the speed of the CPU

Level 3

This is the third CPU cache. Even larger than the second, but much slower, about the speed of a MoBo, and not all computers have it.

32 bit

This CPU can only utilize up to ~4 gigabytes of RAM

64 bit

This CPU is faster than it's counterpart, and can utilize ~ an exobyte of RAM

System properties

This is the location on a Windows computer where you may find information related to RAM, 32 or 64 bit system, etc.

Virtualization

This is a CPU extension that enables a computer to simulate different operating systems.

Integrated GPU

This is a CPU extension that adds the functionality of a limited graphics card.

Socket

This is the part on the MoBo that holds the CPU. It is classified by pin amount, thermal dissipation, speed, size, etc.

PGA

Abbreviate: Pin Grind Array

ZIF

Abbreviate: Zero Insertion Force

PGA

CPU's are under this classification for the amount of pins that they have. AMD generally use these for their CPU's

LGA

Abbreviate: Land Grid Array

LGA

The CPU Socket will have many contact pins that act as little springs in this socket type. Intel generally use these for their CPU's

LGA 775

This has 775 pins or lands on it. It is the first mainstream CPU that use the LGA. It ran with DDR2, and had a very long life of use.

LGA 1156

This replaced the 775 variant, and it has 1156 pins. Was one of the first sockets to support a built-in North bridge, and was used primarily on mainstream systems. It also supported DDR3. Popular names included: I3, I5, I7

LGA 1366

This replaced the 775 variant, and it has 1366 pins. It had a built-in memory controller, as well as a North bridge for PCI-E bus support. It supported DDR3, and was mainly used on the core I7

LGA 1155

This replaced the LGA 1156 sockets. More mainstream, CPU's using this were the first to have full support of onboard graphics. These were the I3, I5, and I7.

LGA 2011

This replaced the LGA 1366 sockets. More higher end, it started out with DDR3 support, but moved to DD4. These sockets only supported PCI-E. Names include the Core I3, I5, and I7.

LGA 1150

More mainstream socket, it supports multiple CPU's, Started with DDR3 support, then DDR4, and can support a very large amount of PCI-E Devices.

AM2

This is an early AMD socket. It had 4 keys that mated with the CPU. It had 940 pins. It had hypertransport capability and supported DDR2.

AM3

Almost identical to the AM2, the major difference was slightly larger keys. It had 941 pins, and supported Athlon 2, Phenom 2's, etc, and supported DDR3.

AM3+

Almost identical to the AM2 and AM3, it supported Athlon 2, Phenom 2, and DDR3. It has 942 pins.

APU

Abbreviate: Accelerated Processing Unit

APU

AMD cores had this integrated into them for video functioning.

FM1

The first to support AMD APU capabilities, it had 905 pins.

FM2

The second to support AMD APU, it had 904 pins, with slight power and speed improvements.

FM2+

The third to support AMD APU, it had 906 pins, with a substantial PCI-E support.

Thermal Compound

This must be placed between the CPU and the heatsink. Any time the heat sink is removed, this MUST be replaced.

3 prong

System fans or case fans generally use this type of power connector.

4 prong

System fans or case fans generally use this type of power connector. The main difference on this type is that it features an additional prong for a controllable fan. Most of the time you will see them for CPU fans, however it is not just limited to the CPU fan.

OEM

Abbreviate: Original Equipment Manufacturer

Speedfan

A generic utility for monitoring fan speed, it is a free program that can work with almost every computer.

Passive cooling

This is a liquid cooling technique that uses a radiator to pump liquid through several tubes to help cool a CPU

Active cooling

This is a liquid cooling technique that uses a refrigerator unit to pump refrigerant coolant through the computer to help keep it cool.

Rebooting

This can be a sign of an overheating CPU. The system will forcefully do this occasionally.

RAM

Abbreviate: Random Access Memory

DRAM

Abbreviate: Dynamic Random Access Memory

SDRAM

Abbreviate: Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory

SDRAM

This type of RAM uses a 168 pin DIMM. It also has 2 notches in it to lock into a MoBo. It is synchronized to the system clock. It used clock speed, which must be matched to the MoBo. Generally it came with a PC rating to match the MoBo. It can still be used in some systems today. It is generally characterized by a double or triple digit PC rating.

DIMM

Abbreviate: Dual In-line Memory Module

DDR

Abbreviate: Dual Data Rate

DDR SDRAM

This type of RAM uses a 184 pin DIMM. It only has a single notch to match into a MoBo. It was capable of doubling a motherboard clock speed, making the RAM faster. It is generally characterized by 4 digit PC numbers. To calculate speeds, DDR will double the MoBo speeds. For example, 100 MHz becomes 200, 200 MHz becomes 400.

x8

You will take a DDR speed and multiply it by this. For example, if a system is 100 Mhz and DDR SDRAM multiplied the speed to 200 MHz, you would multiply by this number to get the PC rating speed.

DDR2

This type of RAM uses a 240 pin DIMM. Like it's lesser counterpart, it uses a single slot to match a MoBo, however it is in a different location, preventing insertion into the wrong MoBo. It not only doubled the speeds like DDR, it also doubled the clock speeds. To calculate speeds, you will double the MoBo speed, then double the number again. The PC rating will have a PC2 number.

DDR3

This type of RAM uses a 240 pin DIMM. Like it's counterpart, it also uses a single slot, but it is also located in a different location to prevent insertion into the wrong slots. To calculate the speed, you calculate the MoBo speed x4. Then you will double that speed to get the actual speed of this RAM. This PC rating will have a PC3 number.

rambus RAM

Characterized by a 184 pin RIMM, this type of RAM is long obsolete. It also has 2 notches to prevent insertion into the wrong MoBo. This type of RAM must always be installed in pairs.

CRIMM

Abbreviate: Continuity RIMM

CRIMM

When installing Rambus RAM modules, this type of stick must always be installed in the empty sockets. It does not have a function other than to terminate.

Single sided RAM

This type of RAM only has memory on one side of a stick.

Double sided RAM

This type of RAM has memory on both sides of a stick.

ECC and parity RAM

This type of RAM has extra chips designed for error correcting. It can only be used on MoBo's that accept this type of RAM. Generally it is only located on servers.

SODIMM

Abbreviate: Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module

SODIMM

This type of RAM is only used in laptop systems. It has slightly lower capacity than it's counterparts, however other than that feature it is nearly identical, except for it being smaller. It comes in 100, 144, 200 pins. 204 pins is unique to DDR3 ram.

RAM

Adding this to a system can greatly increase performance.

SPD

Abbreviate: Serial Presence Detect

MTBF

Abbreviate: Mean Time Between Failures

Memtest86

A program available for users who have less than Windows 7, this program must be boot into to use, either with optical media or a flash drive. It enables the user to test the RAM of their system for consistency and failures.

Windows Memory Diagnostic

This program comes with every windows 7 and later system. It is located under Administration Tools and helps to diagnose any issues related to memory.

Software

These types of programs are stored on harddrives. They can be changed as often as wanted.

Firmware

These types of programs are stored on chips. They are semi-permanent or permanent programs that enable the system to communicate.

CMOS

Abbreviate: Complimentary Metal Oxide Semi-conductor

System BIOS

This program is stored on a ROM chip, it enables all of the hardware to communicate to eachother.