The CompTIA 220-901 exam is one of two exams requires to obtain the CompTIA A+ (900 series). This exam will cover topics like networking, mobile devices and hardware and network troubleshooting.
1) What power source is required by the RTC on a motherboard?
The Real Time Clock (RTC) is a chip embedded in most electronic devices. The RTC keeps the time for a device and must have an alternative power source to use when the device is powered off. For computers this is the CMOS battery.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
A real-time clock (RTC) is a computer clock (most often in the form of an integrated circuit) that keeps track of the current time Although the term often refers to the devices in personal computers, servers and embedded systems, RTCs are present in almost any electronic device which needs to keep accurate time … Read More
2) After installing a new integrated component such as a Network Interface Card (NIC) on a newly assembled computer system you should first:
If the computer is newly assembled it likely needs the device driver before the NIC will be functional. It is possible that the device could be disabled in the Windows control panel and BIOS however this is not a default functionality of either system.
This question is filed under objective 2, Networking
3) What is the purpose of the No-eXecute (NX bit) technology used in Intel CPUs?
No-eXecute allows the administrator to mark certain areas as "non-executable" which can protect the system against different forms of Malware.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
The NX bit (no-execute) is a technology used in CPUs to segregate areas of memory for use by either storage of processor instructions (code) or for storage of data, a feature normally only found in Harvard architecture processors However, the NX bit is being increasingly used in conventional von Neumann architecture processors for security reasons An operating system with support for the NX bit may mark certain areas of memory as non-executable The processor will then refuse to execute any code residing in these areas of memory The general technique, known as executable space protection, is used to prevent certain types of malicious software from taking over computers by inserting their code into another program's data storage area and… Read More
4) What is the number of contact pins the MicroDIMM DDR2 SDRAM modules typically used by laptops use?
Micro typically means a smaller form factor used for laptops. The amount of pins it has is 214.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
A DIMM or dual in-line memory module comprises a series of dynamic random-access memory integrated circuits These modules are mounted on a printed circuit board and designed for use in personal computers, workstations and servers DIMMs began to replace SIMMs (single in-line memory modules) as the predominant type of memory module as Intel P5-based Pentium processors began to gain market share While the contacts on SIMMs on both sides are redundant, DIMMs have separate electrical contacts on each side of the module Another difference is that standard SIMMs have a 32-bit data path, while standard DIMMs have a 64-bit data path… Read More
5) What is a drawback of using integrated graphics?
Integrated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or Integrated Graphics is a technology that allows a motherboard to handle graphics generation without a dedicated expansion card with a GPU. Generally this requires that some of your system memory (RAM) be assigned to the GPU instead of the CPU and results in slower performance.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles Modern GPUs are very efficient at manipulating computer graphics and image processing Their highly parallel structure makes them more efficient than general-purpose central processing units (CPUs) for algorithms that process large blocks of data in parallel In a personal computer, a GPU can be present on a video card or embedded on the motherboard… Read More
6) What is the name used for the bus between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the northbridge?
Front-side bus (FSB) is between the CPU and northbridge, while the Back-side bus connects the CPU to the cache.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
A front-side bus (FSB) is a computer communication interface (bus) that was often used in Intel-chip-based computers during the 1990s and 2000s The EV6 bus served the same function for competing AMD CPUs Both typically carry data between the central processing unit (CPU) and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridgeDepending on the implementation, some computers may also have a back-side bus that connects the CPU to the cache This bus and the cache connected to it are faster than accessing the system memory (or RAM) via the front-side bus The speed of the front side bus is often used as an important measure of the performance of a computer… Read More
7) The Micro Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) standard defines data cable connector consisting of:
Be sure to carefully read the question! The question specifically asks about a SATA data cable connector which is 7 pins. A SATA power cable uses 15 pins so this is answer is close but still incorrect.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
Serial ATA (SATA, () abbreviated from Serial AT Attachment) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives Serial ATA succeeded the earlier Parallel ATA (PATA) standard to become the predominant interface for storage devices Serial ATA industry compatibility specifications originate from the Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO) which are then promulgated by the INCITS Technical Committee T13, AT Attachment (INCITS T13) … Read More
8) A single IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) host controller can support up to how many devices at a given time?
If using a daisy chain IEEE 1394 (FireWire) can support up to 63 devices at one time.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple, which called it FireWire, in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony and Panasonic The 1394 interface is also known by the brands iLINK (Sony), and Lynx (Texas Instruments) The copper cable it uses in its most common implementation can be up to 45 metres (15 ft) long Power is also carried over this cable, allowing devices with moderate power requirements to operate without a separate power supply… Read More
9) What integrated circuit types best defines the core functionality and capabilities of a motherboard?
The chipset manages the flow of data between the core components of the motherboard, such as memory, processor, and other peripherals.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
In a computer system, a chipset is a set of electronic components in an integrated circuit known as a "Data Flow Management System" that manages the data flow between the processor, memory and peripherals It is usually found on the motherboard Chipsets are usually designed to work with a specific family of microprocessors Because it controls communications between the processor and external devices, the chipset plays a crucial role in determining system performance … Read More
10) What is the maximum cable length allowable for all IEEE 1394 (FireWire) devices?
The copper wire can extend up to 4.5 meters (15 feet) and was replaced by Thunderbolt in newer Macintosh models.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple, which called it FireWire, in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony and Panasonic The 1394 interface is also known by the brands iLINK (Sony), and Lynx (Texas Instruments) The copper cable it uses in its most common implementation can be up to 45 metres (15 ft) long Power is also carried over this cable, allowing devices with moderate power requirements to operate without a separate power supply… Read More
11) What is the maximum length of a Lightning cable typically used for charging Apple smartphones?
According to Apple the Lightning cable can extend up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) and work optimally. You can likely find 3rd party (non-Apple) cables that are longer, however Apple onnly recommends and sells cables up to 2 meters.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector created and designed by Apple Inc Introduced on September 12, 2012 (2012-09-12), to replace its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector, the Lightning connector is used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers, and other peripherals Using 8 pins instead of 30, Lightning is a more compact version of the older 30-pin connector, which was integrated with devices like the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2 The lightning cable may be inserted into the female port using either side However, without an adapter, it is incompatible with cables and peripherals designed for its predecessors… Read More
12) What is the main purpose of the BIOS when a computer is first powered on?
The Basic Input/Output System's (BIOS) main functionality when a computer is powered on is to perform a Power On Self Test (POST) which verifies that the required computer components are installed and functional.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
BIOS ( BY-oss an acronym for Basic Input/Output System and also known as the System BIOS, ROM BIOS or PC BIOS) is firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process (power-on startup), and to provide runtime services for operating systems and programs The BIOS firmware comes pre-installed on a personal computer's system board, and it is the first software to run when powered on The name originates from the Basic Input/Output System used in the CP/M operating system in 1975 The BIOS originally proprietary to the IBM PC has been reverse engineered by companies looking to create compatible systems… Read More
13) A type of Central Processing Unit (CPU) architecture where a single physical CPU contains more than one execution core on a single die or chip is known as:
Having a multicore CPU allows computers to execute multiple instructions at one time.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
A multi-core processor is a computer processor integrated circuit with two or more separate processing units, called cores, each of which reads and executes program instructions, as if the computer had several processors The instructions are ordinary CPU instructions (such as add, move data, and branch) but the single processor can run instructions on separate cores at the same time, increasing overall speed for programs that support multithreading or other parallel computing techniques Manufacturers typically integrate the cores onto a single integrated circuit die (known as a chip multiprocessor or CMP) or onto multiple dies in a single chip package… Read More
14) The Thunderbolt 3 cable uses which standard connector type?
Apple's Thunderbolt 3 protocol uses the USB-C connector type. Thunderbolt 3 is also compatible with USB-C, so a Thunderbolt 3 port will work with both a Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C connector. Similarly the Thunderbolt versions 1 and 2 use a standard Display Port connector.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
USB-C, formally known as USB Type-C, is a 24-pin USB connector system, which is distinguished by its two-fold rotationally-symmetrical connectorThe USB Type-C Specification 10 was published by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and was finalized in August 2014 It was developed at roughly the same time as the USB 31 specification In July 2016, it was adopted by the IEC as "IEC 62680-1-3"A device with a Type-C connector does not necessarily implement USB, USB Power Delivery, or any Alternate Mode: the Type-C connector is common to several technologies while mandating only a few of themUSB 3… Read More
15) What connector type is utilized by Thunderbolt 3?
Thunderbolt 3 uses Universal Serial Bus (USB) type C. The older versions of Apple products (Thunderbolt 1, and 2) use the Mini DisplayPort (MDP).
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
Thunderbolt is the brand name of a hardware interface developed by Intel (in collaboration with Apple) that allows the connection of external peripherals to a computer Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the same connector as Mini DisplayPort (MDP), whereas Thunderbolt 3 re-uses the USB-C connector from USB It was initially developed and marketed under the name Light Peak, and first sold as part of a consumer product on 24 February 2011Thunderbolt combines PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort (DP) into two serial signals, and additionally provides DC power, all in one cable Up to six peripherals may be supported by one connector through various topologies… Read More
16) Which of the terms listed below refers to a situation where a single Central Processing Unit (CPU) appears as two virtual CPUs to the operating system?
Hyper-threading makes multitasking on your system much easier, allowing two or more processes to run using the same resources.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
Hyper-threading (officially called Hyper-Threading Technology or HT Technology and abbreviated as HTT or HT) is Intel's proprietary simultaneous multithreading (SMT) implementation used to improve parallelization of computations (doing multiple tasks at once) performed on x86 microprocessors It first appeared in February 2002 on Xeon server processors and in November 2002 on Pentium 4 desktop CPUs Later, Intel included this technology in Itanium, Atom, and Core 'i' Series CPUs, among others For each processor core that is physically present, the operating system addresses two virtual (logical) cores and shares the workload between them when possible The main function of hyper-threading is to increase the number of independent instructions… Read More
17) A 64-bit CPU can be used either with a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the Microsoft Windows operating system.
64-bit CPUs are compatible with 32-bit Microsoft operating systems, although it performs best with 64-bit.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
In computer architecture, 64-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are 64 bits (8 octets) wide Also, 64-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size 64-bit microcomputers are computers in which 64-bit microprocessors are the norm From the software perspective, 64-bit computing means the use of code with 64-bit virtual memory addresses However, not all 64-bit instruction sets support full 64-bit virtual memory addresses x86-64 and ARMv8, for example, support only 48 bits of virtual address, with the remaining 16 bits of the virtual address required to be all 0's or all 1's, and several 64-bit instruction sets support fewer than 64 bits of physical… Read More
18) If a system fails to auto-configure the newly added adapter card through PnP, finishing the configuration process requires manual installation of device drivers.
True, if a Plug and Play (PnP) device is not supported the driver must be manually installed by the administrator to find the necessary drivers on the product website or material provided.
This question is filed under objective 4, Hardware and Network Troubleshooting
19) What is the name of the reversible connector used by Apple mobile handheld devices?
Lightning is the connector for Apple's line of handheld devices . Thunderbolt is the connector type used for Apple laptop and notebooks.
This question is filed under objective 3, Mobile Devices
Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector created and designed by Apple Inc Introduced on September 12, 2012 (2012-09-12), to replace its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector, the Lightning connector is used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers, and other peripherals Using 8 pins instead of 30, Lightning is a more compact version of the older 30-pin connector, which was integrated with devices like the iPhone 4 and the iPad 2 The lightning cable may be inserted into the female port using either side However, without an adapter, it is incompatible with cables and peripherals designed for its predecessors… Read More
20) What Digital Visual Interface (DVI) connector types does not provide support for digital signal transmission?
DVI-A is the connector type that uses analog only, and does not support digital signal transmission.
This question is filed under objective 1, Hardware
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a video display interface developed by the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) The digital interface is used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller, to a display device, such as a computer monitor It was developed with the intention of creating an industry standard for the transfer of digital video content This interface is designed to transmit uncompressed digital video and can be configured to support multiple modes such as DVI-A (analog only), DVI-D (digital only) or DVI-I (digital and analog) Featuring support for analog connections, the DVI specification is compatible with the VGA interface… Read More
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