Deck 2: Computer Hardware

Question 1

Suppose you're reading a computer magazine and you come across the ad pictured to the right. By looking at the specs, you can tell that the microprocessor was manufactured by which company?

Answer 1

Microprocessor
Microprocessor is the heart of all computers. It is sometimes also known as Central processing unit.
It accepts digital data as input processes it according to instructions stored in memory and provides the output.
There are many companies developing microprocessor, such as Intel, AMD etc. User can see all the other related point of microprocessor on the basis of specification which is provided in the ad.
Intel ® Core TM i7-920 , first line of the ad tells the microprocessor is manufactured by Intel company and the processor number is i7-920.
Therefore, the appropriate word to fill in the blank is Intel.

Question 2

Draw a sketch of your computer system and label at least six of its components. Make a table with three columns, labeled Input, Output, and Storage/Memory. Page through the chapter and for each device you encounter, place it in one or more of the columns as appropriate.

Answer 2

Components of Computer System
A computer is a programmable machine that can execute list of instructions to give an output. It is a device which is basically used for performing many kinds of computations and calculations. User provides some input to computer by using input devices then computer performs operation on that input and then output is displayed on the output devices.
Devices of computer:
The different kinds of devices associated with computer are:-
1. Input devices: Input devices accept data and instruction from the user. These data or instructions are passed to the computer on which the computer operates and give the desired output. These devices are only responsible for providing input from the user.
Major input devices include Keyboard, mouse, joystick, light-pen, trackball, scanner, and microphone.
2. Output devices : When the computer gets input from the user, it processes and performs desired operations on that input. After this the result which is generated is stored in storage. This result needs some devices through which the result could be displayed to the user. For this we have the output devices. The output devices display the output to the user. Example: Monitor
3. Storage Devices: Storage devices help the user to store the data permanently. It is basically used for the storage of data and instructions.
Storage devices include CD, DVD, Blu-ray, flash drive, floppy disk, hard disk drives etc. Mainly three types of storage technology are used in computers: magnetic, optical and solid state.
It plays an important role because it store data before and after the processing.
Table listing various components of computer on the basis of categories:

Question 3

The capacity of the hard disk drive in the ad is
GB and the memory capacity is
GB.

Answer 3

Memory
Memory is used for storing information and data in devices. A computer system has two kinds of memory which is temporary or RAM and permanent or ROM.
Normally in ads the specification for memory is given. If it's given as "6GB tri-channel DDR3 at 1066Mhz" that means the computer is having 6GB memory and it operates at 1066MHz.
The specification "500GB - SATA-II (7200rpm)" means a hard disk drive with 500GB capacity, SATA drive controller and speed of 7200 revolutions per minute.
Therefore, the appropriate word to fill in the blank is 500 and 6.

Question 4

Draw a set of quick sketches that show each of the following form factors: desktop tower, desktop horizontal, small form factor desktop, notebook, tablet, and netbook. List the advantages of each form factor.

Question 5

The computer in the ad appears to have a(n)
controller card for the hard disk drive.

Question 6

Create a short consumer brochure that lists five characteristics that would help consumers choose among a home, game, or small business computer system.

Question 7

You are thinking about upgrading the microprocessor in your four-year-old computer, which has a 2.6 GHz Pentium microprocessor and 512 MB of RAM. Would it be worthwhile to spend $500 to install an Intel Core i5 processor? Yes or no?

Question 8

List important factors to consider when shopping for a new computer. Describe the three price points for personal computers and indicate which price point best fits your computing needs.

Question 9

You're in the process of booting up your computer and suddenly the screen contains an assortment of settings for date and time, hard disk drive, and memory capacity. From what you've learned in this chapter, you surmise that these settings are stored in
, and that they are best left unmodified.

Question 10

Explain how Intel Macs are changing the old idea that PCs and Macs are not compatible.

Question 11

You're looking for a portable storage device that you can use to transport a few files between your home computer and your school computer lab. The school lab computers have no floppy disk drives, but do have USB ports. You should be able to transport your files using a USB
drive.

Question 12

List at least six computer upgrades and rank each as easy, moderate, or difficult for computer owners to perform.

Question 13

You're frustrated about using the keys on your cell phone to enter long e-mail addresses, so you decide to get a new smartphone with a touch screen that displays a(n)
keyboard.

Question 14

Refer to Section D of Chapter 1 and create a sequence of sketches that shows what happens in a microprocessor's ALU and control unit when an instruction is processed.

Question 15

Suppose that you want to purchase a new monitor. A(n)
screen offers a more environmentally friendly choice than a(n)
screen.

Question 16

List and describe the factors that affect microprocessor performance. Name three companies that produce microprocessors, and list some of the models that each company produces.

Question 17

Suppose that you volunteer to produce a large quantity of black-and-white leaflets for a charity organization. It is fortunate that you have access to a(n)
printer with a high duty cycle and low operating costs.

Question 18

List four types of memory and briefly describe how each one works.

Question 19

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of magnetic storage, optical storage, and solid state storage using criteria such as versatility, durability, capacity, access time, and transfer rate.

Question 20

Summarize what you know about how a graphics card can affect a display device's resolution.

Question 21

Compare and contrast the technologies and applications for ink jet, laser, and dot matrix printers.

Question 22

Create your own diagram to illustrate how the data bus connects RAM, the microprocessor, and peripheral devices. Explain the hardware compatibility considerations, device drivers, and procedures involved in installing a peripheral device.

Question 23

List ways you can protect your computer system hardware from theft and damage.

Question 24

Think about the last time you had a problem with computer hardware or software. Would any of the steps in Figure have helped you solve the problem faster? If not, what guidelines would you add to the list in the figure?
Figure
Troubleshooting Tips

Question 25

A computer
unit houses the main circuit board, microprocessor, storage devices, and network card.

Question 26

Personal computers are available in a variety of
factors, such as tower units and all-in-one units.

Question 27

The iPad is an example of a classification of handheld computers called
.

Question 28

Small
computers are typically middle-of-the-line models that are not loaded with memory, fancy graphics cards, or audio systems.

Question 29

There are three personal computer
: PC, Mac, and Linux.

Question 30

A personal computer with an Intel Core i7 microprocessor is likely to operate at a speed of 2.3
. (Hint: Use the abbreviation.)

Question 31

A(n)
side bus is circuitry that transports data to and from the processor.

Question 32

4004, 8088, Athlon, and Pentium are all types of
.

Question 33

DDR2 , virtual , and volatile are terms that apply to
. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 34

The instructions for loading the operating system into RAM when a computer is first turned on are stored in
. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 35

Access
is typically faster for random-access devices than for sequential-access devices.

Question 36

A magnetic storage device uses a read
head to magnetize particles that represent data.

Question 37

A hard disk drive that is rated at a speed of 7200
will give you faster access to your data than a drive rated at 5400. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 38

CD-R technology allows you to write data on a disc, and then change that data. True or false?

Question 39

A(n)
uses the same storage technology as a USB flash drive, but is not designed to be removable. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 40

On a multi-touch trackpad, you can use various
to move the pointer, zoom, and scroll.

Question 41

A widescreen computer display has a 16:9
ratio.

Question 42

One type of graphics circuitry, referred to as
graphics, is built into a computer's system board.

Question 43

Most ink jet printers use
color that requires four ink colors. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 44

A(n)
port provides one of the fastest, simplest ways to connect peripheral devices. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 45

A power
is a sudden increase or spike in electrical energy, affecting the current that flows to electrical outlets.

Question 46

A(n)
can provide power to keep your computer, network, and Internet connection operational during a power outage. (Hint: Use the acronym.)

Question 47

If your computer's built-in fans don't provide an adequate level of cooling, you can place it on a chill mat. True or false?

Question 48

When using Windows, you can troubleshoot hardware problems by logging in to the BSoD. True or false?

Question 49

Mode is a stripped-down version of Windows that is designed for troubleshooting.