Question 1

"160 GB 8 ms HD" means a hard disk drive with 160 megabyte capacity and an access time of 8 milliseconds.

Accepted Answer

The capacity mentioned in the statement is 160 gigabytes (GB) and not 160 megabytes (MB).

Question 2

RAM is usually a single chip or small circuit board that plugs into the motherboard.

Accepted Answer

RAM is typically composed of multiple chips that can be mounted on a small circuit board, which then plugs into the motherboard. This assembly is known as a RAM module or memory stick, rather than a single chip.

Question 3

Too much dependence on virtual memory can have a negative effect on your computer's performance because getting data from a mechanical device is much slower than getting data from an electronic device.

Accepted Answer

This is because virtual memory involves using the hard drive as a backup for the RAM, and accessing data from a hard drive is much slower than accessing it from the computer's RAM. Therefore, too much dependence on virtual memory can slow down the computer's performance.

Question 4

Whereas RAM is permanent and non-volatile, ROM is temporary and volatile.

Accepted Answer

The statement in the question is incorrect. RAM is temporary and volatile, meaning its data is lost when the computer is turned off or restarted. ROM, on the other hand, is permanent and non-volatile, meaning its data is retained even when the computer is turned off or restarted.

Question 5

A CISC processor performs most instructions faster than a RISC processor.

Accepted Answer

RISC processors are designed to perform a smaller set of simple and frequently used instructions, which makes them faster in executing those instructions compared to CISC processors that are designed to perform complex and larger instruction sets. Therefore, RISC processors can perform certain instructions faster than CISC processors.

Question 6

Today, a home computer system offers a hardware platform with super-charged support for most computer applications.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Today, a home computer system offers a...

Question 7

Megahertz means a billion cycles per second.

Accepted Answer

Megahertz means one million cycles per second, not one billion.

Question 8

All other things being equal, a computer with a 1.5 GHz processor is faster than a computer with a 3.2 GHz processor.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. A computer with a higher clock speed (measured in GHz) is generally faster than a computer with a lower clock speed, assuming all other specifications are equal.

Question 9

A microprocessor with an 8-bit word size has 64-bit registers, processes 64 bits at a time, and is referred to as a 64-bit processor.

Accepted Answer

The given information contradicts itself. A microprocessor with an 8-bit word size cannot have 64-bit registers and process 64 bits at a time. A 64-bit processor typically has registers and can process data in 64-bit chunks, but it would not have an 8-bit word size.

Question 10

Today's personal computers typically contain 32-bit or 64-bit processors.

Accepted Answer

Today's personal computers commonly have either 32-bit or 64-bit processors, with 64-bit becoming more prevalent in newer models.

Question 11

An optical disk, such as a CD, is not susceptible to humidity, fingerprints, dust, magnets, or spilled soft drinks, and its useful life is estimated at more than 30 years.

Accepted Answer

Optical disks are designed to resist damage from most environmental factors, making them a reliable storage option for long-term preservation.

Question 12

You can usually identify the microprocessor when looking inside a computer, as it is the only chip on the motherboard.

Accepted Answer

While the microprocessor is indeed an important chip on the motherboard, there are several other chips on the motherboard as well. Therefore, there is not just one chip on the motherboard.

Question 13

A microprocessor can operate at full efficiency only if all components in the computer can also handle the faster speeds.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. If some components in the computer cannot handle the faster speeds of the microprocessor, then the overall efficiency of the computer may be slowed down.

Question 14

Pipelining and parallel processing significantly impair processor performance.

Accepted Answer

Pipelining and parallel processing are techniques used to improve and enhance processor performance. They allow for the concurrent execution of multiple instructions and tasks, thereby increasing overall efficiency and speed.

Question 15

DVD-R technology allows you to write data on a disk, and then change that data.

Accepted Answer

DVD-R technology is a write-once technology, which means that once data is written on the disk it cannot be changed or overwritten.

Question 16

A CD drive is a storage device that uses laser technology to read data permanently stored on computer or audio CDs.

Accepted Answer

A CD drive does use laser technology to read data permanently stored on CDs.

Question 17

The system unit is the case that holds the main circuit boards, microprocessor, power supply, and storage devices of a personal computer system.

Accepted Answer

The system unit is indeed the case that contains the main components of a PC system, including the circuit boards, microprocessor, power supply, and storage devices.

Question 18

When you change the configuration of your computer system, the data in EEPROM must be updated.

Accepted Answer

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) is used to store configuration settings that need to be retained even when the system is powered off, so changes in system configuration may require updates to the EEPROM.

Question 19

Processors with a smaller word size can process more data during each processor cycle.

Accepted Answer

Processors with a smaller word size actually process less data in each cycle compared to those with a larger word size, as the word size determines the amount of data the processor can handle at once.

Question 20

Most processors in today's personal computers use RISC technology.

Accepted Answer

Most processors in today's personal computers, such as those from Intel and AMD, primarily use Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) technology, not Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC).

Quiz 2: Computer Hardware