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CIT111 Computer hardware/software
These are the books answers.
75
Computer Science
Undergraduate 1
02/27/2013

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Term
If a computer powers down after it has been operating for a few minutes or a few hours, the problem might be caused by ____________________.
Definition
overheating
Term
A system might have up to ____ types of ribbon cables.
Answer
Selected Answer:
Definition
Three, but a system that uses SCSI may have more.
Term
____________________ are generally used for Web browsing, e-mail, and word processing by users on the go
Definition
netbooks
Term
The ____ interface between the subsystems in user mode and the HAL.
Definition
executive services
Term
A ____ is a single task, such as the task of printing a file, that the process requests from the kernel.
Definition
thread
Term
A(n) ____ is the portion of an OS that relates to the user and to applications.
Definition
shell
Term
A(n) ____ boot involves turning on the power with the on/off switch.
Definition
hard
Term
The most reliable way to restore settings is to keep a written record of all the changes you make to ____.
Definition
CMOS RAM
Term
Has 1366 pins that touch pads on the processor
Definition
LGA1366 or Socket B
Term
Has 771 pins that touch pads on the processor
Definition
LGA771 or Socket J
Term
Has 775 lands or pads
Definition
LGA775 or Socket T
Term
Uses a dense micro PGA (mPGA)
Definition
Socket 478
Term
Has a 39 x 39 SPGA grid
Definition
Socket 423
Term
Key(s) to press during the boot process to access the AMI BIOS
Definition
Del
Term
Key(s) to press during the boot process to access the Newer Phoenix BIOS
Definition
F2 or F1
Term
Key(s) to press during the boot process to access the Dell computers using Phoenix BIOS
Definition
Ctrl+Alt+Enter
Term
The order in which the system tries to boot from certain devices
Definition
boot sequence
Term
Beginning with the Intel i800 series of chipsets, a(n) ____________________ is used to connect buses
Definition
hub
Term
If the startup password has been enabled and set in BIOS setup, the startup BIOS asks for the password during the ____________________ just before the BIOS begins searching for an OS.
Definition
boot
Term
At the beginning of the boot drive (usually drive C) is the OS ____ record.
Definition
boot
Term
Motherboard settings are stored in a small amount of RAM located on the firmware chip and are called ____.
Definition
CMOS RAM
Term
Using only a tool built in to Windows, how can you find the amount of video RAM available to your video adapter card? Name the tool you would use, how to access the tool, and exactly how to use the tool to find that specific information.
Definition
The tools name is System information utility. To access the sytem information utility, enter Msinfo32.exe in the Start box and press Enter. In windows xp use Start>Run then enter Msinfo32.exe. Under the System Summary select Components, then Display
Term
When the BIOS setup program is used to make changes to the default system configuration, where are those changes stored? Why?
Definition
The changes are saved to CMOS RAM which is more easily writable than ROM BIOS. CMOS RAM is powered by a small battery, so that it retains its contents when the power to the system is off.
Term
The textbook calls the motherboard the "most important component" inside the case. Explain in your words why the motherboard is so important.
Definition
The motherboard provides connections and communication pathways for the other components.
Term
Where does a computer system store the instructions required to communicate with the basic hardware during the early boot process? Why?
Definition
Instructions for communicating with basic hardware are stored on the ROM BIOS chip so that they can be easily accessed during the boot process, long before the OS is loaded and drivers are launched.
Term
What is an operating system shell (in your words)? How is a shell different from a GUI?
Definition
A shell is the part of the operating system that provides access to the OS and the hardware for users and applications. A GUI is one type of user interface that a shell may or may not provide.
Term
The motherboard, like all other components inside the computer case, should be ____ the chassis.
Definition
grounded to
Term
Motherboards that support PCI Express and have the 24-pin P1 connector are sometimes called ____ boards.
Definition
Enhanced ATX
Term
The ____ form factor is a major variation of ATX and addresses some technologies that have emerged since the original development of ATX.
Definition
MicroATX
Term
The ____ form factor was designed by Intel in 2003 for flexibility and can be used by everything from large tower systems to those ultrasmall-systems that sit under a monitor.
Definition
BTX
Term
Can have up to seven expansion slots
Definition
BTX
Term
Has up to four expansion slots
Definition
MicroBTX
Term
None or one expansion slot
Definition
PicoBTX
Term
Used in low-end systems with a riser card
Definition
NLX
Term
A MicroATX motherboard will fit into a case that follows the ATX ____________________ or higher standard.
Definition
2.1
Term
The size and shape of an expansion slot depend on the kind of ____________________ it uses.
Definition
bus
Term
The OS ____ is responsible for interacting with hardware.
Definition
kernel
Term
When you turn on the power to a computer, the processor initializes itself and then searches for its first external instruction. Where is that instruction stored, and how does the processor find it?
Definition
The processor turns to memory address FFF0h, which is the memory address always assigned to the first instruction in the ROM BIOS startup program.
Term
What determines the maximum amount of memory that a processor can theoretically address on a computer system?
Definition
The width of the front side bus.
Term
What is the full PC Rating of a DDR3 DIMM with a frequency of 2500 MHz?
(Note: DDR3 doesn't yet run at 2500 MHz. This question is hypothetical, designed to see if you understand how to do the PC rating calculation.)
Definition
The PC rating is 8 bytes multiplied by the frequency, so 2500 MHz X 8 would be PC3-20000
Term
With the i7 CPU, Intel moved the memory controller inside the CPU package. Explain why this location allows faster performance than the previous location of the memory controller.
Definition
Previously, the memory controller was part of the North Bridge chipset. Data and instructions were transferred from DIMM's to the North Bridge and then to the processor.
Term
List the three different types of firmware programs found on the traditional ROM BIOS chip, and explain the purpose of each of them
Definition
Startup BIOS--instructions for the boot process

System BIOS--communicates with basic hardware before the OS and drivers are loaded

BIOS/CMOS setup program--provides an interface for changing configuration settings
Term
The two main components of the kernel are
Definition
HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer), the layer closest to the hardware.

Executive Services interfaces between the subsystms in user mode and the HAL
Term
Executive services manage hardware by way of the ___ and ___ ___
Definition
HAL and device drivers
Term
A ___ is a program that is running along with the system resources assigned to it.
Definition
process
Term
32 bit processors are known as
Definition
x86 processors
Term
Processors that use underlying 32 bit processing and64 bit instructions are called
Definition
x86-64.
AMD called the technology AMD64
Intel called it EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology. They can handle both 32 bit and 64 bit OS's
Term
What does Intel call their 64 bit processor technology?
Definition
IA64
Term
Provides detailed system information including details about hardware and software.
Definition
System information utility. msinfo32.exe
Term
Variations of the ATX form factor include
Definition
Micro ATX, a smaller version of ATX.

Flex ATX, a smaller version of Micro ATX.
Term
This form factor has improvements over the ATX form factor and can have up to 7 expansion slots.
Definition
BTX
Term
Has up to 4 expansion slots
Definition
MicroBTX
Term
One or no expansion slots
Definition
Pico BTX
Term
Used in low-end systems with a riser card
Definition
NLX
Term
What 2 functions does a power supply perform.
Definition
Transformer, reduces the voltage of AC

Rectifier, converts AC to DC
Term
Materials used to make electrical components include
Definition
conductors, insulators, and semiconductors
Term
A ___ is a gate or switch for an electrical signal
Definition
transitor
Term
A ___ holds an electrical charge.
Definition
capacitor
Term
A ___ allows electricity to flow in one direction.
Definition
diode
Term
A ___ limits electrical current.
Definition
resistor
Term
Important features of a power supply to consider include
Definition
form factor
number and type of connectors
voltage selector switch
fan size and position
on/off switch
wattage capacity
warranty
Term
Devices that control electricity to a computer include
Definition
surge suppressors, line conditioners, and UPS's
Term
A faulty power supply can cause
Definition
memory errors, data errors, system hangs, or reboots; it can damage the motherboard or other components.
Term
Startup BIOS controls the beginning of the boot by
Definition
Checking critical hardware components during POST
Looking at the boot priority order in CMOS RAM to find out which device will be used to load the OS
Term
The ___ is located ___ contains the partition table, which contains a map to partitions on the hard drive
Definition
MBR (Master Boot Record) at the beginning of the hard drive
Term
The sector located after the MBR contains the
Definition
OS load record.
Term
What is used to load the OS?
Definition
BootMgr (Vista)
Ntldr (XP)
Term
What might need to be updated to fix a problem with a motherboard component?
Definition
The motherboard drivers
Term
Updating the ROM BIOS is called
Definition
Flashing BIOS
Term
ROM chips contains
Definition
Programming code to manage POST, system BIOS, and to change BIOS settings.
Term
The BIOS setup program is used to change settings in
Definition
CMOS RAM
Term
The three types of cache are
Definition
L1, located on the processor die.

L2, located off the die, but in the processor package.

L3, located farther from the core than L2.
Term
The memory controller can be located either in the ___ ___ or the ___ ___ ___
Definition
processor package
north bridge chipset
Term
Intel calls technology that allows a processor to handle multiple threads in parallel ___. AMD calls this ___
Definition
Hyper-threading
Hyper Transport
Term
On a 4 pin CPU cooler, what is the 4th pin used for
Definition
speed control. It is called pulse width modulation.
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