8/26/26, 7:43 ECS1601 SUMMARY
PM
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1001 Study Guide
| Complete Hardware, CPU, Ports,
Connectors, Peripheral Devices &
Troubleshooting Theory Revision Notes |
HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, DVI, RJ-45,
Overclocking, Hyper-Threading & Cache.
Troubleshooting Theory
Steps a technician uses to solve a problem. CompTIA A+ defines
six steps: identify the problem; establish a theory of probable
cause; test the theory to determine cause; establish a plan of
action to resolve the problem and implement a solution; verify
full system functionality and if applicable implement preventive
measures; and document findings, actions, and outcomes.
System Unit contains:
Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Hard Drives; Every other device is a Peripheral.
Peripheral Devices
Monitors, Web Cameras, Keyboards, Mice, Game Controllers,
HDMI
High Definition Multimedia Interface
DisplayPort
A port that transmits digital video and audio (not analog
transmissions) and is slowly replacing VGA and DVI ports on
personal computers.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
An older standard type of plug and connector for computer display devices
Network Cable Connection (RJ-45)
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PM
Uses a type of connector. Creates a Wired Network
Mini-DIN (PS/2 or DIN-6)
Older connector for Keyboards and Mice
Parallel Port (LPT port)
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PM
25 pin female port used by older printers (colored Purple)
Serial Port Connector
Oldest connection port on computers. Used to connect items like
a monitor.
VGA Port (Video Graphics Array)
Port used to connect your monitor (or other visual output device)
to your computer. Uses an Analog signal.
S-Video connector
Early-gen video connector. Is an analog video signal that carries
the video data as two separate signals (brightness and color).
Mini DisplayPort
A smaller version of DisplayPort that is used on laptops or other
mobile devices.
SD Card Slot
Removable data storage
Mass Storage
Hard drives, optical discs, removable media drives, etc.
A Computer has/is:
CPU, RAM, Mass Storage, and an Operating System. Laptops, mobile devices,
and internet of things (IoT) devices
1 GHz =
1 Billion cycles per second
1 MHz =
1 million cycles per second
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Clock Multiplying
Any CPU will take the beat from the System crystal and multiply it.
Multipliers are built in the CPU itself.
Overclocking
Running a processor at a higher frequency than is recommended by the
manufacturer, which can result in an unstable system, but is a popular thing
to do when a computer is used for gaming.
Multiple-core CPUs
resulted in only minor changes to CPU internals but substantially improved
performance by integrating multiple processing cores and memory caches on
a single chip and by increasing raw CPU speed.
Hyper-Threading
A technology that permits quicker processing of information by enabling a new
set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished.
Pipeline Stall
When the decoding step of the machine cycle takes more than one clock
cycle. CPU Cache related
Level 1 Cache
64k of RAM. So fast it runs at Multiplied speed of the CPU
Level 2 Cache
128-256k of RAM, Runs at half of the clock multiplied speed.
Level 3 Cache
Megabit size. Runs at base motherboard speed. allows a CPU to
avoid a stall.
Set Association (Cache)
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PM
CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1001 Study Guide
| Complete Hardware, CPU, Ports,
Connectors, Peripheral Devices &
Troubleshooting Theory Revision Notes |
HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, DVI, RJ-45,
Overclocking, Hyper-Threading & Cache.
Troubleshooting Theory
Steps a technician uses to solve a problem. CompTIA A+ defines
six steps: identify the problem; establish a theory of probable
cause; test the theory to determine cause; establish a plan of
action to resolve the problem and implement a solution; verify
full system functionality and if applicable implement preventive
measures; and document findings, actions, and outcomes.
System Unit contains:
Motherboard, CPU, RAM, Hard Drives; Every other device is a Peripheral.
Peripheral Devices
Monitors, Web Cameras, Keyboards, Mice, Game Controllers,
HDMI
High Definition Multimedia Interface
DisplayPort
A port that transmits digital video and audio (not analog
transmissions) and is slowly replacing VGA and DVI ports on
personal computers.
DVI (Digital Visual Interface)
An older standard type of plug and connector for computer display devices
Network Cable Connection (RJ-45)
1/55
,8/26/26, 7:43 ECS1601 SUMMARY
PM
Uses a type of connector. Creates a Wired Network
Mini-DIN (PS/2 or DIN-6)
Older connector for Keyboards and Mice
Parallel Port (LPT port)
2/55
,8/26/26, 7:43 ECS1601 SUMMARY
PM
25 pin female port used by older printers (colored Purple)
Serial Port Connector
Oldest connection port on computers. Used to connect items like
a monitor.
VGA Port (Video Graphics Array)
Port used to connect your monitor (or other visual output device)
to your computer. Uses an Analog signal.
S-Video connector
Early-gen video connector. Is an analog video signal that carries
the video data as two separate signals (brightness and color).
Mini DisplayPort
A smaller version of DisplayPort that is used on laptops or other
mobile devices.
SD Card Slot
Removable data storage
Mass Storage
Hard drives, optical discs, removable media drives, etc.
A Computer has/is:
CPU, RAM, Mass Storage, and an Operating System. Laptops, mobile devices,
and internet of things (IoT) devices
1 GHz =
1 Billion cycles per second
1 MHz =
1 million cycles per second
3/55
, 8/26/26, 7:43 ECS1601 SUMMARY
PM
Clock Multiplying
Any CPU will take the beat from the System crystal and multiply it.
Multipliers are built in the CPU itself.
Overclocking
Running a processor at a higher frequency than is recommended by the
manufacturer, which can result in an unstable system, but is a popular thing
to do when a computer is used for gaming.
Multiple-core CPUs
resulted in only minor changes to CPU internals but substantially improved
performance by integrating multiple processing cores and memory caches on
a single chip and by increasing raw CPU speed.
Hyper-Threading
A technology that permits quicker processing of information by enabling a new
set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished.
Pipeline Stall
When the decoding step of the machine cycle takes more than one clock
cycle. CPU Cache related
Level 1 Cache
64k of RAM. So fast it runs at Multiplied speed of the CPU
Level 2 Cache
128-256k of RAM, Runs at half of the clock multiplied speed.
Level 3 Cache
Megabit size. Runs at base motherboard speed. allows a CPU to
avoid a stall.
Set Association (Cache)
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