D316 - IT Foundations Exam Study questions and
Verified Answers
multithreading
a thread is a stream of instructions generated by a software application. most applications run a
single process in a single thread; software that runs multiple parallel threads within a process is
said to be multithreaded.
m; this reduces the amount of "idle time" the CPU spends waiting for new instructions to
process.
peripheral devices
the components of a pc designed to perform the function of input, output, or for external
storage.
input: keyboard, mouse, mic.
output: monitor, speakers, printer.
port
the connection point on an I/O panel that allows peripheral devices to be connected to the pc.
m; these are designed for different device types so there are a variety of types as well.
I/O (input/output) panel
the cutouts housing the ports that allow for the connection of peripheral devices.
m; front panel ports: audio, USB. motherboard panel ports; everything necessary. adapter card
ports; whatever necessary for its function.
,I/O shield
a piece of plastic on the I/O rear panel.
grounds I/O ports to the case. blocks electromagnetic interference. acts as a dust barrier.
power supply unit (PSU)
powers PC components with direct current (DC) low voltage power; must meet the combined
power requirements of the components.
m; access is on the tower's rear panel. has a fan exhaust.
electrostatic discharge (ESD)
a static charge on someone's finger or on a tool conducted into a computer chip that can cause
a temporary or permanent fault in the chip.
m; connected through to the PSU to the building's ground system diverts this charge away from
the chip.
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
energy from magnetic and electrical sources that components are exposed to that can cause
temporary or permanent faults.
m; a pc's case absorbs this energy.
bit (b), or binary digit
has the value of one or zero and is referred to with a "b".
byte (B)
,a multiple of eight bits and is referred to with a "B".
m; storage is often measured in THIS.
universal serial bus (USB)
the standard means of connecting most types of peripheral devices to a computer.
half-duplex
each device can send or receive, but not at the same time.
full-duplex
each device can send and receive simultaneously.
connector
the part of a peripheral cable that can be inserted into a port with the same shape or form
factor.
form factor
meaning the shape of any particular device or a part of a device.
ex; the connectors on a cable. the shape of a port. the size and shape of a motherboard.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
both digital audio and video interface. developed for use on both consumer electronics and
computer equipment.
displayport
daisy-chaining. similar features to HDMI: 4K, audio, content protection.
m; royalty-free standard by the video electronics standards association (VESA).
thunderbolt
, daisy-chaining. can be used as a display interface and as a general peripheral interface.
m; distinguished with an icon. current version 3 uses the same port, connector, and cabling as
USB-C.
lightning
a proprietary port and connector for apple's iphones/ipads that are only found on their mobile
devices.
m; requires a suitable adapter to connect to other devices.
serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)
the standard means of connecting internal storage drives within a desktop pc.
m; 7-pin connector for data. 15-pin connector to the power supply.
original standard supported speeds up to 150 MBps, revision 2 supported speeds up to 300
MBps, and revision 3 supported speeds up to 600 MBps
M.2
an interface often used for SSDs to be provisioned in an adapter card form factor.
m; this port is oriented horizontally.
molex power connectors
used to connect legacy components to the power supply unit (PSU).
m; usually white or clear plastic and has 4 pins.
wiring colors
Verified Answers
multithreading
a thread is a stream of instructions generated by a software application. most applications run a
single process in a single thread; software that runs multiple parallel threads within a process is
said to be multithreaded.
m; this reduces the amount of "idle time" the CPU spends waiting for new instructions to
process.
peripheral devices
the components of a pc designed to perform the function of input, output, or for external
storage.
input: keyboard, mouse, mic.
output: monitor, speakers, printer.
port
the connection point on an I/O panel that allows peripheral devices to be connected to the pc.
m; these are designed for different device types so there are a variety of types as well.
I/O (input/output) panel
the cutouts housing the ports that allow for the connection of peripheral devices.
m; front panel ports: audio, USB. motherboard panel ports; everything necessary. adapter card
ports; whatever necessary for its function.
,I/O shield
a piece of plastic on the I/O rear panel.
grounds I/O ports to the case. blocks electromagnetic interference. acts as a dust barrier.
power supply unit (PSU)
powers PC components with direct current (DC) low voltage power; must meet the combined
power requirements of the components.
m; access is on the tower's rear panel. has a fan exhaust.
electrostatic discharge (ESD)
a static charge on someone's finger or on a tool conducted into a computer chip that can cause
a temporary or permanent fault in the chip.
m; connected through to the PSU to the building's ground system diverts this charge away from
the chip.
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
energy from magnetic and electrical sources that components are exposed to that can cause
temporary or permanent faults.
m; a pc's case absorbs this energy.
bit (b), or binary digit
has the value of one or zero and is referred to with a "b".
byte (B)
,a multiple of eight bits and is referred to with a "B".
m; storage is often measured in THIS.
universal serial bus (USB)
the standard means of connecting most types of peripheral devices to a computer.
half-duplex
each device can send or receive, but not at the same time.
full-duplex
each device can send and receive simultaneously.
connector
the part of a peripheral cable that can be inserted into a port with the same shape or form
factor.
form factor
meaning the shape of any particular device or a part of a device.
ex; the connectors on a cable. the shape of a port. the size and shape of a motherboard.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
both digital audio and video interface. developed for use on both consumer electronics and
computer equipment.
displayport
daisy-chaining. similar features to HDMI: 4K, audio, content protection.
m; royalty-free standard by the video electronics standards association (VESA).
thunderbolt
, daisy-chaining. can be used as a display interface and as a general peripheral interface.
m; distinguished with an icon. current version 3 uses the same port, connector, and cabling as
USB-C.
lightning
a proprietary port and connector for apple's iphones/ipads that are only found on their mobile
devices.
m; requires a suitable adapter to connect to other devices.
serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)
the standard means of connecting internal storage drives within a desktop pc.
m; 7-pin connector for data. 15-pin connector to the power supply.
original standard supported speeds up to 150 MBps, revision 2 supported speeds up to 300
MBps, and revision 3 supported speeds up to 600 MBps
M.2
an interface often used for SSDs to be provisioned in an adapter card form factor.
m; this port is oriented horizontally.
molex power connectors
used to connect legacy components to the power supply unit (PSU).
m; usually white or clear plastic and has 4 pins.
wiring colors
