D316 IT Foundations Practice questions and
Verified Answers
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.
multithreading
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.
peripheral devices
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.
port
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 (input/output) panel
,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.
I/O shield
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.
power supply unit (PSU)
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.
electrostatic discharge (ESD)
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.
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
has the value of one or zero and is referred to with a "b".
bit (b), or binary digit
a multiple of eight bits and is referred to with a "B".
m; storage is often measured in THIS.
,byte (B)
the standard means of connecting most types of peripheral devices to a computer.
universal serial bus (USB)
each device can send or receive, but not at the same time.
half-duplex
each device can send and receive simultaneously.
full-duplex
the part of a peripheral cable that can be inserted into a port with the same shape or form
factor.
connector
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.
form factor
both digital audio and video interface. developed for use on both consumer electronics and
computer equipment.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
daisy-chaining. similar features to HDMI: 4K, audio, content protection.
m; royalty-free standard by the video electronics standards association (VESA).
displayport
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.
thunderbolt
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.
lightning
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
serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)
an interface often used for SSDs to be provisioned in an adapter card form factor.
m; this port is oriented horizontally.
M.2
used to connect legacy components to the power supply unit (PSU).
m; usually white or clear plastic and has 4 pins.
molex power connectors
yellow = 12v
red = 5v
Verified Answers
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.
multithreading
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.
peripheral devices
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.
port
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 (input/output) panel
,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.
I/O shield
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.
power supply unit (PSU)
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.
electrostatic discharge (ESD)
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.
electromagnetic interference (EMI)
has the value of one or zero and is referred to with a "b".
bit (b), or binary digit
a multiple of eight bits and is referred to with a "B".
m; storage is often measured in THIS.
,byte (B)
the standard means of connecting most types of peripheral devices to a computer.
universal serial bus (USB)
each device can send or receive, but not at the same time.
half-duplex
each device can send and receive simultaneously.
full-duplex
the part of a peripheral cable that can be inserted into a port with the same shape or form
factor.
connector
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.
form factor
both digital audio and video interface. developed for use on both consumer electronics and
computer equipment.
high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)
daisy-chaining. similar features to HDMI: 4K, audio, content protection.
m; royalty-free standard by the video electronics standards association (VESA).
displayport
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.
thunderbolt
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.
lightning
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
serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)
an interface often used for SSDs to be provisioned in an adapter card form factor.
m; this port is oriented horizontally.
M.2
used to connect legacy components to the power supply unit (PSU).
m; usually white or clear plastic and has 4 pins.
molex power connectors
yellow = 12v
red = 5v
