Exam Questions and Answers
frontside bus - Correct Answers: Signal pathway for communication between CPU and memory
backside bus - Correct Answers: Signal pathway between CPU and L2 or L3 cache
frontside bus - Correct Answers: Where cache is placed if no backside bus exists
ATX - Correct Answers: Largest motherboard form factor, puts the processor and memory in line with
the fan output of the power supply, allowing the processor to run cooler
micro ATX - Correct Answers: Follows the ATX principle of component placement for enhanced cooling
but with a smaller footprint, fits into ATX cases
ITX - Correct Answers: Family of small motherboard form factors with mini-, nano-, pico-, and mobile-
categories.
Southbridge - Correct Answers: This is in charge of anything other than CPU, memory and cache, and
PCIe
SODIMM and MicroDIMM - Correct Answers: Form factors for laptop memory
L1 cache - Correct Answers: Term for cache memory built into the processor
L2 cache - Correct Answers: Term for cache memory external to the processor, possibly physically close
by
L3 cache - Correct Answers: Term for cache memory on the motherboard, when the processor already
has external cache
,firmware - Correct Answers: The name given to any software that is encoded in hardware, usually on
ROM, and run without extra instructions from the operating system
option ROMs - Correct Answers: Another term for things like the SCSI BIOS and video BIOS
Parity checking - Correct Answers: A rudimentary memory error-checking scheme that offers no error
correction
1 - Correct Answers: How many bits can ECC memory correct?
single-sided memory - Correct Answers: Memory modules with chips on just one side
double-sided memory - Correct Answers: Memory modules with chips on both sides, which the memory
controller must switch between
buffered or registered memory modules - Correct Answers: These memory modules include specialized
chips that act as buffers for all signals from the memory controller, except, in some cases, the data
signals
Load-reduced DIMMs - Correct Answers: A form of registered DIMMs that increase performance by
maintaining parallel communication
onboard - Correct Answers: Term for connectors included on the motherboard
off board - Correct Answers: Term for connectors not on the motherboard, but residing on adapter cards
drive interface - Correct Answers: Name for the connector on the motherboard or adapter card that
connects via cable to the hard drive
3m - Correct Answers: Max cable length of USB 1
, 5m - Correct Answers: Max cable length of USB 2
3m - Correct Answers: Max cable length of USB 3
(hub count * max cable length) + max cable length - Correct Answers: Formula for calculating max USB
cable length with hubs
127 - Correct Answers: Max number of USB devices per host
4.5m - Correct Answers: Max FireWire 400 cable length
63 - Correct Answers: Maximum number of FireWire devices per bus
72m - Correct Answers: Maximum distance between FireWire devices
15m - Correct Answers: Max passive HDMI cable length
30m - Correct Answers: Max active HDMI cable length (hint: double passive HDMI length)
3m - Correct Answers: Max passive DisplayPort cable length
33m - Correct Answers: Max active DisplayPort cable length (11 times passive cable length)
3m - Correct Answers: Max Thunderbolt cable length
6 - Correct Answers: How many levels deep can a Thunderbolt daisy chain extend?
green - Correct Answers: Mouse PS/2 port color