1|Page
WGU C393 IT Foundations UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
2026
ATX - ANSWER -Advanced Technology Extended. Intel developed
motherboard, measures 12" x 9.6", in line with the fan output allowing
it to run cooler.
Micro ATX - ANSWER -Designed for standard and small ATX cases, less
memory slots and expansion slots and integrated components.
Measures 9.6" x 9.6".
ITX - ANSWER -A low power, small form factor board for specialty uses.
Includes Mini (6.7"x6.7"), Nano (4.7"x4.7"), Pico (3.9"x2.8"), Mobile
(2.4"x2.4")
Bus - ANSWER -The way a computer connects with other computers.
Chipsets - ANSWER -A collection of chips or circuits that perform
interface and peripheral functions for the processor. Divided into
Northbridge and Southbridge.
Northbridge - ANSWER -The set of circuitry or chips that performs one
very important function: management of high speed peripheral
communications.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Southbridge - ANSWER -Responsible for providing support to the
slower onboard peripherals, managing their communications with the
rest of the computer and the resources given to them.
Expansion Slots - ANSWER -A narrow slot on the motherboard where
an expansion card can be inserted. Expansion slots connect to a bus on
the motherboard.
Memory Slots - ANSWER -Allows computer memory to be inserted into
the computer. Also referred to as a RAM slot.
External Cache - ANSWER -In a CPU, special memory that resides
outside the CPU's core and is used to temporarily store instructions and
data in order to increase the processing speed.
CPU - ANSWER -Central Processing Unit; the brain of the computer.
Power Connectors - ANSWER -Provides power to certain components.
Such as the motherboard, CPU, expansion cards, hard drives (SATA and
Molex)
BIOS - ANSWER -Basic Input/Output System
pg. 2
,3|Page
UEFI - ANSWER -Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. A method used
to boot some systems and intended to replace Basic Input/Output
System (BIOS) firmware.
CMOS battery - ANSWER -The battery on the motherboard used to
power the CMOS chip that holds BIOS setup data so that the data is
retained when the computer is unplugged.
Hyperthreading - ANSWER -Makes logical cores appear as physical
cores to the operating system. It improves parallelization of
computations (doing multiple tasks at once) performed on
microprocessors.
Cores - ANSWER -A part of a multi-core processor. A multi-core
processor is a single component with two or more independent actual
CPUs, which are the units responsibly for the fetch-decode-execute
cycle.
Cache - ANSWER -(n.) a hiding place; something hidden or stored
Integrated GPU - ANSWER -This is a CPU extension that adds the
functionality of a limited graphics card.
DRAM - ANSWER -Dynamic Random Access Memory - A type of
random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate
capacitor within an integrated circuit.
pg. 3
, 4|Page
SRAM - ANSWER -"Static Random Access Memory-Expensive and fast
memory that uses small latches called ""flip-flops"" to store bits."
ROM - ANSWER -Read Only Memory
CMOS - ANSWER -Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors are a
basic unit used to construct integrated circuits.
DIMM - ANSWER -[Dual In-line Memory Module] a small circuit board,
capable of holding several memory chips, that has a 64-bit data path
and can be easily connected to a PC's system board. (contrast with
SIMM)
SIMM - ANSWER -Single Inline Memory Module is a small circuit board
that holds several memory chips. SIMMs have 30-pin or 72-pin
configurations.
RIMM - ANSWER -A type of memory module developed by Rambus,
Inc. Only supports Rambus memory and fits its own slot. 184 pins.
SODIMM - ANSWER -Small outline dual inline memory module. 144
pins, 72 on the front and back. Used in laptops. Also comes in a 72 pin
version.
pg. 4
WGU C393 IT Foundations UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
2026
ATX - ANSWER -Advanced Technology Extended. Intel developed
motherboard, measures 12" x 9.6", in line with the fan output allowing
it to run cooler.
Micro ATX - ANSWER -Designed for standard and small ATX cases, less
memory slots and expansion slots and integrated components.
Measures 9.6" x 9.6".
ITX - ANSWER -A low power, small form factor board for specialty uses.
Includes Mini (6.7"x6.7"), Nano (4.7"x4.7"), Pico (3.9"x2.8"), Mobile
(2.4"x2.4")
Bus - ANSWER -The way a computer connects with other computers.
Chipsets - ANSWER -A collection of chips or circuits that perform
interface and peripheral functions for the processor. Divided into
Northbridge and Southbridge.
Northbridge - ANSWER -The set of circuitry or chips that performs one
very important function: management of high speed peripheral
communications.
pg. 1
,2|Page
Southbridge - ANSWER -Responsible for providing support to the
slower onboard peripherals, managing their communications with the
rest of the computer and the resources given to them.
Expansion Slots - ANSWER -A narrow slot on the motherboard where
an expansion card can be inserted. Expansion slots connect to a bus on
the motherboard.
Memory Slots - ANSWER -Allows computer memory to be inserted into
the computer. Also referred to as a RAM slot.
External Cache - ANSWER -In a CPU, special memory that resides
outside the CPU's core and is used to temporarily store instructions and
data in order to increase the processing speed.
CPU - ANSWER -Central Processing Unit; the brain of the computer.
Power Connectors - ANSWER -Provides power to certain components.
Such as the motherboard, CPU, expansion cards, hard drives (SATA and
Molex)
BIOS - ANSWER -Basic Input/Output System
pg. 2
,3|Page
UEFI - ANSWER -Unified Extensible Firmware Interface. A method used
to boot some systems and intended to replace Basic Input/Output
System (BIOS) firmware.
CMOS battery - ANSWER -The battery on the motherboard used to
power the CMOS chip that holds BIOS setup data so that the data is
retained when the computer is unplugged.
Hyperthreading - ANSWER -Makes logical cores appear as physical
cores to the operating system. It improves parallelization of
computations (doing multiple tasks at once) performed on
microprocessors.
Cores - ANSWER -A part of a multi-core processor. A multi-core
processor is a single component with two or more independent actual
CPUs, which are the units responsibly for the fetch-decode-execute
cycle.
Cache - ANSWER -(n.) a hiding place; something hidden or stored
Integrated GPU - ANSWER -This is a CPU extension that adds the
functionality of a limited graphics card.
DRAM - ANSWER -Dynamic Random Access Memory - A type of
random-access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate
capacitor within an integrated circuit.
pg. 3
, 4|Page
SRAM - ANSWER -"Static Random Access Memory-Expensive and fast
memory that uses small latches called ""flip-flops"" to store bits."
ROM - ANSWER -Read Only Memory
CMOS - ANSWER -Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors are a
basic unit used to construct integrated circuits.
DIMM - ANSWER -[Dual In-line Memory Module] a small circuit board,
capable of holding several memory chips, that has a 64-bit data path
and can be easily connected to a PC's system board. (contrast with
SIMM)
SIMM - ANSWER -Single Inline Memory Module is a small circuit board
that holds several memory chips. SIMMs have 30-pin or 72-pin
configurations.
RIMM - ANSWER -A type of memory module developed by Rambus,
Inc. Only supports Rambus memory and fits its own slot. 184 pins.
SODIMM - ANSWER -Small outline dual inline memory module. 144
pins, 72 on the front and back. Used in laptops. Also comes in a 72 pin
version.
pg. 4
