1.0 Hardware

1.1 Categorize storage devices and backup media

  • FDD
  • HDD
    • Solid state vs. magnetic
  • Optical drives
    • CD / DVD / RW / Blu-Ray
  • Removable storage
    • Tape drive
    • Solid state (e.g. thumb drive, flash, SD cards, USB)
    • External CD-RW and hard drive
    • Hot swappable devices and non-hot swappable devices

1.2 Explain motherboard components, types and features

  • Form Factor
    • ATX / BTX,
    • micro ATX
    • NLX
  • I/O interfaces
    • Sound
    • Video
    • USB 1.1 and 2.0
    • Serial
    • IEEE 1394 / Firewire
    • Parallel
    • NIC
    • Modem
    • PS/2
  • Memory slots
    • RIMM
    • DIMM
    • SODIMM
    • SIMM
  • Processor sockets
  • Bus architecture
  • Bus slots
    • PCI
    • AGP
    • PCIe
    • AMR
    • CNR
    • PCMCIA
  • PATA
    • IDE
    • EIDE
  • SATA, eSATA
  • Contrast RAID (levels 0, 1, 5)
  • Chipsets
  • BIOS / CMOS / Firmware
    • POST
    • CMOS battery
  • Riser card / daughterboard

1.3 Classify power supplies types and characteristics

  • AC adapter
  • ATX proprietary
  • Voltage, wattage and capacity
  • Voltage selector switch
  • Pins (20, 24)

1.4 Explain the purpose and characteristics of CPUs and their features

  • Identify CPU types
    • AMD
    • Intel
  • Hyper threading
  • Multi core
    • Dual core
    • Triple core
    • Quad core
  • Onchip cache
    • L1
    • L2
  • Speed (real vs. actual)
  • 32bit vs. 64 bit

1.5 Explain cooling methods and devices

  • Heat sinks
  • CPU and case fans
  • Liquid cooling systems
  • Thermal compound

1.6 Compare and contrast memory types, characteristics and their purpose

  • Types
    • DRAM
    • SRAM
    • SDRAM
    • DDR / DDR2 / DDR3
    • RAMBUS
  • Parity vs. Non-parity
  • ECC vs. non-ECC
  • Single sided vs. double sided
  • Single channel vs. dual channel
  • Speed
    • PC100
    • PC133
    • PC2700
    • PC3200
    • DDR3-1600
    • DDR2-667

1.7 Distinguish between the different display devices and their characteristics

  • Projectors, CRT and LCD
  • LCD technologies
    • Resolution (e.g. XGA, SXGA+, UXGA, WUXGA)
    • Contrast ratio
    • Native resolution
  • Connector types
    • VGA
    • HDMi
    • S-Video
    • Component / RGB
    • DVI pin compatibility
  • Settings
    • Refresh rate
    • Resolution
    • Multi-monitor
    • Degauss

1.8 Install and configure peripherals and input devices

  • Mouse
  • Keyboard
  • Bar code reader
  • Multimedia (e.g. web and digital cameras, MIDI, microphones)
  • Biometric devices
  • Touch screen
  • KVM switch

1.9 Summarize the function and types of adapter cards

  • Video
    • PCI
    • PCIe
    • AGP
  • Multimedia
    • Sound card
    • TV tuner cards
    • Capture cards
  • I/O
    • SCSI
    • Serial
    • USB
    • Parallel
  • Communications
    • NIC
    • Modem

1.10 Install, configure and optimize laptop components and features

  • Expansion devices
    • PCMCIA cards
    • PCI Express cards
    • Docking station
  • Communication connections
    • Bluetooth
    • Infrared
    • Cellular WAN
    • Ethernet
    • Modem
  • Power and electrical input devices
    • Auto-switching
    • Fixed input power supplies
    • Batteries
  • Input devices
    • Stylus / digitizer
    • Function keys
    • Point devices (e.g. touch pad, point stick / track point)

1.11 Install and configure printers

  • Differentiate between printer types
    • Laser
    • Inkjet
    • Thermal
    • Impact
  • Local vs. network printers
  • Printer drivers (compatibility)
  • Consumables

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