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Hardware

Physical components of a computer

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system, such as motherboards, CPUs, memory modules, GPUs, power supplies, storage devices, and peripherals.
5 minutes 5 Questions

Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system that you can touch and manipulate. In CompTIA A+ certification, understanding hardware is fundamental as it forms the core of computer systems. The motherboard serves as the main circuit board connecting all components. It houses the …

Concepts covered: Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Power Supply Unit (PSU), Input/Output (I/O) Ports, Random Access Memory (RAM), Optical Drives, Computer Cooling Solutions, Storage Devices, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), BIOS and UEFI, Motherboards, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Expansion Cards and Slots, Networking Hardware

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CompTIA A+ - Hardware Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Hardware

Question 1

A user needs to transfer files to their new computer, which only has USB Type-C ports, from their old external hard drive with a USB Type-B port. What should they do?

Correct Answer: Use a USB Type-C to USB Type-B cable.

To transfer files from an external hard drive with a USB Type-B port to a computer with only USB Type-C ports, the correct solution is to use a USB Type-C to USB Type-B cable. This cable will have a USB Type-C connector on one end to plug into the new computer, and a USB Type-B connector on the other end to plug into the old external hard drive, allowing direct file transfer between the two devices. An Ethernet cable is used for network connections, not for connecting an external hard drive to a computer. VGA and HDMI cables are used for video output, not for data transfer from an external hard drive.

Question 2

A user has a desktop computer with both an SSD and an HDD installed. They use the computer mainly for gaming and video editing. Which storage device should they prioritize for their OS and applications?

Correct Answer: SSD

The SSD is the best choice for installing the OS and applications on a computer used for gaming and video editing. SSDs offer significantly faster read and write speeds compared to HDDs, which results in quicker boot times, faster application launches, and improved overall system responsiveness. This is especially important for resource-intensive tasks like gaming and video editing, where quick access to data is crucial for optimal performance. HDDs are better suited for storing large files, such as game installations, videos, and other data that doesn't require frequent access. External HDDs and cloud storage are not ideal for running an OS or applications due to slower access speeds and potential connectivity issues.

Question 3

An office worker finds that their optical drive is not reading CDs but reads DVDs without any issue. What is the most likely problem?

Correct Answer: Failed CD laser

Optical drives use separate lasers for CDs and DVDs. A failed CD laser would result in the inability to read CDs but would not affect DVD reading. Other answers are not related to this specific issue.

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