CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Introduction and “Guide to the Guide”       9  CompTIA A+ Core Technologies Exam Blueprint

Domain 3.0: Preventive Maintenance 1 Domain 5.0: Printers

This domain requires knowledge of specific terminology, facts, ways and means of dealing with classifications, categories and principles of motherboards, processors in memory in microcomputer systems:

4.1 Distinguish between popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics:

• Popular CPU chips (Intel, AMD, Cyrix)
  
  
• Characteristics
  
  
• Physical size
  
  
• Voltage
  
  
• Speeds
  
  
• On board cache or not
  
  
• Sockets
  
  
• (SEC) single edge contact

4.2 Identify the categories of RAM (random access memory) terminology, their locations, and physical characteristics:

• Terminology:
  • EDO RAM (extended data output RAM)
    
    
  • DRAM (dynamic random access memory)
    
    
  • SRAM (static RAM)
    
    
  • RIMM (Rambus in-line memory module 184 pins)
    
    
  • VRAM (video RAM)
    
    
  • SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM)
    
    
  • WRAM (Windows accelerator card RAM)
  
  
  
• Locations and physical characteristics:
  • Memory bank
    
    
  • Memory chips (8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit)
    
    
  • SIMMS (Single in-line memory module)
    
    
  • DIMMS (dual in-line memory module)
    
    
  • Parity chips vs. non-parity chips

4.5 Identify the most popular types of motherboards, the components and architecture (bus structures and power supplies):

• Types of motherboards:
  • AT (full and baby)
    
    
  • ATX
  
  
  
• Components:
  • Communications ports
    
    
  • SIMM and DIMM
    
    
  • Processor sockets
    
    
  • External cache memory (level 2)
  
  
  
• Bus architectures:
  • ISA
    
    
  • PCI
    
    
  • AGP
    
    
  • USB (Universal serial bus)
    
    
  • VESA local bus (VL-bus)
  
  
  
• Basic compatibility guidelines:
  • IDE (ATA, ATAPI, ULTRA- DMA, EIDE)
    
    
  • SCSI (wide, fast, ultra, LVD (Low Voltage Differential)

4.4 Identify the purpose of CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor), what it contains and how to change its basic parameters:

• Printer parallel port - Uni, bi-directional, disabled/enable, ECP, EPP
  
  
• Com/serial port-memory address, interrupt request, disable
  
  
• Floppy Drive-enable/disable drive or boot, speed, density
  
  
• Hard drive- size and drive type
  
  
• Memory-parity, non-party
  
  
• Boot sequence
  
  
• Date/Time
  
  
• Passwords
  
  
• Plug & play BIOS

Domain 3.0: Preventive Maintenance 1 Domain 5.0: Printers