Test Review for Cis116

1. Why is all data stored in a computer in binary form?

* Binary is the format that the computer “understands,” not a programming language or a human language. All instructions between hardware and software in a computer are reduced to a simple.

2. What are the four primary functions of hardware?

* Input, processing, output, and storage.

3. What are the two main input devices and two main output devices?

* The two main input devices are the keyboard and the mouse. The two main output devices are the monitor and the printer.

4. What three thins do electronic hardware devices need in order to function?

* A method for the CPU to communicate with the device, software to instruct and control the device, and electricity to power the device.

5. How many bits are in a byte?

* Eight.

6. What is the purpose of an expansion slot on a motherboard?

* An expansion slot on a motherboard is used for an expansion card, which enables a device that is not on the motherboard to communicate with the CPU.

7. Which component on the motherboard is used primarily for processing?

* The CPU (center processing unit), also called the processor.

8. Name the two main CPU manufacturers.

* Intel and AMD.

9. Order the following ports according to speed, placing the fastest port first: FireWire, eSATA, USB.

* eSATA, FireWire, USB

10. What are two other names for the system bus?

* Possible answer: Memory bus, host bus, front side bus, external bus.

11. What type of output does a S/PDIF port provide?

* High quality sound to an audio system.

12. Why is an SSD hard drive more reliable under rugged conditions than an IDE hard drive?

* Because the SSD drive has no moving parts.

13. How is the best way to determine if a cable inside a computer is a data cable or a power cable?

* Follow the cable from its source to its destination.

14. List three types of ports that are often found coming directly off the...