Chapters 1, 3, 4, and 7: Safety, Professionalism, CPUs, RAM, and PSUs

29 flashcards · Other · by Ian Christensen

1. What is a 32-bit CPU?

   CPUs that process 32 bits as a single unit, compared to 8, 16 or 64. Although 32-bit CPUs were used in mainframes as early as the 1960s, personal computers began to migrate from 16 to 32 bits in the 1980s. Starting with the first 32-bit 386 chips in 1985, Intel x86 CPUs were built with a 16-bit mode for compatibility with 16-bit applications (see 386). The 32-bit mode does not result in two times as much real work getting done as in 16-bit mode, because it relates to only one aspect of internal…

2. What is a 64-bit CPU?

   CPUs that process 64 bits as a single unit, compared to 8, 16 or 32. Today's desktop and laptop computers are mostly 64-bit machines; however, there are countless 32-bit, 16-bit and 8-bit microprocessors manufactured every year (see microcontroller). A 64-bit computer is not twice as fast as its 32-bit predecessor. The 64 bit "word size" is only one aspect of internal processing. The CPU's clock speed, along with the speed of storage, RAM and input/output (the peripheral bus) all play roles in…

3. What is a MCC?

   A memory controller chip is an integrated circuit made out of millions of capacitors and transistors that can store data or can be used to process code. Memory chips can hold memory either temporarily through random access memory (RAM), or permanently through read only memory (ROM). Read only memory contains permanently stored data that a processor can read but cannot modify. Memory chips comes in different sizes and shapes. Some can be connected directly while some need special drives. Memory…

4. What is an Address BUS?

   An internal channel that transmits the RAM location of the data being processed or the instruction being fetched. The number of lines (wires) in the address bus determines the maximum amount of RAM that can be directly accessed by the CPU as each line carries one bit of the address. In 1981, the IBM PC had a limit of one megabyte of RAM because its address bus had 20 lines, and 20 bits represents the number 1,048,576 in binary. A computer with a 32-bit address bus can directly address 4GB of ph…

5. What are some advantages of a 64-bit CPUs?

   More memory Compatible with 32-bit programs

6. An x86 processor has a 64-bit CPU 32-bit CPU 16-bit CPU

   32-bit CPU

7. An x64 processor has a 64-bit CPU 32-bit CPU 16-bit CPU

   64-bit CPU

8. Program Files (x86) contains 64-bit programs 32-bit programs 16-bit programs

   32-bit programs

9. Program Files contains 64-bit programs 32-bit programs 16-bit programs

   64-bit programs

10. What is the maximum amount of RAM that a 32-bit CPU can address and the maximum amount of RAM that a 32-bit application can use?

    4 GB RAM

11. What comes in 32 and 64 bit versions?

    CPUs, Operating Systems, applications, etc.

12. What happens when you use too much RAM?

    You get an Out of Memory Error

13. How do you avoid Out of Memory Errors?

    By using virtual memory

14. What is the Out of Memory Error?

    An error message that indicates too many of the computer's resources are being used. A frequent solution is to close one or more applications. The better solution is to add more RAM.

15. What is Virtual Memory?

    Simulating more random access memory (RAM) than actually exists, allowing the computer to run larger programs and multiple programs concurrently. A common function in most every OS and hardware platform, virtual memory uses storage (hard drive or SSD) to temporarily hold what was in RAM. Virtual memory allows multiple programs to load in RAM at the same time. Each application addresses RAM starting at zero, but virtual memory takes control of the RAM addressing and lets each application functio…

16. What setting automates virtual memory?

    Automatically manage paging file size for all drives

17. What command displays hidden files in Windows Terminal?

    dir /ah

18. What is a swap file?

    A disk file used by Windows for its virtual memory. A virtual memory system temporarily stores segments of the application on disk when there is not enough RAM to hold all the programs being used. The swap file in Windows is PAGEFILE.SYS, the size of which can be adjusted in the system control panel.

19. What is a spike or surge?

    When there is a short term increase in voltage

20. What is a sag or brown out?

    When there is a short term decrease in voltage

21. What is a short term increase in voltage called?

    Spike or surge

22. What is a short term decrease in voltage called?

    Sag or brown out

23. What utility protects against spikes and surges?

    Surge protector or surge suppressor

24. What is a trip alert?

    When a surge protector indicates that a spike or surge has occurred.

25. When a surge protector indicates that a spike or surge has occurred it is called?

    Trip alert

26. What can surge protectors be used to protect?

    Ethernet, landlines, USB, and regular outlet power

27. What is a UPS?

    An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) protects electronics from spikes and surges as well as sags and brownouts. These contain a battery that maintain the appropriate voltage during sags and brownouts.

28. What utility protects against spikes and surges as well as sags and brownouts?

    An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

29. What do surge protectors not protect against?

    Sags and brownouts