Rage Inside The Machine
This is the main circuit board that connects all components in a computer.
What is the motherboard?
A mouse and keyboard fall under this category of devices.
What are input devices?
The smallest unit of digital data in a computer.
What is a bit?
This removable panel allows access to the computer’s internal components.
What is the side panel?
This 15-pin analog video connector was the standard for CRT monitors and is now being phased out.
What is VGA (Video Graphics Array)?
This component processes instructions and is known as the brain of the computer.
What is the CPU (Central Processing Unit)?
USB flash drives and external hard drives fall under this type of peripheral device.
What is external storage?
A group of 8 bits forms this larger data unit.
What is a byte?
The power button, drive activity lights, and removable media drives are located on this part of the case.
What is the front panel?
This legacy connection standard was used for parallel data transfer in older hard drives and is also known as PATA.
What is IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)?
This type of storage device is faster and has no moving parts compared to HDDs.
What is an SSD (Solid-State Drive)?
This output device converts digital signals into audio for users to hear.
What are speakers?
This type of connector is commonly used for internal hard drives and SSDs.
What is SATA?
This motherboard form factor is square-shaped and supports up to four expansion slots.
What is Micro-ATX (mATX)?
This legacy storage bus standard required devices to have unique IDs and used ribbon cables for internal connections.
What is SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)?
This unit converts AC power to DC power and provides electricity to all PC components.
What is the PSU (Power Supply Unit)?
A user needs a device to input video for online meetings. What should they use?
What is a webcam?
This type of port, often blue, allows for faster data transfer rates compared to its predecessor.
What is USB 3.0?
This motherboard component synchronizes system operations and determines how fast the CPU and memory can communicate.
What is the system clock?
This serial connection interface was commonly used for external modems and network equipment and is labeled as COM ports in Windows.
What is RS-232?
This motherboard feature determines the size and layout of the board, affecting component compatibility.
What is the form factor?
A user needs to connect a network adapter, sound card, and graphics card. What type of internal components will they use?
What are adapter cards?
This storage device uses magnetic disks to store data and is known for its large capacity but slower speed compared to newer technologies.
What is a Hard Disk Drive (HDD)?
This small metal cover should be installed over unused expansion slots to prevent dust buildup and overheating.
What is a blanking plate?
This legacy keyboard and mouse interface used a 6-pin mini-DIN connector and was replaced by USB.
What is PS/2?