Acronyms
P.S.U.
"Power Supply Unit"
You should NEVER open a PSU due to the dangerous voltages stored in the..
"Capacitor."
This "popping noise", typically indicates that THIS has failed.
"A Projector Bulb"
The Purpose of a Fan Inside a PSU:
"To dissipate heat generated by the PSU's internal components."
Name a physical form factor size (in inches) for fixed disks, that is commonly used for optical drives and smart card readers.
"The 5.25-inch Form Factor."
S.A.T.A.
"Serial Advanced Technology Attachment"
The Difference Between a Dead Pixel, and a Stuck Pixel..
Dead = Black/Unlit | Stuck = Always Bright
1 long beep, followed by 2 short beeps typically indicates what?
"A Video Card / GPU Error during the computer's startup."
(AKA: A Video Adapter Error.)
The Purpose of Thermal Paste:
"To fill microscopic gaps between a CPU and its cooler to maximize heat transfer & prevent overheating."
The term for the number of read/write operations per second?
"Input/Output Operations Per Second. (IOPS)"
R.A.I.D.
"Redundant Array of Independent Disks."
The Final 2 Steps an IT Specialist should take BEFORE officially considering a ticket "closed.."
1. Confirming the customer's acceptance that the problem has indeed been resolved.
2. Documentation of the full process. (Recording the root cause, troubleshooting steps, & actions taken.)
When inserting RAM Module Sticks, what 2 things indicate that its been properly seated?
"An audible click from the motherboard's slot retention clips, as well as the inward-locking of the RAM stick's side notches.
The Purpose of the +5 Volt Stand-By Rail (+5VSB) in a PSU:
"To provide a continuous, low-current 5-volt charge to the motherboard."
(So that essential monitoring & wake-up circuits remain active, EVEN when the PC is turned off.)
This efficiency rating certification requires a PSU to be at least 94% efficient at a 50% load.
"80 PLUS Titanium."
S.S.D. & H.D.D.
(You Must Answer Both!)
"Solid State Drive & Hard Disk Drive."
Random shutdowns/reboots may occur if this component doesn't match a system's power requirements..
"The Power Supply Unit."
This Power Rail is considered the MOST important in modern computers, due to its heavy usage by components like the CPU/GPU.
"The +12 VDC DIN Rail."
The Purpose of a Motherboard's Chipset:
"Is to manage the data transfer between the CPU, and other devices."
What is the main difference between Software RAID, and Hardware RAID?
"Software RAID uses features built into the operations system, while Hardware RAID uses a dedicated adaptor card."
B.I.O.S. & U.E.F.I.
(You Must Answer Both!)
"Basic Input/Output System" & "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface"
RAID is incapable of doing this -- making it an unsuitable substitute for backups..
"Protecting against data loss caused by human error, software corruption, malware, or physical disasters."
The maximum recommended cable length (in meters) for a FullSpeed/HighSpeed USB Device.
"What is.. 5 Meters?"
The Purpose of the Multi-Stream Transport (MST):
"This feature allows DisplayPort to connect multiple displays through a single port."
(This makes it ideal for multi-monitor setups.)
A PCIEe Adapter Card is plugged into a slot with a GREATER number of lanes than the card itself. What is this practice called, and at what speed will the bus link operate?
"This practice is called Up-Plugging.
The bus link will operate at the speed of the card, using the number of lanes the card supports."