Hardware practice questions

Answer: A) Clearer airflow paths through the case and easier access to components when servicing

Routing cables behind the motherboard tray keeps airflow paths through the case clear, which helps cooling, and makes components easier to reach for servicing. It doesn't change PSU capacity, grounding or ESD precautions.

• ACorrect. Loose cables in the main compartment can block the airflow between intake and exhaust fans. Routing them behind the tray keeps those paths clear, which helps cooling, and leaves components and connectors visible and reachable for later upgrades or troubleshooting.
• BIncorrect. A PSU's output capacity is set by its design and rating. Where the cables are routed doesn't change how much power the PSU can supply.
• CIncorrect. Standoffs hold the motherboard off the metal tray to prevent short circuits, and they are still needed. Cable routing has no effect on grounding.
• DIncorrect. Tidy cables don't protect components from ESD. Technicians should still use proper ESD precautions, such as a grounded wrist strap, when working inside the case.

Answer: A) Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt 3 runs over USB-C and tunnels PCIe and DisplayPort over a single cable, which external GPU enclosures require. USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB Power Delivery and Lightning cannot tunnel PCIe.

• ACorrect. Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C connector and tunnels PCIe and DisplayPort traffic over one high-bandwidth link, which is what external GPU enclosures need.
• BIncorrect. USB 3.2 Gen 1 is a 5 Gbps USB data standard. It does not tunnel PCIe, so an external GPU enclosure cannot use it.
• CIncorrect. USB Power Delivery negotiates charging voltage and current over USB-C. It carries no PCIe or video data.
• DIncorrect. Lightning is Apple's proprietary mobile-device connector, not USB-C, and it cannot tunnel PCIe for an external GPU.

Answer: A) Barcode scanner

A printed UPC label is a barcode, and a barcode scanner is the POS peripheral that reads it so the system can look up price and inventory. Card readers, NFC readers, and signature pads handle payment or authorization, not product identification.

• AA barcode scanner optically reads the printed UPC pattern and sends the decoded product number to the POS software, which then looks up the price and inventory.
• BA magnetic stripe reader reads data stored on the magnetic stripe of a payment or ID card. It cannot read printed labels on products.
• CAn NFC reader talks to nearby NFC chips, such as contactless cards or phones, using short-range radio. It does not read printed UPC labels.
• DA signature pad records a customer's handwritten signature to authorize a transaction. It cannot identify products.

Answer: A) The card can gradually shift in its slot, causing intermittent contact or detection problems

The bracket screw holds an expansion card securely in place. Without it, the card can slowly work loose and cause intermittent contact, detection problems, or physical damage. It does not cause an immediate electrical or firmware failure.

• ACorrect. The bracket screw is what holds the card firmly against the chassis. Without it, vibration, the weight of attached cables, or the card sagging can slowly pull it partly out of the slot. That leads to intermittent connections or the card disappearing, and it can eventually damage the card or the slot.
• BIncorrect. Nothing detects whether the bracket is screwed down. The card initializes as long as it is properly seated, and the scenario says it already works. The problem develops gradually; it is not triggered by a reboot.
• CIncorrect. The bracket screw is mechanical support and has no effect on how much power the card draws from the slot or the PSU.
• DIncorrect. BIOS/UEFI does not check for a grounded bracket or disable slots for that reason. The card's electrical connection is made through the slot's edge connector.

Answer: A) Laser printing

• ALaser printers use a charged drum to attract toner powder onto paper, then fuse it with heat and pressure, producing sharp text well suited to high-volume office use.
• BInkjet printers spray liquid ink droplets onto paper; they don't use toner powder or a fusing process.
• CThermal printers darken heat-sensitive paper directly with a print head; they use no toner and no fusing step.
• DImpact printers physically strike an ink ribbon against paper with pins; they involve no toner or heat fusing.

Answer: A) The discrete card, because firmware set to Auto prefers an installed add-in GPU

When a discrete GPU is installed and the firmware's primary display setting is Auto, the system normally uses the add-in card for output, assuming the monitor is cabled to it. The BIOS setting and the port the monitor uses can change which adapter is primary.

• ACorrect. With the primary display set to Auto, most firmware initializes an installed PCIe graphics card as the primary display. Because the monitor is cabled to that card, the card provides the output. A different BIOS setting, or a cable on the motherboard's video port, could change the result.
• BIncorrect. On typical systems an Auto setting gives priority to a detected add-in card, and many boards disable the integrated GPU when a card is present. The integrated GPU would be primary only if it were explicitly selected in firmware.
• CIncorrect. A single monitor connection is driven by the adapter that owns that port. Two GPUs don't split one display between them this way.
• DIncorrect. Display output starts at POST, before Windows loads. The card can produce video without any change in Device Manager.

Answer: A) A USB external multi-format card reader

If a device has no integrated memory card slot, a USB card reader is the peripheral that lets it read SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards directly. Drive adapters and enclosures are made for other storage form factors.

• ACorrect. A USB card reader has slots for SD/SDHC/SDXC and other card formats. It shows up as a removable drive over USB, so the photographer can copy the files directly from the card.
• BIncorrect. A USB-to-SATA adapter connects bare 2.5-inch SATA HDDs or SSDs over USB. It has no slot for an SD memory card.
• CIncorrect. An M.2 enclosure holds an M.2 solid-state drive module and makes it a portable USB drive. It cannot accept or read an SD card.
• DIncorrect. An NFC or smart card reader reads contactless tags and chip-based ID or payment cards. It is not a reader for flash memory cards.

Answer: A) A foil or braided shield reduces electromagnetic interference

STP's shielding protects the signal from EMI in electrically noisy places, which is why it is chosen near motors and heavy equipment. It does not change maximum cable length, fire rating or category speed.

• ACorrect. STP adds foil or braided shielding around the twisted pairs. This gives better protection than UTP against electromagnetic interference (EMI) from motors and other electrically noisy equipment. Vendors such as Microsoft recommend Cat 6 STP cabling to reduce EMI.
• BIncorrect. Shielding does not change the standard maximum length of a twisted-pair Ethernet run, which is 100 meters for both STP and UTP.
• CIncorrect. Low-smoke, fire-resistant jackets are what plenum-rated cable provides. That is a separate rating from shielding, and either STP or UTP can be plenum or non-plenum.
• DIncorrect. Category ratings such as Cat 5e, Cat 6 and Cat 6a are separate from shielding, and UTP and STP come in the same categories. Shielding improves noise immunity, not the rated speed.

Answer: A) Memory capacity is fixed, so a larger RAM configuration has to be chosen when the laptop is bought

When RAM is soldered to the motherboard and there are no SODIMM slots, the installed capacity can't be upgraded afterward. Buyers have to choose the memory they will need when they purchase the laptop.

• ACorrect. With soldered memory and no slots, there is nowhere to install additional modules. On designs like this, the memory can only be replaced as part of the whole motherboard, so the user has to pick enough capacity at purchase.
• BIncorrect. SODIMM kits plug into SODIMM slots, and this laptop has none. Soldered memory chips can't be swapped for removable modules.
• CIncorrect. UEFI settings can't create physical memory that isn't there. The installed capacity depends on the chips on the board, and firmware only reports or configures that existing memory.
• DIncorrect. The page file is virtual memory stored on the drive. It can help when RAM runs short, but it is much slower and doesn't increase the amount of physical RAM installed.

Answer: A) Less dust builds up because air escapes through unfiltered gaps instead of entering

Positive pressure means more filtered air comes in than goes out, so air leaks out through unfiltered openings instead of pulling dust in. The main benefit is less dust buildup inside the case.

• AMore air comes in through the filtered intakes than the exhaust fans remove, so the excess leaks out through unfiltered gaps and seams. Less unfiltered, dusty air gets drawn in through those gaps.
• BThis describes negative pressure, where exhaust fans move more air than the intakes. That pulls unfiltered air in through every gap, which tends to increase dust.
• CCase pressure doesn't remove the need for a CPU heat sink and its fan. The processor still needs its own cooling solution.
• DPositive pressure is about the balance of airflow volume, not lower fan speeds. Intake fans often spin faster or are larger to create it, which doesn't reduce noise.