A+ 2003 Core Hardware Exam

OBJECTIVES CHAPTERS PAGE NUMBERSDomain 1: Installation, Configuration and Upgrading1.1 Identify the names, purpose, and characteristics, of system modules. Recognize these modules by sight or definition.

Motherboard 135

8-1190-98176-202

Firmware 125

8-11, 26-2771-72188-201

Power supply 23511

78-8390-100, 95-96, 115-121210-213558-565

Processor /CPU 14

3-4, 10-11130-150

Memory 1611

12-13222-243558-565

Storage devices 179

7, 13-18250-193406-418, 428-433

Display devices 18

8-9322-330, 333-341, 369-374

Adapter cards 1810

18-23331-366497-501

Ports 15810

8-9176-181341-358497-501

Cases 13

790-100, 117-121

Riser cards 35

96-98186-188

1.2 Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules for desktop systems. Given a replacement scenario, choose the appropriate

sequences.

Desktop components: Motherboard 1

35

8-990-100, 117-121202-210

Storage device FDD 1

77, 13-18250-254

HDD 17

7, 13-18276-293

CD/CDRW 19

7, 13-18406-418, 428-433

DVD/DVDRW 19

7, 13-18406-418, 428-433

Tape drive 19

7, 13-18419-425

Removable storage 19

7, 13-18393-396, 425-427

Power supply AC adapter 3

B90-100, 117-121643-656

AT/ATX 3B

90-100, 117-121643-656

Cooling systems Fans 3

490-100, 117-121130-150

Heat sinks 34

90-100, 117-121130-150

Liquid cooling 34

90-100, 117-121130-150

Processor /CPU 14

3-4, 10-11157-169

Memory 16

12-13222-243

Display device 18

8-9322-330, 333-341, 369-374

Input devices Keyboard 1

28

4-654-66311-314, 366-368

Mouse/pointer devices 128

4-654-66314-317, 366-368

Touch screen 8 317-318, 366-368 Adapters

Network Interface Card (NIC) 12810

18-2354-66331-366497-501

Sound card 128

18-2354-66331-366

Video card 128

18-2354-66322-330, 333-341, 369-374

Modem 28

54-66331-366

SCSI 27C

54-66272-274658-664

IEEE 1394/Firewire 28

54-66331-366

USB 28

54-66331-366

Wireless 210

54-66481-491

1.3 Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules for portable systems. Given a replacement scenario, choose the appropriate sequences.

Portable components: Storage devices

FDD 711

250-254546-549

HDD 711

276-293546-549

CD/CDRW 911

406-418, 428-433546-549

DVD/DVDRW 911

406-418, 428-433546-549

Removable storage 911

393-396, 425-427546-549

Power sources AC adapter 3

1190-100, 117-121520-525

DC adapter 311

90-100, 117-121520-525

Battery 311

90-100, 117-121520-525

Memory 611

222-243542-546

Input devices Keyboard 2

811

54-66311-314, 366-368507-565

Mouse/pointer devices 2811

54-66314-317, 366-368507-565

Touch screen 8 317-318, 366-368 PCMCIA/Mini PCI Adapters

Network Interface Card (NIC) 1011

471-478, 481-491527-539

Modem 81011

358-359447, 471-478527-539

SCSI 711C

272-274527-539658-664

IEEE 1394/Firewire 11 527-539 USB 11 527-539 Storage (memory and hard drive) 11 527-539

Docking station/port replicators 11 525-527 LCD panel 8

11322-328, 368-374560-561

Wirelesso Adapter/controller 10

11444-464536-539

o Antennae 1011

444-464536-539

1.4 Identify typical IRQs, DMAs, and I/O addresses and procedures for altering these settings when installing and configuring devices. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration steps in a given scenario.

Content may include the following: Legacy devices (e.g., ISA sound card) A

C635-642664-668

Specialized devices (e.g., CAD/CAM) AC

635-642664-668

Internal modems AC

635-642664-668

Floppy drive controllers AC

635-642664-668

Hard drive controllers A 635-642

C 664-668 Multimedia devices 9

AC

406-418, 428-433635-642664-668

NICs 1011AC

471-478, 481-491527-539635-642664-668

I/O ports Serial 8

AC

341-358635-642664-668

Parallel 8AC

341-358635-642664-668

USB ports 8A

341-358635-642

IEEE 1394/Firewire 8A

341-358635-642

Infrared 8A

341-358635-642

1.5 Identify the names, purposes, and performance characteristics of standardized/common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors. Recognize ports, cabling, and connectors by sight.

Content may include the following: Port types

Serial 18

8-9341-358

Parallel 18

8-9341-358

USB ports 18

8-9341-358

IEEE 1394/Firewire 18

8-9341-358

Infrared 18

8-9341-358

Cable types Serial (Straight through vs. null modem) 1

88-9341-358

Parallel 18

8-9341-358

USB 1 8-9

8 341-358 Connector types

Serial DB-9 1

88-9341-358

DB-25 18

8-9341-358

RJ-11 8 341-358 RJ-45 8 341-366

Parallel DB-25 1

88-9341-358

Centronics (mini, 36) 8 341-358 PS2/MINI-DIN 1

88-9311-314, 366-368

USB 18

8-9341-358

IEEE 1394 18

8-9341-358

1.6 Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring common IDE devices. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration sequences in given scenarios. Recognize the associated cables.

Content may include the following: IDE Interface Types

EIDE 17

7, 13-18276-293

ATA/ATAPI 17

7, 13-18276-293

Serial ATA 17

7, 13-18276-293

PIO 7 276-293 RAID (0, 1 and 5) 9 406-418, 428-433 Master/Slave/cable select 7 276-293 Devices per channel 1

77, 13-18276-293

Primary/Secondary 17

7, 13-18276-293

Cable orientation/requirements 7 276-2931.7 Identify proper procedures for installing

and configuring common SCSI devices. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration sequences in given

scenarios. Recognize the associated cables.

Content may include the following: SCSI Interface Types

Narrow C 658-664 Fast C 658-664 Wide C 658-664 Ultra-wide C 658-664 LVD C 658-664 HVD C 658-664

Internal versus external 7C

272-274658-664

SCSI Ids Jumper block/DIP switch settings (binary

equivalents)27C

54-66272-274658-664

Resolving ID conflicts 27C

54-66272-274658-664

RAID (0, 1 and 5) 79C

265-267406-418, 428-433658-664

Cabling Length C 658-664 Type C 658-664 Termination requirements (active,

passive, auto)C 658-664

1.8 Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring common peripheral devices. Choose the appropriate installation or configuration sequences in given scenarios.

Content may include the following: Modems and transceivers (dial-up, cable, DSL, ISDN) 8

10341-366471-478, 481-491, 506

External storage 789

257-276349-365419-427, 393-396, 406-418

Digital cameras 8 349-358 PDAs 11 568-571 Wireless access points 10 471-478, 481-491 Infrared devices 8

10341-366444-464

Printers 12 590-606 UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and suppressors 3 107-111

Monitors 8 322-330, 333-341, 369-3741.9 Identify procedures to optimize PC

operations in specific situations. Predict the effects of specific procedures under given scenarios.

Topics may include: Cooling systems 3

495-96, 117-121157-169

Liquid 34

95-96, 117-121157-169

Air 34

95-96, 117-121157-169

Heat sink 34

95-96, 117-121157-169

Thermal compound 34

95-96, 117-121157-169

Disk subsystem enhancements Hard drives 7 250-293 Controller cards (e.g., RAID, ATA-100,

etc.)7 258, 270-276

Cables 7 276-293 NICs 10 471-478, 481-491 Specialized video cards 8 322-330, 333-341, 369-374 Memory 6 231-243 Additional processors 4 133-134, 142

1.10 Determine the issues that must be considered when upgrading a PC. In a given scenario determine when and how to upgrade system components.

Issues may include: Drivers for legacy devices C 664-668

Bus types and characteristics 58

181-188333-336

Cache in relationship to motherboards 4 134-137

Memory capacity and characteristics 6 222-243

Processor speed and compatibility 4 130-169

Hard drive capacity and characteristics 7 250-293

System/firmware limitations 5 188-201 Power supply output capacity 3

B90-96, 117-121643-656

Components may include the following:

Motherboards 5 176-181, 150-205 Memory 6 222-243 Hard drives 7 250-293 CPU 4 130-169 BIOS 2

571-72188-201

Adapter cards 2810

72-73331-366471-478, 481-491

Laptop power sources Lithium ion 11 521-525 NiMH 11 521-525 Fuel cell 11 521-525

PCMCIA Type I, II, III cards 11 527-539Domain 2: Diagnosing and Troubleshooting2.1 Recognize common problems

associated with each module and their symptoms, and identify steps to isolate and troubleshoot the problems. Given a problem situation, interpret the symptoms and infer the most likely cause.

Content may include the following: I/O ports and cables

Serial 28

72-79341-358

Parallel 28

72-79341-358

USB ports 28

72-79341-358

IEEE 1394/Firewire 28

72-79341-358

Infrared 28

72-79341-358

SCSI 27C

54-66272-274658-664

Motherboards CMOS/ BIOS settings 2

566-72, 78-83210-213

POST audible/visual error codes 2 66-72, 78-83 Peripherals 8 341-358 Computer case

Power supply 2 72-79

3B

90-100, 115-121643-656

Slot covers 2 72-79 Front cover alignment 2 72-79

Storage devices and cables FDD 2

772-79294-304

HDD 27

72-79294-304

CD/CDRW 29

72-79406-418, 428-433

DVD/DVDRW 29

72-79406-418, 428-433

Tape drive 29

72-79419-425

Removable storage 29

72-79393-396, 425-427

Cooling systems Fans 3

495-96, 117-121167-169

Heat sinks 34

95-96, 117-121167-169

Liquid cooling 34

95-96, 117-121167-169

Temperature sensors 34

95-96, 117-121167-169

Processor /CPU 24

72-83167-169

Memory 26

72-83243-244

Display device 28

72-83322-330, 333-341, 369-374

Input devices Keyboard 2

854-66311-314, 366-368

Mouse/pointer devices 28

54-66314-317, 366-368

Touch screen 8 317-318, 366-368 Adapters

Network Interface Card (NIC) 2810

72-83341-366471-478, 481-491

Sound card 28

72-83341-366

Video card 2 72-83

8 322-330, 333-341, 369-374 Modem 2

872-83341-366

SCSI 27C

54-66272-274658-664

IEEE 1394/Firewire 28

72-83341-366

USB 28

72-83341-366

Portable Systems PCMCIA 2

1172-83527-539

Batteries 211

72-83520-525

Docking Stations/Port Replicators 211

72-83525-527

Portable unique storage 211

72-83527-539

2.2 Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and tools and how to elicit problem symptoms from customers. Justify asking particular questions in a given scenario.

Content may include the following: Troubleshooting/isolation/problem determination

procedures 258101112

72-83212-213366-374497-501539-542, 558-565617-629

Determining whether a hardware or software problem 258101112

72-83212-213366-374497-501539-542, 558-565617-629

Gathering information from user Customer Environment 2

58101112

72-83212-213366-374497-501539-542, 558-565617-629

Symptoms/Error Codes 2 72-83

58101112

212-213366-374497-501539-542, 558-565617-629

Situation when the problem occurred 258101112

72-83212-213366-374497-501539-542, 558-565617-629

Domain 3: PC Preventive Maintenance, Safety and Environmental Issues3.1 Identify the various types of preventive

maintenance measures, products and procedures and when and how to use them.

Content may include the following: Liquid cleaning compounds 2

891112

36-54314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Types of materials to clean contacts and connections 2891112

36-54314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Non-static vacuums (chassis, power supplies, fans) 289112

36-54314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Cleaning monitors 289112

36-54314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Cleaning removable media devices 29

40-54406-418, 428-433

Ventilation, dust and moisture control on the PC hardware interior.

2891112

36-54314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Hard disk maintenance (defragging, scan disk, CHKDSK) 2 36-54

891112

314, 317, 366-368417-418, 425517-518606-613

Verify UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and suppressors

23

40-54115-121

3.2 Identify various safety measures and procedures and when/how to use them.

Content may include the following: ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) precautions and

procedures211

44-46, 49-54549-550

What ESD can do, how it may be apparent, or hidden

2 44-46, 49-54

Common ESD protection devices 211

44-46, 49-54549-550

Situations that could present a danger or hazard 2 44-46, 49-54 Potential hazards and proper safety procedures relating

to2 44-46, 49-54

High-voltage equipment 2 44-46, 49-54 Power supply 2

344-46, 49-54115-121

CRTs 2 44-46, 49-543.3 Identify environmental protection

measures and procedures and when/how to use them.

Content may include the following: Special disposal procedures that comply with

environmental guidelines211

40-48509-518

Batteries 211

40-48509-518

CRTs 2 40-48 Chemical solvents and cans 2 40-48 MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) 2 40-48

Domain 4: Motherboard/Processors/Memory4.1 Distinguish between the popular CPU

chips in terms of their basic characteristics.

Content may include the following:o Popular CPU chips (Pentium class compatible 4 130-150o Voltage 4 130-150o Speeds (actual vs. advertised) 4 130-150o Cache level I, II, III 4 130-150o Sockets/slots 4 130-150o VRM(s) 4 130-150, 157-159

4.2 Identify the types of RAM (Random Access Memory), form factors, and operational characteristics. Determine banking and speed requirements under given scenarios.

Content may include the following: Types

EDO RAM (Extended Data Output RAM) 6 222-231 DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) 6 222-231 SRAM (Static RAM) 6 222-231 VRAM (Video RAM) 6

8222-231322-330, 333-341, 369-374

SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM) 6 222-231 DDR (Double Data Rate) 6 222-231 RAMBUS 6 222-231

Form factors (including pin count) SIMM (Single In-line Memory Module) 6 222-231 DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Module) 6 222-231 SoDIMM (Small outline DIMM) 6

11222-231542-546

MicroDIMM 611

222-231542-546

RIMM (Rambus Inline Memory Module) 6 222-231 Operational characteristics

Memory chips (8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit) 6 222-231 Parity chips versus non-parity chips 6 222-231 ECC vs. non-ECC 6 222-231 Single-sided vs. double sided 6 222-240

4.3 Identify the most popular types of motherboards, their components, and their architecture (bus structures).

Content may include the following: Types of motherboards:

AT 35B

90-100176-202643-656

ATX 35B

90-100176-202643-656

Components: Communication ports

Serial 58

176-202341-358

USB 58

176-202341-358

Parallel 58

176-202341-358

IEEE 1394/Firewire 58

176-202341-358

Infrared 58

176-202341-358

Memory SIMM 6 222-231 DIMM 6 222-231 RIMM 6 222-231 SoDIMM 6

11222-231542-546

MicroDIMM 611

222-231542-546

Processor sockets Slot 1 4 130-150 Slot 2 4 130-150 Slot A 4 130-150 Socket A 4 130-150 Socket 7 4 130-150 Socket 8 4 130-150 Socket 423 4 130-150 Socket 478 4 130-150 Socket 370 4 130-150

External cache memory (Level 2) 4 130-150 Bus Architecture

ISA 5C

176-202664-668

PCI PCI 32-bit 5 176-202 PCI 64-bit 5 176-202

AGP 2X 5

8176-202333-336

4X 58

176-202333-336

8X (Pro) 58

176-202333-336

USB (Universal Serial Bus) 5 176-202 AMR (audio modem riser) slots 5 176-202 CNR (communication network riser) slots 5 176-202

Basic compatibility guidelines 345

90-100130-150176-202

IDE (ATA, ATAPI, ULTRA-DMA, EIDE) 5 176-202

7 250-276 SCSI (Narrow, Wide, Fast, Ultra, HVD, LVD(Low Voltage

Differential)C 658-664

Chipsets 5 176-2024.4 Identify the purpose of CMOS

(Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) memory, what it contains, and how and when to change its parameters. Given a scenario involving CMOS, choose the appropriate course of action.

CMOS Settings: Default settings 2

571-72188-202

CPU settings 45

157-169188-202

Printer parallel port—Uni., bi-directional, disable/enable, ECP, EPP

5 188-202

COM/serial port—memory address, interrupt request, disable

5 188-202

Floppy drive—enable/disable drive or boot, speed, density

25

78-83188-202

Hard drive—size and drive type 57

188-202250-293

Memory—speed, parity, non-parity 56

188-202222-231

Boot sequence 25

71-72188-202

Date/Time 5 188-202 Passwords 5 188-202 Plug & Play BIOS 2

571-72188-202

Disabling on-board devices 5 188-202 Disabling virus protection 5 188-202 Power management 3

592-95, 111-114188-202

Infrared 5 188-202Domain 5: Printers5.1 Identify printer technologies, interfaces,

and options/upgrades.

Technologies include:o Laser 12 578-589o Ink Dispersion 12 578-589o Dot Matrix 12 578-589o Solid ink 12 578-589o Thermal 12 578-589

o Dye sublimation 12 578-589 Interfaces include:

o Parallel 812

346-347578-589

o Network 812

346-347578-589

o SCSI 2712C

54-66272-274578-589658-664

o USB 812

346-347578-589

o Infrared 812

346-347578-589

o Serial 812

346-347578-589

o IEEE 1394/Firewire 812

346-347578-589

o Wireless 812

346-347578-589

Options/Upgrades include:o Memory 12 590-606,613-616o Hard drives 12 590-606,613-616o NICs 12 590-606,613-616o Trays and feeders 12 590-606,613-616o Finishers (e.g., stapling, etc.) 12 590-606,613-616o Scanners/fax/copier 12 590-606,613-6165.2 Recognize common printer problems

and techniques used to resolve them. Content may include the following: Printer drivers 12 617-629 Firmware updates 12 617-629 Paper feed and output 12 617-629 Calibrations 12 617-629 Printing test pages 12 617-629 Errors (printed or displayed) 12 617-629 Memory 12 617-629 Configuration 12 617-629 Network connections 12 617-629 Connections 12 617-629 Paper jam 12 617-629 Print quality 12 617-629 Safety precautions 2

1244-46, 49-54617-629

Preventive maintenance 2 40-48

12 617-629 Consumables 2

1240-48617-629

Environment 212

40-48617-629

Domain 6: Basic Networking6.1 Identify the common types of network

cables, their characteristics and connectors.

Cable types include: Coaxial

RG6 10 444-464 RG8 10 444-464 RG58 10 444-464 RG59 10 444-464

Plenum/PVC 10 444-464 UTP

CAT3 10 444-464 CAT5/e 10 444-464 CAT6 10 444-464

STP 10 444-464 Fiber 10 444-464

Single-mode 10 444-464 Multi-mode 10 444-464

Connector types include: BNC 10 444-464 RJ-45 10 444-464 AUI 10 444-464 ST/SC 10 444-464 IDC/UDC 10 444-464

6.2 Identify basic networking concepts including how a network works.

Concepts include: Installing and configuring network cards 10 471-478, 481-491 Addressing 10 466-471 Bandwidth 10 444-448 Status indicators 10 497-501 Protocols

TCP/IP 10 466-471 IPX/SPX (NWLINK) 10 466-471 AppleTalk 10 466-471 NETBEUI/NETBIOS 10 466-471

Full-duplex, half-duplex 10 444-464 Cabling—Twisted Pair, Coaxial, Fiber Optic, RS-232 10 444-464

Networking models Peer-to-peer

10 466-471 Client/server 10 466-471

Infrared 81011

346-347444-464536-539

Wireless 1011

444-464536-539

6.3 Identify common technologies available for establishing Internet connectivity and their characteristics.

Technologies include: LAN 10 444-456 DSL 10 444-456, 506 Cable 10 444-456, 506 ISDN 10 444-456, 506 Dial-up 8

10358-366444-456

Satellite 10 444-456, 506 Wireless 10

11444-464536-539

Characteristic include: Definition 10 444-456 Speed 10 444-456 Connections 10 444-456