IT Foundations WGU C393 /QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A / 2023/2024
System Components common to most PCs - CORRECT ANSWER Motherboards Processors
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Memory
Cooling Systems
Motherboards - CORRECT ANSWER The spine of the computer
Known as: system board or mainboard
This is the printed circuit board (PCB)
Contains: Central Processing Unit (CPU), underlying circuitry, expansion slots, video components, random access memory (RAM) slots, and a variety of other chips
Are classified by their form factor (design), ATX, Micro ATX and ITX
ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) - CORRECT ANSWER Motherboard in the mid-1990s to improve upon the classic AT-style motherboard architecture that had ruled the PC world for many years. The processor and memory slots at right angles to the expansion cards. This arrangement puts the processor and memory in line with the fan output of the power supply, allowing the processor to run cooler. Because those components are not in line with the expansion cards, you can install full-length expansion cards-adapters that extend the full-length of the inside of a standard computer case___ ATX (and its derivatives) is the primary motherboard in use today. Standard ATX motherboards measure 12" x
9.6"(305mm x 244mm)
Micro ATX - CORRECT ANSWER A form factor designed to work in standard ATX cases, as well as its own smaller cases. Also referred to as μATX. Follows the ATX principle of component placement for enhanced cooling over pre-ATX designs but with a smaller footprint. Some trade-offs come with this smaller form. For the compact use of space, you must give up quantity; this is, quantity of memory slots, motherboard headers, expansion slots, and integrated components. You also have few micro ATX chassis bays, although the same small-scale motherboard can fit into much larger cases if your original peripherals are still a requirement. Are designed with power supplies of lower wattage in order to help keep power consumption and heat production down. Generally acceptable with the standard, reduced micro ATX suite of components. As more off-board USB ports are added and larger cases are used with additional in case peripherals, a larger power supply might be required. Micro ATX motherboards share their width, mounting hole pattern, and rear interface pattern with ATX motherboards but are shallower and square, measuring 9.6" × 9.6" (244mm × 244mm). They were designed to be able to fit into full-size ATX cases.
ITX - CORRECT ANSWER The ITX line of motherboard form factors was developed by VIA as a low-power, small form factor (SFF) board for specialty uses, such as home-theater systems and embedded components. ITX itself is not an actual form factor but a family of form factors. The family consists of the following form factors:
Mini-ITX—6.7" × 6.7" (170mm × 170mm)
Nano-ITX—4.7" × 4.7" (120mm × 120mm)
Pico-ITX—3.9" × 2.8" (100mm × 72mm)
Mobile-ITX—2.4" × 2.4" (60mm × 60mm)
The mini-ITX motherboard has four mounting holes that line up with three or four of the holes in the ATX and micro ATX form factors. In mini-ITX boards, the rear interfaces are placed in the same location as those on the ATX motherboards. These features make mini-ITX boards compatible with ATX chassis. This is where the mounting compatibility ends because despite the PC compatibility of the other ITX form factors, they are used in embedded systems, such as set-top boxes, and lack the requisite mounting and interface specifications.
Standard ATX (Advanced Technology Extended): - CORRECT ANSWER Puts the processor and memory in line with the fan output of the power supply, allowing the processor to run cooler. The ATX motherboard has the processor and memory slots at right angles to the expansion cards. ATX (and its derivatives) is the primary motherboard in use today.
Micro ATX: - CORRECT ANSWER Follows the ATX principle of component placement for enhanced cooling over pre-ATX designs but with a smaller footprint. It designs to fit into full size ATX cases.
Mini-ITX (Information Technology Extended): - CORRECT ANSWER Used in smallconfigured computer systems and has a maximum size of 6.7 inch by 6.7 inch. The mini-ITX motherboard has four mounting holes that line up with three or four of the holes in the ATX and micro ATX form factors
Typical Components found on a system board/motherboard - CORRECT ANSWER Chipsets
Expansion slots and buses
Memory slots and external cache
CPUs and their sockets
Power connectors
Onboard disk drive connectors
Keyboard connectors
Integrated peripheral ports and headers
BIOS/firmware
CMOS battery
Front-panel connectors
Two main categories of bus architecture - CORRECT ANSWER Serial Connectivity/daisy-chained
Parallel Connectivity
limitations of serial circuits - CORRECT ANSWER in the capability of the transceivers, which tends to grow over time at a refreshing rate due to technical advancements. [Show Less]