Computer Hardware and Peripherals Flashcards

Which type of storage interface offers the fastest data transfer speeds for modern SSDs?

Answer: NVMe (PCIe)

NVMe drives use the PCIe bus and can reach sequential read speeds over 7,000 MB/s, far exceeding SATA III's 600 MB/s ceiling.

What does the term 'TDP' refer to in the context of CPUs and GPUs?

Answer: Thermal Design Power

TDP (Thermal Design Power) is the maximum amount of heat a cooling solution must dissipate to keep the component running within safe temperatures.

A user connects an external monitor but gets no signal. Which component is MOST likely responsible if the integrated GPU works fine?

Answer: Dedicated GPU

If the integrated GPU outputs video but the discrete GPU does not, the dedicated GPU (or its driver/power connectors) is the likely failure point.

Which peripheral interface standard supports both data transfer and video output through the same connector?

Answer: Thunderbolt 4

Thunderbolt 4 uses the USB-C connector and can simultaneously carry PCIe data, DisplayPort video, and up to 100W of power.

What is the primary function of a heat sink in a computer system?

Answer: Dissipate heat away from the CPU

A heat sink uses metal fins and conduction to transfer heat from a processor to the surrounding air, preventing thermal throttling.

Which of the following best describes a KVM switch?

Answer: A device allowing one set of peripherals to control multiple computers

A KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch lets a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse control two or more computers by switching input/output between them.

In optical storage, what laser color is used by Blu-ray discs compared to DVDs?

Answer: Blue-violet (405 nm)

Blu-ray uses a 405 nm blue-violet laser with a smaller spot size, allowing much higher data density than the 650 nm red laser used by DVDs.