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- Exam Details
- Trouble Spots
- Preparation Hints
- Recommended Study Resources
- Exam Objectives: CompTIA A+ 220-801
- Exam Objectives: CompTIA A+ 220-802
- Where to Go from Here
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Exam Objectives: CompTIA A+ 220-801
The exam objectives as stated (and copyrighted) by CompTIA, Inc. are as follows:
1.0 PC Hardware 40%
1.1 Configure and apply BIOS settings.
- Install firmware upgrades—flash BIOS
- BIOS component information
- RAM
- Hard drive
- Optical drive
- CPU
- BIOS configurations
- Boot sequence
- Enabling and disabling devices
- Date/time
- Clock speeds
- Virtualization support
- BIOS security (passwords, drive encryption: TPM, lo-jack)
- Use built-in diagnostics
- Monitoring
- Temperature monitoring
- Fan speeds
- Intrusion detection/notification
- Voltage
- Clock
- Bus speed
1.2 Differentiate between motherboard components, their purposes, and properties.
- Sizes
- ATX
- Micro-ATX
- ITX
- Expansion slots
- PCI
- PCI-X
- PCIe
- miniPCI
- CNR
- AGP2x, 4x, 8x
- RAM slots
- CPU sockets
- Chipsets
- North Bridge
- South Bridge
- CMOS battery
- Jumpers
- Power connections and types
- Fan connectors
- Front panel connectors
- USB
- Audio
- Power button
- Power light
- Drive activity lights
- Reset button
- Bus speeds
1.3 Compare and contrast RAM types and features.
- Types
- DDR
- DDR2
- DDR3
- SDRAM
- SODIMM
- RAMBUS
- DIMM
- Parity vs. non-parity
- ECC vs. non-ECC
- RAM configurations
- Single channel vs. dual channel vs. triple channel
- Single sided vs. double sided
- RAM compatibility and speed
1.4 Install and configure expansion cards.
- Sound cards
- Video cards
- Network cards
- Serial and parallel cards
- USB cards
- Firewire cards
- Storage cards
- Modem cards
- Wireless/cellular cards
- TV tuner cards
- Video capture cards
- Riser cards
1.5 Install and configure storage devices and use appropriate media.
- Optical drives
- CD-ROM
- DVD-ROM
- Blu-Ray
- Combo drives and burners
- CD-RW
- DVD-RW
- Dual Layer DVD-RW
- BD-R
- BD-RE
- Connection types
- External
- USB
- Firewire
- eSATA
- Ethernet
- Internal SATA, IDE and SCSI
- IDE configuration and setup (Master, Slave, Cable Select)
- SCSI IDs (0—15)
- Hot swappable drives
- Hard drives
- Magnetic
- 5400 rpm
- 7200 rpm
- 10,000 rpm
- 15,000 rpm
- Solid state/flash drives
- Compact flash
- SD
- Micro-SD
- Mini-SD
- xD
- SSD
- RAID types
- 0
- 1
- 5
- 10
- Floppy drive
- Tape drive
- Media capacity
- CD
- CD-RW
- DVD-RW
- DVD
- Blu-Ray
- Tape
- Floppy
- DL DVD
1.6 Differentiate among various CPU types and features and select the appropriate cooling method.
- Socket types
- Intel: LGA, 775, 1155, 1156, 1366
- AMD: 940, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, F
- Characteristics
- Speeds
- Cores
- Cache size/type
- Hyperthreading
- Virtualization support
- Architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit)
- Integrated GPU
- Cooling
- Heat sink
- Fans
- Thermal paste
- Liquid-based
1.7 Compare and contrast various connection interfaces and explain their purpose.
- Physical connections
- USB 1.1 vs. 2.0 vs. 3.0 speed and distance characteristics
- Connector types: A, B, mini, micro
- Firewire 400 vs. Firewire 800 speed and distance characteristics
- SATA1 vs. SATA2 vs. SATA3, eSATA, IDE speeds
- Other connector
types
- Serial
- Parallel
- VGA
- HDMI
- DVI
- Audio
- RJ-45
- RJ-11
- Analog vs.
digital transmission
- VGA vs. HDMI
- Speeds, distances
and frequencies of wireless
device connections
- Bluetooth
- IR
- RF
1.8 Install an appropriate power supply based on a given scenario.
- Connector types and
their voltages
- SATA
- Molex
- 4/8-pin 12v
- PCIe 6/8-pin
- 20-pin
- 24-pin
- Floppy
- Specifications
- Wattage
- Size
- Number of connectors
- ATX
- Micro-ATX
- Dual voltage options
1.9 Evaluate and select appropriate components for a custom configuration, to meet customer specifications or needs.
- Graphic / CAD / CAM
design workstation
- Powerful processor
- High-end video
- Maximum RAM
- Audio/Video editing
workstation
- Specialized audio and video card
- Large fast hard drive
- Dual monitors
- Virtualization workstation
- Maximum RAM and CPU cores
- Gaming PC
- Powerful processor
- High-end video/specialized GPU
- Better sound card
- High-end cooling
- Home Theater PC
- Surround sound audio
- HDMI output
- HTPC compact form factor
- TV tuner
- Standard thick client
- Desktop applications
- Meets recommended requirements for running Windows
- Thin client
- Basic applications
- Meets minimum requirements for running Windows
- Home Server PC
- Media streaming
- File sharing
- Print sharing
- Gigabit NIC
- RAID array
1.10 Given a scenario, evaluate types and features of display devices.
- Types
- CRT
- LCD
- LED
- Plasma
- Projector
- OLED
- Refresh rates
- Resolution
- Native resolution
- Brightness/lumens
- Analog vs. digital
- Privacy/antiglare filters
- Multiple displays
1.11 Identify connector types and associated cables.
- Display connector types
- DVI-D
- DVI-I
- DVI-A
- Displayport
- RCA
- DB-15
- BNC
- miniHDMI
- RJ-45
- miniDin-6
- Display cable types
- HDMI
- DVI
- VGA
- Component
- Composite
- S-video
- RGB
- Coaxial
- Ethernet
- Device connectors and
pin arrangements
- SATA
- eSATA
- PATA
- IDE
- EIDE
- Floppy
- USB
- IEEE1394
- SCSI
- PS/2
- Parallel
- Serial
- Audio
- RJ-45
- Device cable types
- SATA
- eSATA
- IDE
- EIDE
- Floppy
- USB
- IEEE1394
- SCSI
- 68pin vs. 50pin vs. 25pin
- Parallel
- Serial
- Ethernet
- Phone
1.12 Install and configure various peripheral devices.
- Input devices
- Mouse
- Keyboard
- Touch screen
- Scanner
- Barcode reader
- KVM
- Microphone
- Biometric devices
- Game pads
- Joysticks
- Digitizer
- Multimedia devices
- Digital cameras
- Microphone
- Webcam
- Camcorder
- MIDI enabled devices
- Output devices
- Printers
- Speakers
- Display devices
2.0 Networking 27%
2.1 Identify types of network cables and connectors.
- Fiber
- Connectors: SC, ST and LC
- Twisted Pair
- Connectors: RJ-11, RJ-45
- Wiring standards: T568A, T568B
- Coaxial
- Connectors: BNC, F-connector
2.2 Categorize characteristics of connectors and cabling.
- Fiber
- Types (single-mode vs. multi-mode)
- Speed and transmission limitations
- Twisted pair
- Types: STP, UTP, CAT3, CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, plenum, PVC
- Speed and transmission limitations
- Coaxial
- Types: RG-6, RG-59
- Speed and transmission limitations
2.3 Explain properties and characteristics of TCP/IP.
- IP class
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C
- IPv4 vs. IPv6
- Public vs. private vs. APIPA
- Static vs. dynamic
- Client-side DNS
- DHCP
- Subnet mask
- Gateway
2.4 Explain common TCP and UDP ports, protocols, and their purpose.
- Ports
- 21—FTP
- 23—TELNET
- 25—SMTP
- 53—DNS
- 80—HTTP
- 110—POP3
- 143—IMAP
- 443—HTTPS
- 3389—RDP
- Protocols
- DHCP
- DNS
- LDAP
- SNMP
- SMB
- SSH
- SFTP
- TCP vs. UDP
2.5 Compare and contrast wireless networking standards and encryption types.
- Standards
- 802.11 a/b/g/n
- Speeds, distances and frequencies
- Encryption types
- WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES
2.6 Install, configure, and deploy a SOHO wireless/wired router using appropriate settings.
- MAC filtering
- Channels (1—11)
- Port forwarding, port triggering
- SSID broadcast (on/off)
- Wireless encryption
- Firewall
- DHCP (on/off)
- DMZ
- NAT
- WPS
- Basic QoS
2.7 Compare and contrast Internet connection types and features.
- Cable
- DSL
- Dial-up
- Fiber
- Satellite
- ISDN
- Cellular (mobile hotspot)
- Line of sight wireless internet service
- WiMAX
2.8 Identify various types of networks.
- LAN
- WAN
- PAN
- MAN
- Topologies
- Mesh
- Ring
- Bus
- Star
- Hybrid
2.9 Compare and contrast network devices their functions and features.
- Hub
- Switch
- Router
- Access point
- Bridge
- Modem
- NAS
- Firewall
- VoIP phones
- Internet appliance
2.10 Given a scenario, use appropriate networking tools.
- Crimper
- Multimeter
- Toner probe
- Cable tester
- Loopback plug
- Punchdown tool
3.0 Laptops 11%
3.1 Install and configure laptop hardware and components.
- Expansion options
- Express card /34
- Express card /54
- PCMCIA
- SODIMM
- Flash
- Hardware/device replacement
- Keyboard
- Hard Drive (2.5 vs. 3.5)
- Memory
- Optical drive
- Wireless card
- Mini-PCIe
- screen
- DC jack
- Battery
- Touchpad
- Plastics
- Speaker
- System board
- CPU
3.2 Compare and contrast the components within the display of a laptop.
- Types
- LCD
- LED
- OLED
- Plasma
- Wi-Fi antenna connector/placement
- Inverter and its function
- Backlight
3.3 Compare and contrast laptop features.
- Special function keys
- Dual displays
- Wireless (on/off)
- Volume settings
- Screen brightness
- Bluetooth (on/off)
- Keyboard backlight
- Docking station vs. port replicator
- Physical laptop lock and cable lock
4.0 Printers 11%
4.1 Explain the differences between the various printer types and summarize the associated imaging process.
- Laser
- Imaging drum, fuser assembly, transfer belt, transfer roller, pickup rollers, separate pads, duplexing assembly
- Imaging process: processing, charging, exposing, developing, transferring, fusing and cleaning
- Inkjet
- Ink cartridge, print head, roller, feeder, duplexing assembly, carriage and belt
- Calibration
- Thermal
- Feed assembly, heating element
- Special thermal paper
- Impact
- Print head, ribbon, tractor feed
- Impact paper
4.2 Given a scenario, install, and configure printers.
- Use appropriate printer drivers for a given operating system
- Print device sharing
- Wired
- USB
- Parallel
- Serial
- Ethernet
- Wireless
- Bluetooth
- 802.11x
- Infrared (IR)
- Printer hardware print server
- Wired
- Printer sharing
- Sharing local/networked printer via Operating System settings
4.3 Given a scenario, perform printer maintenance.
- Laser
- Replacing toner, applying maintenance kit, calibration, cleaning
- Thermal
- Replace paper, clean heating element, remove debris
- Impact
- Replace ribbon, replace print head, replace paper
5.0 Operational Procedures 11%
5.1 Given a scenario, use appropriate safety procedures.
- ESD straps
- ESD mats
- Self-grounding
- Equipment grounding
- Personal safety
- Disconnect power before repairing PC
- Remove jewelry
- Lifting techniques
- Weight limitations
- Electrical fire safety
- CRT safety—proper disposal
- Cable management
- Compliance with local government regulations
5.2 Explain environmental impacts and the purpose of environmental controls.
- MSDS documentation for handling and disposal
- Temperature, humidity level awareness and proper ventilation
- Power surges, brownouts,
blackouts
- Battery backup
- Surge suppressor
- Protection from airborne
particles
- Enclosures
- Air filters
- Dust and debris
- Compressed air
- Vacuums
- Component handling
and protection
- Antistatic bags
- Compliance to local government regulations
5.3 Given a scenario, demonstrate proper communication and professionalism.
- Use proper language—avoid jargon, acronyms, slang when applicable
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Listen and do not interrupt the customer
- Be culturally sensitive
- Be on time (if late contact the customer)
- Avoid distractions
- Personal calls
- Talking to co-workers while interacting with customers
- Personal interruptions
- Dealing with difficult
customer or situation
- Avoid arguing with customers and/or being defensive
- Do not minimize customer’s problems
- Avoid being judgmental
- Clarify customer statements (ask open ended questions to narrow the scope of the problem, restate the issue or question to verify understanding)
- Set and meet expectations/timeline
and communicate status with
the customer
- Offer different repair/replacement options if applicable
- Provide proper documentation on the services provided
- Follow up with customer/user at a later date to verify satisfaction
- Deal appropriately
with customers confidential
materials
- Located on a computer, desktop, printer, etc.
5.4 Explain the fundamentals of dealing with prohibited content/activity.
- First response
- Identify
- Report through proper channels
- Data/device preservation
- Use of documentation/documentation changes
- Chain of custody
- Tracking of evidence/documenting process