A+ Certification Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 220-301, Exam Cram 220-302), 2nd Edition

Description

250,000 readers have trusted their A+ studies to Exam Cram because this book ensures they have what they need to pass the exams. In this best-selling new edition, the chapters map exactly to the objectives for the new A+ exams (220-301, 220-302) -- released in November 2003 -- helping readers quickly and easily assess their mastery of the material. In addition, it features test-taking strategies, time-saving tips, more than 750 practice questions, and two hours of video from Scott Mueller's Upgrading & Repairing PCs Video Trainer. The book also includes the popular Cram Sheet, a tear card that highlights the essential information covered on the exam and is designed for that "last-second read" before taking the exam. To ensure our material is the most complete, up-to-date, technically accurate, and well-organized material on the market, the book goes through a stringent review process by industry experts.

Sample Content

Table of Contents

Introduction.


Self-Assessment.

I. A+ CORE HARDWARE EXAM.

Are You Certifiable? The A+ Certification Exams. Preparing for an Exam. Question-Handling Strategies. Mastering the Inner Game.

System Boards: A Brief History. Baby AT and ATX. Summary—Form Factors. Data Transfers—The Bus. Expansion Bus Architecture. Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI). North Bridge and South Bridge. Supplementary Information. Memory Buses. PC Card (PCMCIA). Summary—Bus Architectures. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Conceptual Overview. Read-Only Memory (ROM). Random Access Memory (RAM). Cycles and Frequencies. Summary—Basic Memory. Cache Memory. Memory Pages. Rambus Memory (RDRAM). Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM). Video RAM (VRAM). Supplemental Information. Packaging Modules. Memory Diagnostics—Parity. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Numbers, Symbols, and Words. Numbering Systems. CPU Manufacturing. The Address Bus. Micro Buses. Summary—How CPUs Work. Interrupt Requests (IRQs). Direct Memory Access (DMA). Port IRQs and Addresses. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Original Processors. Third Generation: The 32-Bit 80386. The Fourth Generation 80486, DX, SX, and SL. Summary—Original Processors. Fifth Generation: Pentium Processors. The Pentium 4. Mobile “Centrino” Technology. The Core Naming Convention. AMD. Summary—Modern Processors. Chipsets, Slots, and Sockets. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Analog Versus Digital. Basic Electricity. Circuits. Electronic Components. The Power Supply. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). Supplemental Information. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Keyboards. Mice and Trackballs (Pointing Devices). Modems. Scanners. Troubleshooting Input Devices. Summary—Input Devices. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Historic Drives. Terminology. Disk Geometry. Tracks, Cylinders, Sectors, and Clusters. Supplementary Information. Summary—Hard Disks. Floppy Disks. The ATA Specification. ATA Modes. The SCSI Specification. Tape Backup Systems. Optical Disks. Flash Memory. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Transient Versus Final Output. Video Displays. Colors: RGB and CMY. VGA. Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP). Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). Summary—Monitors. Printers. Laser Printers. Summary—Printers. Fonts. Exam Prep Questions. Need to Know More?

Plug 'n' Play (PnP). Chaining Devices. Universal Serial Bus (USB). IEEE-1394. Summary—Bus Transfers. Networking Overview. Categor

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