Computer Hardware: Processors And Memory

Front 1

List seven Intel Sockets

Back 1

PGA988 LGA775
LGA2011 LGA1150
LGA1155
LGA1156
LGA1366

Front 2

List seven AMD sockets

Back 2

940 AM3
F AM3+
FM1
AM2
AM2+

Front 3

Define Multiprocessing

Back 3

Multiprocessing is when two processing units are installed within a single processor (First used by Pentium)

Front 4

What is Multi-core Processing?

Back 4

Multiple processors are installed in the same processor housing (dual-core, triple-core, quad-core, etc)

Front 5

Define Multi-threading

Back 5

Multi-threading is the ability of each processor or core to handle two threads at the same time. Intel calls this Hyper-threading and AMD calls it HyperTransport.

Front 6

A single task handled by the CPU is also known as a _____

Back 6

Thread

Front 7

Processor memory cache is grouped into three levels. What are they?

Back 7

Level 1 Cache (L1) - memory on the processor chip (die)

Level 2 Cache (L2) - memory in the processor package but not on the die

Level 3 Cache (L3) - memory farther from the core but still in the package

Front 8

What is the difference between SRAM and DRAM?

Back 8

Static Ram (SRAM) is the memory used in the processor memory cache. It does not need to be refreshed and can hold its data as long as power is available.
Dynamic Ram (DRAM) is memory on the motherboard. It loses data rapidly and must be refreshed often. Also known as Volatile Memory.

Front 9

List some characteristics of DDR3 DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

Back 9

- 240 pins

- It can support quad, triple, or dual channels or installed as a single DIMM

- It has an offset notch farther from the center than DDR2

Front 10

List some characteristics of DDR2 DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

Back 10

- 240 pins

- Can support dual channels or be installed as a single DIMM

- It has one notch near the center of the edge connecter

Front 11

List some characteristics of DDR DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

Back 11

- 184 pins

- Can support dual channels or be installed as a single DIMM

- It has one offset notch

Front 12

List some characteristics of RIMM (Rambus Inline Memory Module)

Back 12

- 184 pins

- It has two notches near the center of the edge connector

Front 13

What is SDRAM and what are its characteristics?

Back 13

SDRAM is synchronous DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

It has two notches and uses 168 pins. SDRAM was the first DIMM to run in sync with the system clock

Front 14

What is DDR and what are some of its characteristics?

Back 14

DDR stands for Double Data Rate SDRAM and it is simply an improved version of SDRAM.

DDR runs twice as fast as SDRAM, has one notch, and uses 184 pins.

Can use Dual Channels

If a motherboard runs at 200 MHz, DDR runs at 400 MHz

Front 15

What is DDR2 and what are some characteristics?

Back 15

DDR2 is Double Data Rate SDRAM 2 and it is an improved version of DDR.

It has 240 pins, is faster than DDR and uses less power

Can use Dual Channels

Front 16

What is DDR3 and what are some characterstics?

Back 16

DDR3 is Double Data Rate SDRAM 3 and is an improved version of DDR and DDR2

It has 240 pins and one notch in a different position than DDR2
Can use Dual,Triple, or Quad channels

Front 17

What are Dual Channels and what are the requirements?

Back 17

Dual channels allow the memory controller to communicate with two DIMM's at the same time, doubling the speed of memory access.

When setting up, the pair of DIMMs must be matched in size, speed, features and usually come from same MFR.

Front 18

What is Parity?

Back 18

Parity is an error-checking technology that was used in older SIMMs.

*Parity memory uses 9 bits (8 for data and 1 for parity)

Front 19

What is ECC memory and how does it differ from Non-ECC memory?

Back 19

ECC technology is error-correcting code. Memory that supports ECC has an odd number of chips on the module while Non-ECC has an even number.

Data path width for ECC is 72 bits (64 for Non-ECC DIMM)

Front 20

What is Rambus (RIMM)?

Back 20

Rambus is a type of DRAM created by Rambus Inc.

Front 21

What is an ALU

Back 21

Arithmetic Logic Unit. ALUs are the two components in each processor core within the processor package. They do all the comparisons and calculations inside the processor.

Front 22

DRAM is stored on four kinds of modules. What are they?

Back 22

DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module
SO-DIMM - Small Outline DIMM (for laptops)
RIMM - Rambus Inline Memory Module
SIMM - Single Inline Memory Module

Front 23

Who are the two major manufactures of processors?

Back 23

AMD and Intel

Front 24

What is the name of the Intel technology that allows a processor to handle two threads at the same time?

Back 24

Hyper-Threading

Front 25

Which Intel processor uses a screw head to hold down the socket load plate?

Back 25

LGA1155

Front 26

Which is faster, SRAM or DRAM? Why?

Back 26

SRAM is faster because it doesn't need refreshing and it can hold its data as long as power is available.

Front 27

How many pins are on a DDR3 DIMM? DDR2 DIMM?

Back 27

They both have 240 pins

Front 28

How many pins are on DDR DIMM? SDRAM DIMM?

Back 28

DDR DIMMs have 184 pins.

SDRAM DIMMs have 168 pins.

Front 29

How many notches does a DDR3 DIMM have?

Back 29

It has one notch offset farther from the center than DDR2

Front 30

What was the first type of DIMM that ran synchronized with the system clock?

Back 30

SDRAM (Synchronized Dynamic Random Access Memory)

Front 31

What major improvement did DDR make of SDRAM?

Back 31

It process data when the beat of the clock rises and again when it falls, double the data rate of memory.

Front 32

Which DIMM performs better? A double-sided dual-ranked DIMM or a double-sided single-ranked DIMM?

Back 32

Single ranked performs better because the memory controller addresses the memory bank all at one time instead of having to address the memory banks separately.

Front 33

Which DIMM uses lower voltage? DDR3 or DDR2

Back 33

DDR3

Front 34

In a memory ad for DIMMs, you notice 64MEGx72 for one DIMM and 64MEGx64 for another. What does the x72 signify?

Back 34

It signifies that the module uses ECC

Front 35

A DIMM that contains memory chips in two memory banks on the module is said to be ______

Back 35

Dual-Ranked

Front 36

If two bits of a byte are in error when the byte is read from ECC memory, can ECC detect the error? Can it fix it?

Back 36

It can detect the error but cannot fix it.

Front 37

How many notches are on an SDRAM DIMM?

Back 37

Two

Front 38

What is the most amount of RAM that can be uses bya 32-bit installation of Windows 7?

Back 38

4 GB

Front 39

What command allows you to open the System Information utility to look up how much RAM is installed in a system?

Back 39

MSinfo32