Chapter 2: Computer Hardware and Peripheral Devices (Set-8)
During CPU operation, which step means bringing the next instruction from main memory into CPU
A Decode instruction
B Execute instruction
C Store result
D Fetch instruction
In the fetch step, the CPU reads the next instruction from memory using the address held by the program counter. This starts the instruction cycle before decoding and execution.
In the CPU instruction cycle, what happens mainly in the “decode” step
A Print output page
B Save files to HDD
C Interpret instruction meaning
D Display on monitor
Decoding means the control unit interprets what the fetched instruction wants to do and prepares signals for the required operation, such as arithmetic, memory access, or branching.
Which CPU part performs comparisons like greater-than and equal-to along with logic operations
A Control unit
B ALU unit
C RAM slot
D Power supply
The ALU handles arithmetic and logical tasks, including comparisons and bitwise operations. The control unit manages signals and timing, while RAM slot and PSU are not processing units.
What is a main advantage of UEFI compared to traditional BIOS in many systems
A Prints faster pages
B Increases RAM size
C Improves speaker sound
D Supports GPT boot
UEFI commonly supports booting from GPT disks and offers modern firmware features. It replaces older BIOS style boot in many PCs and works with EFI System Partition.
Which motherboard part typically provides the physical connection for RAM sticks
A DIMM slots
B SATA ports
C HDMI port
D RJ45 port
DIMM slots are long connectors that hold RAM modules securely and connect them electrically. SATA is for drives, HDMI for display, and RJ45 for networking.
In older motherboard design terms, which chip handled high-speed memory and CPU communication
A Southbridge chip
B Northbridge chip
C CMOS battery
D Audio codec
Traditionally, the northbridge handled CPU–RAM and graphics communication. Modern CPUs integrate much of this, but the term remains useful for understanding older motherboard architectures.
Which SMPS rating is most directly related to how much total power it can deliver
A Screen resolution
B Mouse DPI
C Audio frequency
D Wattage rating
SMPS wattage indicates maximum power output capacity for the system. Higher wattage supports more components. Screen resolution, DPI, and audio frequency are unrelated to PSU capacity.
Which cooling symptom often indicates poor airflow rather than a CPU fault
A Wrong file name
B Slow typing speed
C Hot cabinet air
D Dark monitor theme
If warm air is trapped inside the cabinet, airflow is likely blocked by dust, bad fan direction, or poor cable management. Improving airflow reduces overheating and improves stability.
Which device is best classified as an “output” device in a computer setup
A Scanner device
B Projector device
C Microphone device
D Joystick device
A projector displays visual output to a large screen. Scanner, microphone, and joystick send input into the computer, so they are input devices.
In a mouse specification, DPI mainly refers to what user experience factor
A Print quality
B Disk capacity
C Speaker volume
D Cursor sensitivity
Higher DPI generally means the cursor moves farther for the same hand movement, giving higher sensitivity. It does not directly change printing, storage capacity, or speaker loudness.
For scanning documents, higher “DPI” mostly improves which result
A More image detail
B Faster keyboard input
C Lower CPU heat
D Better Wi-Fi range
Scanner DPI indicates sampling detail per inch. Higher DPI captures finer text and images but makes larger file sizes. It does not affect keyboard speed, CPU temperature, or Wi-Fi.
Which printer part heats and permanently fixes toner onto paper in laser printing
A Ink nozzle
B Ribbon spool
C Fuser unit
D Paper sensor
The fuser uses heat and pressure to bond toner onto paper so it doesn’t smudge. Ink nozzles belong to inkjets, ribbons to dot-matrix printers, and sensors only detect paper.
Which storage term means data stays even when the device is powered off
A Volatile memory
B Non-volatile storage
C Temporary register
D Cache buffer
Non-volatile storage retains data without power, such as SSDs, HDDs, and ROM. Volatile memory like RAM loses content when power is removed.
Which memory type is usually used to store firmware permanently on a device
A RAM memory
B Cache memory
C CPU register
D ROM memory
ROM (or flash ROM) stores firmware that must remain available at startup. RAM and cache are temporary, and registers are tiny CPU storage used only during processing.
Which unit is typically used to express storage speed like “MB/s”
A Megabytes per second
B Bits per pixel
C Volts per second
D Hertz per byte
Storage speed is often shown as MB/s, meaning megabytes transferred per second. It measures data transfer rate and is commonly used for SSD/HDD benchmarks.
Which storage option is most suitable for carrying files between computers without internet
A CPU register
B USB pen drive
C CMOS battery
D Heat sink
A pen drive is portable flash storage used to copy and move files easily. Registers and CMOS battery are internal hardware parts, and a heat sink only manages temperature.
Which feature best explains why SSDs are usually silent compared to HDDs
A Higher voltage output
B Extra printer driver
C No mechanical parts
D Bigger monitor size
SSDs use flash chips and have no spinning platters or moving heads, so they are silent. HDD noise comes from mechanical movement and vibration.
Which device is mainly used to store long-term backups in a shared office network
A RAM module
B NAS storage
C Cache chip
D ALU unit
NAS provides centralized shared storage accessible through the network, useful for backups and file sharing. RAM, cache, and ALU are not long-term network storage solutions.
Which connector type is most associated with connecting a PC to a wired LAN
A HDMI Type-A
B VGA D-Sub
C Audio 3.5mm
D Ethernet RJ45
RJ45 is used with Ethernet cables for networking. HDMI and VGA are for display, while 3.5mm audio is for sound devices.
Which cable is used mainly to connect internal SATA SSD/HDD to motherboard for data
A Power extension
B HDMI cable
C SATA data cable
D Speaker wire
SATA data cables carry data between the motherboard and SATA drives. Power extension supplies power only, HDMI is for display, and speaker wire is for audio output.
Which port is commonly used to connect headphones for audio output
A SATA port
B Audio output jack
C RJ45 port
D VGA port
The audio output jack is designed for headphones or speakers. SATA is storage, RJ45 is network, and VGA is video. Audio jacks carry analog sound signals.
Which term best describes installing a device and having it work without manual driver setup in many cases
A Disk formatting
B Screen capturing
C File compression
D Plug and play
Plug and play allows the OS to detect hardware, assign resources, and load suitable drivers automatically. It simplifies adding devices like USB keyboards, mice, and basic printers.
A device driver mainly acts as what in a computer system
A Extra storage space
B Internet speed booster
C Hardware communication bridge
D Screen brightness tool
Drivers translate OS commands into hardware-specific actions, letting devices function correctly. Without drivers, hardware may be unrecognized or may work with limited features.
Which Windows tool is most used to check driver status and device errors
A Device Manager
B Taskbar settings
C Paint program
D Calculator app
Device Manager shows installed hardware, error symbols, and driver details. It allows updating, disabling, or uninstalling drivers, making it the primary tool for driver troubleshooting.
If the display works but resolution options are limited, which driver is most likely missing
A Printer driver
B Audio driver
C Chipset driver
D Graphics driver
Without the correct graphics driver, the system may use a basic display adapter with limited resolutions and performance. Installing the proper GPU driver unlocks full display capabilities.
Which driver type is commonly required to access full printer features like duplex or quality modes
A Generic text driver
B Manufacturer printer driver
C BIOS driver
D Cache driver
Manufacturer drivers enable advanced printer features and correct page handling. Generic drivers may print basic text, but often do not support device-specific options properly.
Which term means a device works properly with a given OS, ports, and system requirements
A Disk defragmentation
B Screen rotation
C Hardware compatibility
D File encryption
Compatibility means the device and its drivers support the OS and hardware environment. Incompatible hardware may fail to install drivers or may not work correctly.
What is the safest first check when a USB device is not recognized
A Try another USB
B Delete temp files
C Change desktop theme
D Increase volume
Trying a different USB port or cable quickly confirms whether the issue is port-related or device-related. It is the simplest step before reinstalling drivers or replacing the device.
Which power protection device provides backup battery time during power cuts
A Stabilizer unit
B VGA splitter
C SATA converter
D UPS device
A UPS provides temporary power to keep the PC running briefly and allows safe shutdown. A stabilizer regulates voltage but usually does not provide battery backup time.
Which device mainly protects from under-voltage and over-voltage in unstable areas
A Wi-Fi adapter
B Voltage stabilizer
C Barcode reader
D Webcam device
A stabilizer keeps voltage near a safe range to protect electronics. It is useful where supply fluctuates. It does not add networking, scanning, or video features.
What is the main job of a CMOS battery in a PC
A Increase RAM speed
B Improve print quality
C Boost internet signal
D Keep time settings
The CMOS battery powers the real-time clock and helps preserve BIOS/UEFI settings when power is off. If weak, date/time and settings can reset after shutdown.
Which maintenance action most directly improves cooling in a dusty desktop
A Rename system files
B Install new fonts
C Clean fans and vents
D Change screen saver
Dust blocks airflow and reduces fan efficiency. Cleaning fans, heatsinks, and vents improves airflow, lowers temperature, and prevents throttling or sudden shutdown due to overheating.
Which safety step best reduces static damage risk while touching RAM or motherboard
A Use ESD strap
B Use loud speakers
C Use brighter screen
D Use longer cable
An anti-static wrist strap grounds your body to prevent electrostatic discharge. ESD can silently damage chips. Screen brightness, speakers, or cable length do not prevent static damage.
Which cabinet type is generally designed to stand vertically and support more expansion
A All-in-one case
B Tower cabinet
C Flatbed scanner
D Tablet device
Tower cabinets offer more space for expansion cards, drives, and airflow. All-in-one integrates parts behind the display, while scanner and tablet are not cabinet types.
Motherboard size standards like ATX and microATX are called what
A Screen ratio
B File system
C Print queue
D Form factor
Form factor defines motherboard dimensions and mounting points, affecting cabinet compatibility and expansion layout. It is a physical hardware standard, not a display or software concept.
Which output device is best for showing a computer screen to a large audience
A Microphone device
B Barcode reader
C Projector device
D Joystick device
A projector displays video output on a wall or screen for many viewers, ideal for presentations. Microphone, barcode reader, and joystick are input devices, not display output.
Which connector is most often used today to connect keyboards and mice
A VGA port
B USB port
C DVI port
D SATA port
USB is the most common interface for modern keyboards and mice and supports plug-and-play. VGA and DVI are display ports, and SATA is for internal storage devices.
Which wireless method is commonly used for short-range connection with headphones or speakers
A SATA connection
B VGA connection
C DVI connection
D Bluetooth connection
Bluetooth is designed for short-range wireless communication and is widely used for audio devices and file transfer. SATA/VGA/DVI are wired interfaces and do not provide wireless links.
Which device adds wireless internet capability when a desktop lacks built-in Wi-Fi
A VGA cable
B Wi-Fi adapter
C SATA cable
D Paper tray
A Wi-Fi adapter (USB or PCIe) enables connection to wireless networks. Cables listed do not provide Wi-Fi capability, and a paper tray is part of a printer.
Which storage device type uses laser to read data, like CDs and DVDs
A NVMe drive
B RAM module
C Optical disk
D Cache chip
Optical disks store data read by a laser. They are removable media used for software, media, or backups. NVMe is solid-state storage, while RAM and cache are working memory.
Which unit is commonly used to show the size of RAM like 8 or 16
A Ampere unit
B Hertz unit
C Volt unit
D Gigabyte unit
RAM capacity is usually labeled in GB (gigabytes), like 8 GB or 16 GB. Ampere and volt are electrical units, and hertz is frequency.
Which output device produces sound from a computer system
A Speaker device
B Scanner device
C Webcam device
D Joystick device
Speakers convert audio signals into sound output for music, videos, and alerts. Scanner, webcam, and joystick provide input to the computer, not sound output.
Which input device is used to capture voice clearly for online meetings
A Monitor device
B Microphone device
C Printer device
D Plotter device
A microphone converts voice into digital audio input for calls and recordings. Monitor, printer, and plotter are output devices and cannot capture sound.
Which port is most suitable for connecting a monitor to a PC using analog video
A HDMI port
B USB port
C VGA port
D RJ45 port
VGA carries analog video signals and is common on older monitors and PCs. HDMI is digital audio/video, USB is for peripherals, and RJ45 is for networking.
Which connector is known for carrying digital video and often gives sharper quality than VGA
A RJ11 connector
B PS/2 connector
C SATA connector
D DVI connector
DVI sends digital video (in most cases), usually providing a clearer picture than analog VGA. RJ11 is telephone, PS/2 is old input, and SATA is storage data.
Which setting should match between OS and drivers to avoid installation failure
A Wallpaper color
B 32/64-bit type
C Font style
D Icon size
Driver architecture must match OS architecture. A 64-bit OS typically needs 64-bit drivers. Wrong architecture drivers usually won’t install or won’t work correctly.
Which term means combining multiple drives to improve speed or provide data safety
A BIOS setup
B USB setup
C RAID setup
D ROM setup
RAID combines multiple drives in a structured way to improve performance, add redundancy, or both depending on the RAID level. It is a storage management method.
When a device shows a yellow warning symbol in Device Manager, what does it usually indicate
A Driver or resource issue
B Extra disk free
C Strong Wi-Fi signal
D Full battery power
A warning symbol commonly means missing, incorrect, or corrupted drivers, or a resource conflict. Updating or reinstalling the driver and checking hardware connections often fixes it.
Which is the correct action before opening a desktop cabinet to add RAM
A Open web browser
B Power off and unplug
C Increase speaker volume
D Change desktop theme
Turning off and unplugging prevents electric shock and reduces risk of short circuits. It protects both the user and components while installing RAM or other internal hardware.
Which problem is most likely if a PC shuts down automatically when temperature becomes too high
A Faster file copying
B More storage capacity
C Thermal protection shutdown
D Better print quality
Modern PCs shut down to protect CPU/GPU when temperatures cross safe limits. Causes include dust, failed fan, blocked airflow, or poor thermal paste contact, requiring cooling checks.