Computer Parts Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Which component normally retains the operating system and personal files after the computer shuts down?
CPU cache
An SSD or hard drive
System RAM
Graphics memory
2. You are adding a compatible desktop memory module to a motherboard. Where should it be installed?
A DIMM slot
A PCI Express expansion slot
A SATA data connector
An M.2 storage socket
3. A desktop has a discrete graphics card, but the monitor shows no image because its cable is connected to the motherboard's video port. What should be tried first?
Connect the monitor cable to an output on the graphics card
Remove the CPU cooler and replace the processor
Move the storage drive to another SATA connector
Disconnect the front-panel audio cable
4. A user wants smoother performance in demanding 3D games and rendering software. Which component is most directly responsible for that workload?
Graphics processing unit
Network interface card
CMOS battery
Optical drive
5. Why is thermal paste commonly applied between a CPU and its cooler?
To electrically power the cooling fan
To fill microscopic surface gaps and improve heat transfer
To prevent the motherboard from detecting the processor
To fasten the processor permanently into its socket
6. Which physical feature distinguishes a conventional hard disk drive from a solid-state drive?
It can connect to a motherboard through a data interface
It can preserve data without continuous power
It can be used as the computer's main storage device
It stores data on spinning magnetic platters
7. A computer becomes sluggish when many applications and browser tabs are open, but storage space is plentiful. Which upgrade is most directly likely to help?
More RAM
A higher-wattage power supply
A larger monitor
An additional case fan
8. What does a computer's power supply unit primarily do?
Coordinate communication between software applications
Store startup files in temporary memory
Convert incoming AC power into regulated DC power for components
Remove heat directly from the CPU surface
9. What is the main function of a motherboard?
Permanently archiving files without any storage drives
Providing the main platform that connects and lets components communicate
Rendering every image independently of other hardware
Supplying backup electricity during a building power outage
10. What is the CPU's primary role in a computer?
Keeping personal files when the computer is turned off
Executing program instructions and processing data
Converting wall power into the voltages used by components
Producing sound through speakers or headphones
11. A standard 2.5-inch SATA SSD is being installed inside a desktop. Which connections does it normally require?
A PCIe power cable and an EPS CPU cable
A USB cable and a video cable
A fan header cable and a front-panel cable
A SATA data cable and a SATA power cable
12. A desktop repeatedly loses its date and firmware settings after being unplugged. Which part should be checked first?
The CPU cooling fan
The system RAM heat spreader
The CMOS or real-time clock battery
The case power button
13. Before buying an NVMe M.2 SSD, what motherboard detail is most important to verify?
Whether the rear audio jacks match the speaker color
Whether every RAM slot is already occupied
Whether the motherboard includes a removable CMOS battery
Whether a compatible M.2 slot and supported storage protocol are available
14. After a high-power graphics card is installed, a computer restarts during demanding games. Temperatures are normal, and it was stable before the upgrade. Which component's capacity should be verified first?
The monitor
The system RAM
The power supply unit
The CMOS battery
15. A laptop supports replaceable memory, and you want to buy a module in the compact form factor commonly used by laptops. Which type should you look for?
A full-length PCIe card
A 3.5-inch SATA module
A desktop DIMM
A SO-DIMM
16. What is CPU cache?
A connector that supplies power to storage drives
A partition used for permanent backups of the operating system
A small, fast memory area that keeps frequently needed data close to the processor
A graphics feature that increases a monitor's physical resolution