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Quizzes > Computers & Technology > Computers & IT

How Well Do You Know Computer Hardware? Take the Quiz!

Think you can spot which of the following is considered to be computer hardware? Jump into this hardware components quiz!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration showing CPU GPU RAM motherboard components on dark blue background for hardware quiz.

This computer hardware quiz helps you spot and name key PC parts like the CPU, GPU, and RAM. Use it to practice, find gaps before a build or upgrade, and see your score; for extra reps, try the hardware practice or the related parts quiz .

Identify the primary type of volatile memory used for temporary data storage in a PC.
Solid State Drive (SSD)
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Random-access memory (RAM) is the main volatile memory used by the CPU to store data and instructions temporarily during operation. It is much faster than storage devices like HDDs or SSDs but loses its contents when power is removed. HDDs and SSDs provide long-term, non-volatile storage, and the CPU is the processing unit rather than a memory device. For more details, see .
Which CPU socket did Intel introduce for its 10th generation Core series?
LGA1700
LGA1151
LGA1200
AM4
Intel's 10th generation Core processors (Comet Lake) use the LGA1200 socket, which is not compatible with previous LGA1151 boards. AMD's AM4 socket is for AMD Ryzen CPUs, and the newer LGA1700 socket supports Intel's 12th generation. You can learn more at .
What does the acronym GPU stand for?
Graphics Unit Processor
Graphics Processing Unit
General Processing Unit
Graphics and Processing Unit
GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit, a specialized processor designed to accelerate rendering of images, video, and animations. It offloads graphics tasks from the CPU to improve overall performance in visual applications. For further reading, visit .
Which storage device type uses NAND flash memory and has no moving parts?
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Tape drive
Solid State Drive (SSD)
DVD
Solid State Drives (SSDs) use NAND flash memory to store data without any moving parts, offering faster access times compared to HDDs. DVDs and tape drives rely on optical or magnetic media with mechanical movement. For more information, see .
What is the standard ATX motherboard form factor measurement?
9.6" x 10.4"
12" x 9.6"
8" x 10"
6.7" x 6.7"
The standard ATX motherboard measures 12 inches by 9.6 inches, as defined by Intel's ATX specification. Smaller variants like Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX have reduced dimensions. More details are available at .
DDR4 and DDR3 refer to what computer hardware component?
GPU memory
VRAM modules
CPU socket types
RAM types
DDR3 and DDR4 are successive generations of SDRAM used as main system memory (RAM) in PCs. They differ in speed, voltage, and architecture, but both serve as volatile memory. For a deeper dive, visit .
Which PC component is responsible for converting AC power from the wall into DC power for internal components?
Motherboard
Power Supply Unit (PSU)
GPU
CPU
The Power Supply Unit (PSU) converts AC power from your outlet into regulated DC voltages required by the PC's components. It also provides protection features like overcurrent and thermal shutdown. Learn more at .
Which of these ports is most commonly used to connect a monitor and transmit high-definition video and audio?
RJ45
HDMI
USB-C
SATA
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is the most widespread port for carrying both high-definition video and audio signals between a computer and a display. USB-C can also carry video but is less universal, while SATA and RJ45 serve storage and networking respectively. More details at .
What does it mean to "overclock" a CPU or GPU?
Underclock its speed for power savings
Run it at temperatures below ambient
Lower its operating voltage
Increase its clock frequency beyond the factory rating
Overclocking involves running a CPU or GPU at a clock frequency higher than the manufacturer's specified default, which can boost performance in computational and gaming tasks. It often requires better cooling and can reduce component lifespan if done improperly. See for more information.
In CPU specifications, what does TDP stand for?
Total Data Path
Thermal Dissipation Process
Total Dynamic Power
Thermal Design Power
Thermal Design Power (TDP) indicates the maximum amount of heat a CPU cooler must dissipate under typical workloads. It helps in selecting appropriate cooling solutions to maintain safe operating temperatures. For details, visit .
Which RAID level offers data striping without redundancy?
RAID 10
RAID 5
RAID 1
RAID 0
RAID 0 stripes data across multiple disks for improved performance but offers no redundancy, meaning if one drive fails all data is lost. RAID 1 mirrors data for redundancy, and RAID 5 provides striping with parity. More at .
What technology allows multiple NVIDIA GPUs to work together in one system?
XConnect
PhysX
CrossFire
SLI
SLI (Scalable Link Interface) is NVIDIA's proprietary multi-GPU technology that enables two or more graphics cards to work in parallel. CrossFire is AMD's equivalent, PhysX is NVIDIA's physics engine, and XConnect relates to external GPU support. Learn more at .
Which slot on a motherboard is commonly used to install a discrete graphics card?
PCIe x4
PCIe x16
AGP
PCIe x1
PCI Express x16 slots provide the necessary bandwidth for modern discrete graphics cards to communicate with the CPU and system memory. AGP is an older standard that has been replaced by PCIe. For further reading see .
NVMe SSDs communicate primarily over which interface?
SATA
USB
Thunderbolt
PCIe
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) drives communicate directly over the PCI Express bus to achieve higher throughput and lower latency than SATA-based SSDs. SATA is limited to around 600 MB/s, while PCIe lanes can deliver multiple gigabytes per second. More at .
What is the purpose of thermal paste when installing a CPU cooler?
Glue the cooler to the CPU
Fill microscopic gaps to improve heat transfer
Insulate the CPU from electricity
Prevent dust buildup
Thermal paste fills in tiny imperfections and air gaps between the CPU heat spreader and the cooler base, improving thermal conductivity. Without it, heat transfer would be inefficient, leading to higher operating temperatures. See .
Which cooling solution uses liquid to transfer heat away from components?
Liquid cooling
Peltier cooling
Passive cooling
Air cooling
Liquid cooling systems circulate coolant through a block attached to the CPU or GPU, then move the heated liquid to a radiator where fans dissipate the heat. Air cooling relies solely on heatsinks and fans, while passive cooling has no moving parts. More information at .
What advantage does dual-channel memory provide over single-channel memory?
Higher bandwidth
Increased capacity
Improved ECC
Lower latency
Dual-channel memory architecture doubles the theoretical peak memory bandwidth by accessing two memory modules simultaneously. This can improve performance in memory-intensive applications. It does not inherently change capacity or error correction capabilities. Read more at .
What feature distinguishes ECC memory from standard PC memory?
It can detect and correct single-bit memory errors
It consumes less power
It operates at higher frequencies
It uses NAND flash
Error-Correcting Code (ECC) memory includes extra bits that detect and correct single-bit errors on the fly, improving system reliability. Standard non-ECC memory cannot correct these errors, which can lead to data corruption. For more, see .
Modern consumer SSDs predominantly use which type of flash memory cell?
NAND flash
EEPROM
NOR flash
DRAM
NAND flash memory is used in nearly all modern consumer SSDs due to its high density and lower cost per bit compared to NOR flash. NOR flash is used for code storage in embedded systems, while DRAM serves as volatile memory. Learn more at .
On a motherboard, what is the primary role of decoupling capacitors around the CPU socket?
Control fan speeds
Filter audio noise
Store BIOS settings
Stabilize voltage supply by smoothing power fluctuations
Decoupling capacitors placed near the CPU socket act as small energy reservoirs to smooth out voltage spikes and reduce electrical noise, ensuring stable power delivery. Without them, power fluctuations could cause system instability or component damage. Details at .
What is a benefit of using a modular power supply unit over a non-modular one?
Ability to remove unused cables for better airflow
Quieter operation by default
Built-in RGB lighting
Higher wattage capacity
Modular PSUs allow you to detach unused cables, reducing clutter and improving airflow inside the case. Non-modular units have all cables permanently attached, which can obstruct airflow and complicate cable management. Learn more at .
SSD endurance is often rated in TBW. What does TBW stand for?
Transfer Bytes per Watt
Total Blocks Written
Terabytes Written
Total Bytes Written
TBW stands for Terabytes Written, indicating the total amount of data that can be written to an SSD before the NAND cells are expected to wear out. It's a key metric for assessing drive longevity under heavy write workloads. More at .
The chipset on a motherboard primarily manages communication between which components?
CPU and I/O peripherals
CPU and storage devices
RAM and PSU
GPU and monitor
The motherboard chipset controls data flow between the CPU and peripheral devices such as USB ports, SATA storage, network interfaces, and expansion slots. It essentially acts as a traffic manager for system resources. Read more at .
In DRAM specifications, what does CAS latency refer to?
Maximum data transfer rate
Delay between sending a column address and data arrival
Time required for a full row refresh
Number of columns accessed per cycle
CAS latency (Column Address Strobe latency) measures the delay, in clock cycles, between the memory controller issuing a read command and the data being available from the DRAM module. Lower CAS numbers generally indicate faster access times. For deeper insight, see .
What is the primary purpose of an M.2 Key E slot on a motherboard?
Interface with network cables
Connect Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules
Install graphics cards
Attach SATA hard drives
The M.2 Key E slot is designed for low-bandwidth PCIe or USB-based add-on cards, most commonly Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. It does not support high-speed NVMe storage, which uses M.2 Key M slots. More info at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Core Hardware Components -

    After completing our computer hardware quiz, you'll confidently recognize essential parts like CPUs, GPUs, RAM, and motherboards.

  2. Distinguish Hardware from Software -

    Understand which of the following is considered to be computer hardware and how it differs from software counterparts.

  3. Explain Component Functionality -

    Describe the role of critical hardware components, such as power supplies and storage devices, in PC performance.

  4. Apply Troubleshooting Techniques -

    Use insights from the hardware components quiz to diagnose and resolve common PC issues.

  5. Evaluate Upgrade Options -

    Assess compatibility and performance benefits to make informed decisions on system upgrades and expansions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. CPU Architecture & Core Function -

    In a hardware components quiz, understanding that the CPU performs instruction execution at GHz clock speeds is critical; for example, an Intel i7-9700K runs at 3.6 GHz with 8 cores. Recall IPC (instructions per cycle) as a key performance metric - higher IPC means more work per tick. Mnemonic: "C for CPU, C for Central," to remember Central Processing Unit.

  2. GPU vs. CPU: Parallel vs. Serial Processing -

    If a computer hardware quiz asks about graphics vs. general compute, know that CPUs excel at serial tasks while GPUs handle thousands of threads in parallel for rendering and AI workloads. NVIDIA's CUDA cores or AMD's Stream Processors showcase how GPUs distribute work across many small units. Think "G for Graphics, G for Gigantic parallelism" to lock in that distinction.

  3. RAM Types & Memory Hierarchy -

    Computer hardware trivia often tests your grasp of SRAM (cache) vs. DRAM (main memory) and the DDR generations (e.g., DDR4 at 3 200 MT/s vs. DDR5 at 6 400 MT/s speeds). Remember the memory pyramid: Registers → L1/L2/L3 Cache → RAM → SSD/HDD. Use the phrase "R-CR-R" (Registers, Cache, RAM, ROM) to recall the order.

  4. Motherboard Components & Bus Architecture -

    Quiz questions on motherboards often focus on the chipset's role dividing Northbridge (memory controller) and Southbridge (I/O), plus bus standards like PCIe 4.0 offering 16 GT/s per lane. SATA, USB, and NVMe interfaces all connect via specific ports and lanes - knowing each speed helps. Mnemonic: "NBC & SBI" (Northbridge, Southbridge, I/O) keeps the flow clear.

  5. Storage Devices & I/O Performance -

    In a computer parts quiz, distinguish HDDs (magnetic platters, ~150 MB/s) from SATA SSDs (~550 MB/s) and NVMe SSDs (up to 3 500 MB/s, using PCIe lanes). IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) measures responsiveness - SSDs typically reach tens of thousands of IOPS vs. HDD's hundreds. Remember "H for Heads & Magnetic, S for Solid State" to tag each technology.

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