CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+) Study Guide

Exam FC0-U61

Quentin Docter

• Publisher: Sybex
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781119513094
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Certification Guides in Computer Science
• Index: Computer Science

NOTE: The name of the exam has changed from IT Fundamentals to IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+). However, the FC0-U61 exam objectives are exactly the same. After the book was printed withIT Fundamentalsin the title, CompTIA changed the name toIT Fundamentals+ (ITF+). We have corrected the title toIT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) in subsequent book printings, but earlier printings that were sold may still showIT Fundamentalsin the title. Please rest assured that the book content is 100% the same. The ultimate study guide for the essential entry-level IT cert!

The CompTIA IT Fundamentals Study Guide: Exam FC0-U61, Second Edition is your ideal companion for comprehensive exam preparation. Covering 100 percent of the latest exam objectives, this book contains everything you need to know to pass with flying colors—the first time! Clear, concise language breaks down fundamental IT concepts to help you truly grasp important concepts, and practical examples illustrate how each new skill is applied in real-world situations. You'll learn your way around hardware and software, conduct installations, and connect to networks to get a workstation up and running smoothly; you'll also develop the knowledge base needed to identify compatibility and security issues, mitigate risks, and conduct all-important preventative maintenance that keeps the end-user problem-free.

The CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification validates your skills as a systems support specialist, and gets your foot in the door to a successful IT career. This book is your ultimate preparation resource, with expert guidance backed by online tools to take your preparation to the next level!

• Master 100 percent of Exam FC0-U61 objectives
• Learn real-world applications and practical on-the-job skills
• Know what to expect with exam highlights and review questions
• Includes 1 year free access to Sybex's online study tools including flashcards, chapter tests, and a practice exam, all supported by Wiley's support agents who are available 24x7 via email or live chat to assist with access and login questions

The IT department is instrumental in keeping any organization on its feet. As support staff, you will be called upon to assess and repair common problems, set up and configure workstations, address individual issues, and much more. If you decide to continue on to more advanced IT positions, the CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification is a great springboard; if you're ready to launch your career, the CompTIA IT Fundamentals Study Guide offers complete, practical prep to help you face the exam with confidence.

Chapter 1
Core Hardware Components

THE FOLLOWING COMPTIA IT FUNDAMENTALS+ (ITF+) FC0-U61 EXAM OBJECTIVES ARE COVERED IN THIS CHAPTER:

• 
  1.3 Illustrate the basics of computing and processing
  • Input
  • Processing
  • Output
  • Storage
• 
  1.5 Compare and contrast common units of measure
  • Storage unit
    • Bit
    • Byte
    • KB
    • MB
    • GB
    • TB
    • PB
  • Processing speed
    • MHz
    • GHz
• 
  2.3 Explain the purpose of common internal computing components
  • Motherboard/system board
  • Firmware/BIOS
  • RAM
  • CPU
    • ARM
      • Mobile phone
      • Tablet
    • 32-bit
      • Laptop
      • Workstation
      • Server
    • 64-bit
      • Laptop
      • Workstation
      • Server
  • GPU
  • Storage
    • Hard drive
    • SSD
  • Cooling
  • NIC
    • Wired vs. wireless
    • Onboard vs. add-on card
• 
  2.5 Compare and contrast storage types
  • Volatile vs. non-volatile
  • Local storage types
    • RAM
    • Hard drive
      • Solid state vs. spinning disk
    • Optical
    • Flash drive

What better way to kick off a book on IT Fundamentals+ (ITF+) than to talk about the most fundamental components of all—core hardware? When you really break it down to the basics, computers are simply collections of specialized hardware devices that work together (with software) to provide you with the functionality you want. For most users, the desired functionality is to take input, somehow process it, produce output (video or printed), and store data. Sometimes the hardware is in your hands, and at other times it’s halfway around the world—but it’s always necessary. Even soft and fluffy-sounding terms such as “the cloud” (which I will introduce in Chapter 5, “Software Applications”) rely on much of the same hardware that sits snugly within your tablet or smartphone case.

To begin your journey of understanding fundamental IT concepts, I will discuss components that are commonly included inside the case. Some are absolutely critical, while others just provide features that are nice to have, such as sound or a network connection. In this way, I’ll start from the inside out so that you understand what makes computers work the way they do.

Introducing Internal Components

In this section, I will talk about the components that are generally inside the computer case. Some of them are exclusively found inside the case, such as the motherboard and the processor, whereas others can be internal or external. For example, internal hard drives (for storage) are standard in desktop and laptop computers, but you can also buy external hard drives for expanded storage. Network cards are another great example. Today, the circuitry is generally built into the computer, but you can easily find external ones as well. Regardless of the location of your hard drive or network card, it still provides the same functionality.

Most home computer components are modular. That is, they can be removed and replaced by another piece of hardware that does the same thing, provided that it’s compatible and that it fits. For example, if the hard drive in your laptop fails, it can be removed and replaced by another hard drive. This isn’t always the case, of course, and the general rule is that the smaller the device, the less modular it is. This is because to achieve the smaller size, manufacturers need to integrate more functionality into the same component. It’s usually quicker and just as cost-effective to replace a device such as a smartphone rather than repair it if a part fails. If a component is modular and can be replaced, you will sometimes hear it referred to as a field replaceable unit (FRU).

Since I’m talking about components that are inside the case, it would be unfortunate to ignore the case itself. Cases are usually a combination of metal and plastic and serve these two primary functions:

• Keeping all the components securely in place
• Protecting the components from harm

Protecting the components is the key. Water and other liquids are obviously bad for electronic devices, and direct exposure to sunlight and dust can cause parts to overheat and fail. The case guards against all these things. Moreover, in some cases (pun intended), it can make your device easily mobile.

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Throughout this section, I will specifically talk about PC (desktop and laptop) hardware. Many of the principles here apply to smaller devices such as tablets and smartphones as well.

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Exploring Motherboards, Processors, and Memory

These three comp...