- (Topic 4)
A technician is upgrading a desktop's storage with the fastest option available. The desktop's motherboard is equipped with SATA Ill, NVMe, and IDE. Which of the following should the technician choose for the best performance?
Correct Answer:
A
The best option that the technician should choose for the best performance is A. PCIe SSD connected via NVMe interface. This option means that the technician should install a solid state drive (SSD) that uses the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) bus
and the NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) protocol to communicate with the motherboard. This option can offer the following advantages:
✑ Faster speed: PCIe SSDs can transfer data faster than SATA or IDE SSDs, as
they use more lanes and have higher bandwidth. PCIe SSDs can reach speeds of up to 7,000 MB/s, while SATA SSDs are limited to 600 MB/s and IDE SSDs are even slower12. NVMe is a protocol that is designed specifically for SSDs and can optimize their performance by reducing latency and increasing parallelism3.
✑ Smaller size: PCIe SSDs can be smaller than SATA or IDE SSDs, as they do not
require additional cables or connectors. PCIe SSDs can come in different form factors, such as M.2 or U.2, which can fit in different slots on the motherboard12.
✑ Higher reliability: PCIe SSDs can be more reliable than SATA or IDE SSDs, as
they have less moving parts and are less prone to mechanical failures or data corruption. PCIe SSDs can also support features such as error correction and wear leveling, which can enhance their durability and lifespan12.
- (Topic 4)
A technician installed a Cat 5 UTP cable approximately 275ft (84m) from a network switch in an office to a workstation located on a factory floor. The technician sees both a flashing green LED and a flashing orange LED on the workstation's NIC. Which of the following should the technician do first?
Correct Answer:
B
The correct answer is B. Install a powered hub as close as possible to the halfway point in the Cat 5 UTP cable run.
The problem is most likely caused by the excessive length of the Cat 5 UTP cable, which exceeds the maximum limit of 100 meters (328 feet) for Ethernet over twisted pair12. This can result in signal degradation, interference, and packet loss, which can affect the network performance and connectivity. The flashing green LED indicates that the NIC is receiving data, while the flashing orange LED indicates that the NIC is sending data3. However, these LEDs do not indicate the quality or speed of the data transmission, which may be poor due to the long cable run.
The best solution is to install a powered hub as close as possible to the halfway point in the Cat 5 UTP cable run. A powered hub is a device that can amplify and regenerate the signal, as well as provide additional ports for connecting more devices. A powered hub can extend the effective range of the cable and improve the network performance and connectivity1.
The other options are not the best solutions for this problem. Checking for loose connections, pinched bends, and physical damage is a good troubleshooting step, but it is unlikely to solve the problem if the cable is too long. Replacing the entire run of Cat 5 UTP cable with Cat 5 STP cable may reduce some interference, but it will not solve the problem of signal degradation due to the length. Upgrading the entire cable run to multimode fiber may provide better performance and range, but it will also require replacing the NICs and switches, which will be costly and time-consuming.
- (Topic 1)
A field technician has been dispatched to a site with an internet outage. Upon arriving, the technician discovers that the POTS lines are not working as well. Which of the following technologies is the site MOST likely using?
Correct Answer:
C
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) uses POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines to provide high-speed internet access. If the POTS lines are not working, it could cause an internet outage for DSL customers. Fiber and cable internet typically use different types of infrastructure, while satellite internet is not reliant on POTS lines. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam: Core 1 - Page 231
- (Topic 2)
A user reports a cell phone is getting hot. Which of the following are MOST likely to be possible causes? (Select THREE).
Correct Answer:
ACH
Using the device as a Wi-Fi hotspot, a failing battery, and too many open applications are the most likely causes of the cell phone getting hot. These actions require the phone to use more power and processing, causing it to heat up.
- (Topic 1)
A user acquired a new workstation and is attempting to open multiple targe Excel files simultaneously. The user is not experiencing the expected performance when executing such large requests. Which of the following should a technician do FIRST?
Correct Answer:
D
Opening multiple large Excel files simultaneously requires a large amount of RAM. Upgrading the RAM in the workstation should improve performance. References: CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide, Ninth Edition, Chapter 9
