BPSC 4.0 Computer fundamentals MCQ Class 3 ( Hardware) 2025

 

TOP 50 fundamental hardware-related questions with their answers to help you study for exams or improve your knowledge:

1. What is hardware?

• Answer: Hardware refers to the physical components of a computer system, such as the CPU, RAM, hard drive, motherboard, etc.

2. What are the main components of a computer system?

• Answer: The main components include the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Memory (RAM), Storage devices (HDD/SSD), Input/Output devices, and the motherboard.

3. What is a motherboard?

• Answer: The motherboard is the main circuit board in a computer that connects all the components together, such as the CPU, memory, and expansion cards.

4. What is the CPU?

• Answer: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of the computer. It performs most of the processing inside a computer by executing instructions from programs.

5. What is RAM?

• Answer: RAM (Random Access Memory) is the temporary memory used by the CPU to store and quickly access data for running programs.

6. What is the function of a hard disk drive (HDD)?

• Answer: The HDD is used for storing data persistently, including the operating system, applications, and personal files.

7. What is an SSD?

• Answer: An SSD (Solid-State Drive) is a type of storage device that uses flash memory to store data. It is faster and more reliable than traditional HDDs.

8. What is the difference between RAM and ROM?

• Answer: RAM is volatile memory used for temporary storage, while ROM (Read-Only Memory) is non-volatile and stores firmware and system-level instructions.

9. What is a power supply unit (PSU)?

• Answer: The PSU provides power to the internal components of the computer, converting electrical power from the outlet into a usable form for the hardware.

10. What is the function of a graphics card (GPU)?

• Answer: The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is responsible for rendering images, video, and animations, taking the load off the CPU.

11. What is a bus in computer hardware?

• Answer: A bus is a communication system that transfers data between different components of the computer, such as the CPU, memory, and peripherals.

12. What is the role of the chipset on a motherboard?

• Answer: The chipset manages communication between the CPU, RAM, storage devices, and other peripherals, acting as a traffic controller.

13. What is an expansion card?

• Answer: An expansion card is an additional component that can be added to the motherboard to provide extra functionality, such as a sound card, network card, or video card.

14. What is the role of a network interface card (NIC)?

• Answer: The NIC allows a computer to connect to a network, enabling communication with other computers or devices.

15. What is the purpose of the BIOS?

• Answer: The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) initializes and tests hardware components when the computer starts and provides an interface for the operating system to interact with hardware.

16. What is overclocking?

• Answer: Overclocking is the process of increasing the clock speed of a component (usually the CPU or GPU) to improve performance beyond the manufacturer's recommended speed.

17. What is a port in computer hardware?

• Answer: A port is an interface used to connect external devices to the computer, such as USB, HDMI, or Ethernet ports.

18. What is the difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0?

• Answer: USB 3.0 is faster than USB 2.0, with data transfer rates of up to 5 Gbps compared to USB 2.0's 480 Mbps.

19. What is the function of a cooling fan in a computer?

• Answer: The cooling fan prevents components like the CPU and GPU from overheating by dissipating heat produced during processing.

20. What is the difference between an HDD and SSD in terms of speed?

• Answer: SSDs are significantly faster than HDDs in terms of data read/write speeds, leading to faster boot times and file access.

21. What is the role of a sound card?

• Answer: A sound card allows a computer to process and output audio signals to speakers or headphones, enhancing the audio experience.

22. What are the types of RAM?

• Answer: The main types of RAM are DRAM (Dynamic RAM), SRAM (Static RAM), DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM, and variations like DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4.

23. What is a cache memory?

• Answer: Cache memory is a small, high-speed memory located close to the CPU that stores frequently accessed data to speed up processing.

24. What is the difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit system?

• Answer: A 64-bit system can handle more memory (RAM), larger files, and more complex computations than a 32-bit system.

25. What is an optical drive?

• Answer: An optical drive is used to read and write data from optical discs like CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays.

26. What is the function of the heat sink in a computer?

• Answer: The heat sink dissipates heat away from the CPU or GPU to prevent overheating.

27. What is a hard drive's RPM?

• Answer: RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) indicates how fast the platters in an HDD spin. Higher RPMs (e.g., 7200 RPM) lead to faster data access times.

28. What is the role of the chipset on a motherboard?

• Answer: The chipset controls the data flow between the CPU, RAM, storage, and peripherals and determines compatibility with different hardware components.

29. What is a RAID configuration?

• Answer: RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a data storage virtualization technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into one or more logical units for redundancy or performance improvement.

30. What is the difference between a 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch hard drive?

• Answer: The size refers to the physical dimensions of the hard drive. A 3.5-inch HDD is typically used in desktops, while a 2.5-inch HDD is used in laptops and smaller devices.

31. What is a DVD-ROM?

• Answer: A DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory) is a type of optical disc used for storing and reading large amounts of data, such as movies or software.

32. What is a computer bus?

• Answer: A bus is a system used for transferring data between the processor, memory, and other peripherals in a computer.

33. What is the difference between a laptop and a desktop CPU?

• Answer: Laptop CPUs are designed for lower power consumption and heat output, while desktop CPUs are typically more powerful and can handle higher performance.

34. What is a device driver?

• Answer: A device driver is a software program that allows the operating system to communicate with hardware components, such as printers or graphics cards.

35. What is an SSD controller?

• Answer: The SSD controller manages the read/write operations and data flow between the storage chips and the rest of the system.

36. What is an inverter in computer hardware?

• Answer: An inverter is an electronic component used to convert DC power to AC power in certain devices, such as the backlight of a laptop screen.

37. What is the function of an optical mouse?

• Answer: An optical mouse uses LED light to detect movement on a surface and sends this data to the computer to control the cursor.

38. What is a motherboard socket?

• Answer: A motherboard socket is the physical interface that connects the CPU to the motherboard.

39. What is the purpose of a printer in computer hardware?

• Answer: A printer is an output device that produces a hard copy of digital documents or images on paper.

40. What is the function of the CMOS battery?

• Answer: The CMOS battery provides power to the motherboard’s CMOS chip, which stores system settings like date and time when the computer is powered off.

41. What is USB 3.1?

• Answer: USB 3.1 is an upgraded version of USB 3.0, offering faster data transfer rates (up to 10 Gbps) and improved power delivery.

42. What is Thunderbolt?

• Answer: Thunderbolt is a hardware interface that allows fast data transfer, video output, and power delivery through a single cable, commonly used in high-performance devices.

43. What is an Ethernet port?

• Answer: An Ethernet port is used to connect the computer to a wired network, typically using an Ethernet cable.

44. What is the difference between a 2D and 3D graphics card?

• Answer: A 2D graphics card handles basic graphical functions like rendering images and text, while a 3D graphics card (GPU) is designed for rendering 3D graphics, video games, and visual effects.

45. What is a sound chip?

• Answer: A sound chip is responsible for generating and processing sound, typically found in the motherboard or as an external sound card.

46. What is a USB hub?

• Answer: A USB hub is a device that allows multiple USB devices to connect to a single USB port on the computer.

47. What does HDMI stand for?

• Answer: HDMI stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, used for transmitting video and audio data to displays and other multimedia devices.

48. What is the difference between a serial and parallel port?

• Answer: A serial port transmits data one bit at a time, while a parallel port transmits multiple bits simultaneously, resulting in faster data transfer for parallel devices.

49. What is a floppy disk?

• Answer: A floppy disk is a magnetic storage medium used for data storage, now considered outdated and replaced by more modern storage devices.

50. What is the role of an adapter card?

• Answer: An adapter card adds functionality to the computer, such as adding more USB ports, improving video output, or enabling wireless communication.

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