Computers & Hardware Quiz

1. What does 'CPU' stand for?

1. Central Processing Unit
2. Central Program Uploader
3. Computer Power Unit
4. Core Program Utility

2. What does 'RAM' stand for?

1. Random Access Memory
2. Rapid Application Module
3. Read Access Memory
4. Remote Access Module

3. What is the difference between an HDD and an SSD?

1. HDD is faster; SSD is older technology
2. HDD uses spinning magnetic disks; SSD uses flash memory (no moving parts)
3. SSD uses spinning magnetic disks; HDD uses flash memory
4. They are exactly the same technology

4. What is the binary number system?

1. A base-2 system using only 0 and 1
2. A system used only in computer networking
3. A system using digits 0–9
4. A system using hexadecimal values

5. How many bits are in one byte?

1. 16
2. 4
3. 6
4. 8

6. What does 'GPU' stand for and what is it used for?

1. General Processing Unit, for all tasks
2. Global Protocol Unit, for networking
3. Graphics Processing Unit, for rendering images and video
4. Grid Processing Unit, for cloud computing

7. What component connects all the hardware components inside a computer?

1. CPU
2. Motherboard
3. Power supply unit
4. RAM

8. What is 'overclocking' a processor?

1. Adding more cores to a CPU
2. Installing a cooling system
3. Reducing CPU speed to save power
4. Running a CPU at a higher speed than its official rating

9. What is the purpose of a computer's power supply unit (PSU)?

1. To convert mains electricity to the voltages needed by computer components
2. To cool the computer's processor
3. To manage network connections
4. To store data when the computer is off

10. What year was the first Apple Macintosh personal computer released?

1. 1977
2. 1981
3. 1984
4. 1987

11. What does 'USB' stand for?

1. Ultra Speed Bandwidth
2. Unified Serial Bridge
3. Universal Serial Bus
4. Universal System Bus

12. What is 'Moore's Law'?

1. A rule governing software update frequency
2. The law that hard drives fail within 5 years
3. The observation that transistor count in chips roughly doubles every 2 years
4. The principle that computing costs halve every 18 months

13. Which company makes the Core i5 and Core i9 processor lines?

1. AMD
2. ARM
3. Intel
4. Qualcomm

14. What is 'thermal paste' used for in a PC build?

1. Cooling the RAM modules
2. Improving heat transfer between the CPU and its cooler
3. Lubricating fan bearings
4. Sealing the case from dust

15. What type of display technology uses organic compounds that emit light when electricity is applied?

1. IPS
2. LCD
3. OLED
4. TN panel

16. What is the main function of a computer's operating system?

1. To connect to the internet
2. To manage hardware resources and provide a platform for software
3. To run antivirus software
4. To speed up the CPU

17. What is a 'transistor' in the context of electronics?

1. A computer cooling fan
2. A semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals
3. A type of battery
4. A type of display pixel

18. What does 'Bluetooth' allow devices to do?

1. Communicate with each other wirelessly over short distances
2. Connect to the internet wirelessly
3. Display content from a phone on a TV
4. Transfer files over long distances

19. What was the name of the first commercially sold personal computer?

1. Apple I
2. Commodore PET
3. IBM PC
4. MITS Altair 8800

20. What is 'BIOS' in a computer?

1. A hardware security chip
2. A type of antivirus software
3. A type of operating system
4. The firmware that initialises hardware during the boot process