Computer Hardware Interview Questions and Answers
Here are 20 commonly asked Computer Hardware interview questions and
answers to prepare you for your interview:
1. What is a computer hardware?
Computer hardware is the physical components that make up a computer
system. This includes the motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive, and other
components.
2. Can you explain what a motherboard is and its components?
The motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer. It is where all the
other components of the computer connect to. The motherboard has several
important components, including the central processing unit (CPU), the
memory, the power supply, and the input/output (I/O) ports.
3. How do you identify the different parts of a computer system unit?
The system unit is the main part of a computer that houses the central
processing unit (CPU), memory, and other important components. The system
unit is usually the box-shaped unit that sits on or underneath a desk.
4. What are some common peripheral devices that can be connected to a computer?
Some common peripheral devices that can be connected to a computer
include a keyboard, a mouse, a scanner, a printer, and a camera.
5. What’s the difference between an SD card and a microSD card?
The main difference between an SD card and a microSD card is their size. SD
cards are about the size of a postage stamp, while microSD cards are about
the size of a fingernail. MicroSD cards are also newer than SD cards, and
they offer more storage capacity and faster data transfer speeds.
6. What is a USB port used for?
A USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is a standard cable connection interface for
personal computers and consumer electronics. USB ports are used to connect
devices such as digital cameras, mice, and keyboards to your computer.
7. Why does my computer say “No boot device found” when I turn it on?
This error message typically appears when the computer is unable to find a
bootable device, which is typically the hard drive. This can be caused by a
number of things, such as a loose hard drive connection, a failed hard drive,
or a corrupted boot sector.
8. What happens if two RAM sticks are installed in one slot? Which one will work?
If two RAM sticks are installed in one slot, then the computer will only use one
of them. The other RAM stick will be ignored.
9. What is the function of the BIOS?
The BIOS is responsible for booting the computer. It loads the operating
system and other necessary files. The BIOS also contains a set of instructions
that the computer uses to perform basic tasks.
10. What’s the difference between a GPU and CPU?
A CPU, or central processing unit, is responsible for carrying out the
instructions of a computer program. A GPU, or graphics processing unit, is
responsible for rendering images, videos, and 3D graphics.
11. What’s the difference between DDR3 and DDR4 memory?
DDR3 and DDR4 are two different types of computer memory. DDR3 is the
older standard and is not as fast as DDR4. DDR4 is the newer standard and is
faster than DDR3.
12. How many bits are there in a byte?
There are 8 bits in a byte.
13. What are the differences between dual-core and quad-core CPUs?
A dual-core CPU has two independent cores, while a quad-core CPU has
four. This means that a dual-core CPU can handle two threads at once, while
a quad-core CPU can handle four. Quad-core CPUs are generally more
powerful than dual-core CPUs, but they also use more power and generate
more heat.
14. What’s the difference between primary storage and secondary storage?
Primary storage is the main storage in a computer, where data is accessed
frequently and quickly. It includes RAM and cache memory. Secondary
storage is used for long-term data storage, and includes devices like hard
drives and SSDs.
15. What do you understand about virtual memory?
Virtual memory is a type of computer memory that allows a computer to store
more data than is physically available in its memory. This extra data is stored
on the hard disk, and the computer accesses it as needed. Virtual memory
can be used to store data that is not currently being used, as well as data that
is currently in use but needs to be quickly accessed.
16. What is the concept of cache memory?
Cache memory is a type of memory that is used to store frequently accessed
data. When data is accessed from cache memory, it is typically faster than
accessing data from main memory. This is because cache memory is typically
located closer to the processor than main memory.
17. What is your understanding of Moore’s law?
Moore’s law is the observation that the number of transistors on a
microprocessor doubles approximately every two years. This has led to a
corresponding increase in the speed and capabilities of computers over time.
18. Where does software get loaded into before being executed by the CPU?
The software is first loaded into the computer’s memory, specifically into the
RAM. From there, the CPU can access the instructions and execute them.
19. What is the role of the operating system in a computer?
The operating system is responsible for managing the computer’s resources
and providing a platform for applications to run on. It is the foundation upon
which everything else is built and is essential for the proper functioning of the
computer.
20. What are the advantages of using a 64-bit processor over a 32-bit processor?
The main advantage of using a 64-bit processor is that it can handle more
data than a 32-bit processor. This means that 64-bit processors are more
powerful and can run more complex applications. They are also more efficient
in terms of memory usage, meaning that they can make better use of
available resources.
What is BIOS?
Short for Basic Input/Output System, the BIOS (pronounced bye-oss) is a ROM chip
found on motherboard that lets you access and set up your computer system at the
most basic level. The picture below is an example of what a BIOS chip may look like on
a computer motherboard.
2. What is POST?
POST, short for Power on Self-Test, is the initial set of diagnostic tests performed by
the computer right after it’s powered on, with the intent to check for
any hardware related issues.
3. What is the full form of CMOS?
The full form of CMOS is a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor.
4. What is the operating system?
An Operating System (OS) is a software that acts as an interface between
computer hardware components and the user. Every computer system must have at
least one operating system to run other programs. Applications like Browsers, MS
Office, Notepad Games, etc., need some environment to run and perform its tasks.
5. What is DNS?
There are two types of client/server programs: the first is used directly by the user like a
mail and the second supports other application programs. The DNS (Domain Name
System) is a supporting program used by other programs to find the IP address of an
email recipient.
6.Define DHCP.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an application layer
protocol which is used to provide:
1. Subnet Mask (Option 1 – e.g., 255.255.255.0)
2. Router Address (Option 3 – e.g., 192.168.1.1)
3. DNS Address (Option 6 – e.g., 8.8.8.8)
4. Vendor Class Identifier (Option 43 – e.g., ‘unifi’ = 192.168.1.9 ##where unifi =
controller)
DHCP is based on a client-server model and based on discovery, offer, request, and
ACK.
DHCP port number for server is 67 and for the client is 68. It is a Client server
protocol which uses UDP services.
7. What are the layers of the OSI reference model?
There are seven layers in the OSI model such as a physical layer, data link layer,
network layer, transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and application layer.
8.What are a node and links?
The devices at various endpoints located in a network at a different location are called
nodes and the physical communication medium they using called links.
9.Differentiate domain and workgroup?
In the domain, a server is responsible for data security and it is centralized
administration. The main goal of DNS is to secure data and it is the best suite for
company environments. On the other hand, in the workgroup, every PC is responsible
for their data and there will be no centralized administration. The main aim of this
workgroup is to save hardware resources and it is best suitable for schools, training
institutes, and cybercafé.
10. Define IP.
An Internet Protocol (IP Addresses) is a numerical label assigned to each device of a
computer network that utilizes the Internet Protocol for communication and data
transactions.
11.Define Layer?
The layer is a logical partition of the PDU (Protocol Data Unit) process and it defines
how the information travels from one machine to another over the network connection.
12.What is Hub?
Hub is a layer 1 device that let out the signal from all of its port except the one from
where it is inserted and it can’t able to detect the collision. Hub works on a single
collision and a single broadcast domain.
13. Define Switch.
The switch is a layer 2 device that maintains a CAM table to store the MAC address of
devices connected to its port. CAM table is used to make the forwarding decision for the
network and it works according to collision and single broadcast domain.
14. Define Client/Server
Clients and Servers are the two different logical entities that are connected together
over a network to perform a task.
15. What is MAC Address?
MAC (Media Access Control) Address is the 48-bit hardware address of the LAN card
and it is stored in ROM on the network adapter card with a unique identity.
16. What are the various network types?
LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), MAN (Metropolitan Area
Network), CN (Content Network), and SAN (Storage Area Network).
17. What are the required things to configure the
server?
The prerequisites for configuring a server are a LAN card that is in connection, a Root
that should in NTFS (New Technology File System), and a Server that should be
configured with a static IP address.
18. Define Proxy Server.
A proxy server is a server that all computers on the local network should pass this
before accessing the information on the internet. Many organizations are using a proxy
server to improve the network performance and filter the users to avoid unauthorized
access to their information.
19. What is the partition for Linux installation?
As Linux does not support a windows file system that follows a partition scheme, it will
use its own file system called ext2 and ext3. Linux will be installed on the root position.
20. What is Sap?
The sap is the series of interface points that enable other computers to communicate
with the layers of a network protocol stack.
21. Define subnet mask?
The subnet mask is a term that differentiates network address and host address in IP
address. The value of 0 in a subnet mask defines host position in IP address and value
1-255 defines network address.
22. What is multicast routing?
The sending of group messages is known as multicast and the routing algorithm
implemented for this is multicast routing.
23. What is the region?
The routers will be divided into regions when the hierarchical routing is being used to
reach the destination without knowing the internal structure of other regions.
24. What protocols will be used by DNS?
DNS utilizes UDP for communication between servers and for the improved speed it
uses TCP for a connectionless protocol as transmission reliability is a risky one for
UDP.
25. What is the command to check IP address
without using network place?
The command for checking the IP address is Start à Run à Command à ipconfig.
26. What are the types of routing tables and explain
their advantages?
There are three types of routing tables such as a fixed table, dynamic table, and fixed
central table. A fixed table should be updated every time whenever it is changed, a
dynamic table gets updated based on network traffic to reduce the amount of manual
maintenance, and a fixed central table is reduced to only one table.
27. Why Hello protocol is being used?
The hello protocol uses time for replacing the distance to determine optimal routing and
it is an alternative to the Routing Information Protocol.
28. What is terminal emulation?
Telnet is also referred to as terminal emulation and it belongs to the application layer.
29. Define frame-relay?
Frame relay is a packet-switching technology and it will be operated in the data link
layer.
30. What is Triple X in Networks?
The PAD (Packet Assembler Disassembler) is defined in a document known as X.3 and
the standard protocol has been described between the terminal and the PAD known as
X.28, and another protocol is between the PAD x.29. The recommendations of these
descriptions are called Triple X.
