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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Solid-State Drives (SSDs)
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are quickly replacing HDDs for mass storage needs on almost all computers. SSDs are faster and more robust than HDDs and come with their own maintenance needs. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 8 -...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Magnetic Disk Drives
Hard disk drives (HDDs), which store data on rotating magnetic disks, have been the go-to mass storage media for decades. A good tech understands how this venerable media works and understands magnetic media's unique needs. This clip is...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Introduction to Mass Storage
Mass storage (disk drives and solid-state drives) store the operating system and applications. Despite the different technologies, systems talk to these many devices in similar ways. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 8 - Mass...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Installing and Troubleshooting a PSU
Knowing how to install and troubleshoot errors with power supplies is essential. While it is generally a simple process, there are some things to look out for. Let's go through installing and troubleshooting a PSU together. This clip is...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Choosing a Power Supply
Power supplies come in a dizzying array of power ratings, sizes, and efficiencies. A good tech understands these factors to make sure a system has the power it needs. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 7 - Power Supplies" of the...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - The Power Supply
A PC power supply takes AC power from the grid and transforms it into DC voltage the system needs to run. This episode explores modular and non-modular power supplies. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 7 - Power Supplies" of...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Installing and Troubleshooting a Motherboard
Installing a motherboard into a case is part science and part art. Science comes first. The motherboard must match the case's form factor, and the motherboard and parts must be compatible. Then, the art: the subtle crafts of preparing...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Choosing the Right Motherboard
The motherboard is the backbone of a PC. The type and model of motherboard that you choose can have a profound impact on your system and often determines which components you are able to use. What should you look for when picking out a...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Form Factors
Motherboards, power supplies, and cases are surprisingly interchangeable due to industry standards called form factors. Techs should know common form factors and the benefits and challenges of each. This clip is from the chapter "Book...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Troubleshooting Firmware
A system's BIOS is robust and rarely causes trouble, but when it does a good tech must be ready to troubleshoot. Understanding a few simple tricks can make troubleshooting easier. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 5 - Firmware"...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - System Setup
A small system-setup program built into the motherboard firmware enables techs to configure low-level features and options for the system's hardware. A good tech needs to know how to access and use the system set up on any computer. This...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - POST
The power-on self-test (POST) takes place every time a system starts. POST checks the system and communicates any problems it finds to the user. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 5 - Firmware" of the series "CompTIA A+...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - What Is BIOS?
Basic Input/Output Services (BIOS) is code (firmware) built into every motherboard to give the CPU basic communication with the hardware attached to the motherboard. BIOS is a critical part of the PC, and a good tech needs to understand...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - RAM Features
DRAM varies in other ways, such as single-sided or double-sided DRAM. Different motherboards may or may not be able to take advantage of these features. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 4 - RAM" of the series "CompTIA A+...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - RAM Technology
Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) comes in a number of versions defined by the doubling of commands they process per clock cycle. It's important for techs to recognize these technologies and the speed rating systems used. This clip is...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Installing and Troubleshooting a CPU
Every computer needs a CPU. The installation steps are straightforward but should be handled with care to prevent damage. Additionally, some form of cooling is required. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 3 - CPUs" of the series...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - CPU Cooling
While anything that uses electricity generates some heat, no other piece of hardware in our PC generates more heat than the CPU. Keeping temperatures under control is one of the keys to a system's longevity. Let's beat the heat and learn...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - What Is a CPU?
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is quite possibly the most critical component of a PC. But what tasks does the CPU deal with, and how does it go about handling them? Let's dig into the core features of a CPU. This clip is from the...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Cloud Ownership
In this episode, Mike looks at concepts of security, ownership, and access to cloud resources. Specifically, he explores the differences among public, private, hybrid, and community cloud computing. This clip is from the chapter "Book...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Beyond the LAN
In this episode, Mike explores the crazy acronym soup around networking, explaining the differences among terms such as LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN, and HAM. (Just kidding on the last term!) This helps minimize confusion in later networking...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Webcams and Videoconferencing
Video conferencing software has changed the way we work, especially with more and more companies moving to remote and hybrid workplaces. This episode gives a quick demonstration of Microsoft Teams and its screensharing function. This...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - SCSI
The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) has been around in one form or another for decades. Despite its age, SCSI drives still appear in niche systems. It's important to recognize SCSI systems and where they're used today. This clip...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Cooling Your System
Previously we discussed the types of heat sinks, fans, and liquid cooling that are used to lower component and system temperatures. Now we will look at keeping your system cool through even the most difficult of tasks. This clip is from...
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CompTIA A+ Certification Core 1 (220-1101) - Chipsets
A motherboard chipset determines the RAM capacity, USB capabilities, CPU architecture, and more. Mike explains how the modern chipsets have evolved over the years and why they matter today. This clip is from the chapter "Book Chapter 6 -...