Be able to read a symptom, isolate the failing hardware, and pick the correct part or next diagnostic step. The single most important thing: verify power, POST, and cooling before replacing components, and match every replacement to the exact form factor and specification.
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Domain overview
Domain 1 (Hardware) covers the physical components of desktops, laptops, and mobile devices: motherboards, CPUs, RAM, storage, power supplies, and peripherals. On 220-1201 it is tested through scenario-based troubleshooting questions where you identify a failed or undersized component and select the correct replacement or diagnostic step.
Exam objectives
Selecting PSU wattage and connectors for a system with a high-TDP GPU
Diagnosing no-POST failures using motherboard beep codes and POST cards
Replacing laptop LCD backlights and inverters versus external display faults
Installing and configuring M.2 NVMe, SATA, and RAID storage arrays
Assuming a spinning CPU fan proves cooling is fine; heatsink contact and thermal paste still cause shutdowns under load.
Confusing a dim laptop screen with a GPU failure when an external monitor shows a bright, clear image.
Matching RAM by capacity only, ignoring DDR generation, speed, and whether the board requires ECC or SO-DIMM.
Click any question to see the full explanation and answer options, or start a focused practice session above.
A user reports that a desktop PC randomly shuts down during intensive tasks such as gaming or video rendering. The technician notices the power supply is rated at 500W and the system includes a high-end GPU with a TDP of 250W and a CPU with a TDP of 125W. The PSU has a single 12V rail rated at 30A. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the shutdowns?
2A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that fails to boot. The system powers on, but no video appears and the motherboard emits a repeating beep pattern. The technician suspects a RAM issue. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the problem?
3A user reports that their laptop display is extremely dim, but when connected to an external monitor, the image is bright and clear. The laptop is a few years old and has been used daily. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
4A user reports that their desktop PC randomly shuts down during intensive gaming sessions. The technician notices the CPU fan is spinning, but the air coming out of the rear exhaust is very hot. The system event log shows a critical thermal shutdown. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Be able to read a symptom, isolate the failing hardware, and pick the correct part or next diagnostic step. The single most important thing: verify power, POST, and cooling before replacing components, and match every replacement to the exact form factor and specification.
The Courseiva 220-1201 question bank contains 4 questions in the Hardware domain, covering the 25% of the exam attributed to this domain in the official CompTIA blueprint. Click any question to see the full explanation and answer breakdown.
Start with a 10-question focused session to identify your baseline accuracy in this domain. Read every explanation — even for questions you answer correctly — to understand the reasoning. Once you score consistently above 80%, move to a 20–30 question session to confirm depth before moving to the next domain.
Yes — the session launcher on this page draws questions exclusively from the Hardware domain. Choose 10, 20, 30, or 50 questions for a focused session, or click individual questions to review them one by one.
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