220-1201 Hardware Practice Questions

Question 1

A technician is upgrading a workstation with an M.2 SSD. The motherboard specification lists an M.2 slot that supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA. The technician installs a drive labeled 'M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4' into the slot. The drive is not detected in the BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The BIOS/UEFI is configured in Legacy/CSM mode and does not enumerate NVMe drives.. NVMe drives are often not detected when the system firmware is set to Legacy/CSM boot mode instead of UEFI. The motherboard slot supports PCIe, so the drive is physically compatible. The most likely cause is a firmware configuration preventing enumeration. Checking and disabling CSM, or enabling UEFI-only mode, typically resolves the issue. This is a common pitfall during upgrades.

Answer

The M.2 slot is keyed for B+M and the drive is keyed for M only.

Answer

The M.2 slot is wired for SATA only and does not support PCIe NVMe drives.

Answer

The M.2 drive requires a separate power cable that was not connected.

Question 2

A technician is building a new PC and needs to install an M.2 NVMe SSD. The motherboard has an M.2 slot with a key that matches the SSD. However, after installation, the drive is not detected in the BIOS. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Ensure the M.2 slot is enabled in the BIOS.. M.2 slots can be disabled or share bandwidth with SATA ports. If the slot is disabled in BIOS or set to a mode that conflicts with other devices, the NVMe SSD won't be detected. Enabling the slot or adjusting settings is the first troubleshooting step. Reseating or replacing hardware is secondary.

Answer

Replace the M.2 SSD with a SATA SSD.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version.

Answer

Check that the SSD is properly seated in the slot.

Question 3

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC to improve overall performance. The current system has a SATA hard disk drive (HDD) and 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. The user primarily uses the PC for video editing and multitasking. Which of the following upgrades would provide the MOST significant performance improvement? (Choose two.)

Accepted Answer

Increase RAM to 32 GB.. For video editing and multitasking, the most impactful upgrades are faster storage and more RAM. An NVMe SSD eliminates storage bottlenecks, while 32 GB of RAM allows smooth multitasking and handling of large video projects. These two upgrades together provide a balanced performance boost, addressing both data access and memory capacity.

Answer

Add a dedicated graphics card.

Answer

Replace the CPU with a higher-core-count model.

Answer

Upgrade the power supply to 750W.

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

The PSU's 12V rail is insufficient to meet the combined power demand under load.. The 12V rail provides power to the CPU and GPU. With a 30A rating, it can supply 360W, but the combined TDP of the CPU and GPU is 375W, exceeding that capacity. Under intensive tasks, the PSU's overcurrent protection may trigger, causing shutdowns. The total wattage is less relevant than the 12V rail's amperage. Upgrading to a PSU with a higher 12V amperage would resolve the issue.

Answer

The PSU's total wattage of 500W is too low for the system's components.

Answer

The GPU requires a dedicated 12V rail that is not available on this PSU.

Answer

The CPU and GPU are drawing power from the 5V rail instead of the 12V rail.

Question 5

A 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?

Accepted Answer

Reseat the memory modules in their slots.. Beep codes during POST often indicate a memory problem. The first and simplest step is to reseat the RAM modules, which re-establishes proper contact and can resolve the issue without parts replacement. This approach is non-invasive and aligns with standard troubleshooting methodology: start with the easiest and most likely solution before escalating.

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery.

Answer

Update the BIOS to the latest version.

Answer

Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage unit.

Question 6

A 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?

Accepted Answer

The backlight is failing.. The external monitor working correctly indicates the GPU and video output are fine. The dim internal display points to a failure in the laptop's backlight system. In LED-backlit LCDs, the backlight LEDs can degrade over time, causing dimness. Replacing the backlight or the LCD panel is the solution.

Answer

The video cable is loose.

Answer

The inverter has failed.

Answer

The GPU is overheating.

Question 7

A 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?

Accepted Answer

The thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink has dried out.. The critical thermal shutdown and hot exhaust air indicate the CPU is overheating. Even with the fan spinning, dried thermal paste reduces heat transfer, causing the CPU to overheat under load. Reapplying thermal paste restores efficient heat dissipation. Other issues like PSU or case airflow are less likely given the thermal evidence.

Answer

The CPU cooler is not compatible with the CPU socket.

Answer

The case fans are not providing enough airflow.

Answer

The power supply is failing under load.

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