220-1201 Practice Test 41 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A customer reports that their desktop computer, used for video editing, frequently runs out of memory and slows down. They want to upgrade the RAM but are not sure which type is compatible. The motherboard manual lists support for DDR4-3200 and DDR4-2666. The system currently has two 8 GB DDR4-2666 modules installed. What is the best upgrade to maximize performance and capacity?

Accepted Answer

Replace the two 8 GB modules with two 16 GB DDR4-3200 modules.. Mixing RAM speeds forces all modules to run at the slowest speed, so adding DDR4-3200 modules would cause them to downclock to 2666 MHz, wasting potential performance. The best upgrade is to replace the existing modules with a matched kit of DDR4-3200 modules, ensuring full speed and capacity. This scenario tests understanding of RAM speed compatibility and the importance of matched modules for optimal performance.

Answer

Add two 8 GB DDR4-3200 modules to the existing RAM.

Answer

Replace the two 8 GB modules with two 16 GB DDR4-2666 modules.

Answer

Add two 16 GB DDR4-2666 modules to the existing RAM.

Question 2

A help desk ticket reports that a user's PC fails to boot and emits a series of long beeps. The system has two 8 GB DDR4 modules installed. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

One of the RAM modules is faulty or not seated properly.. Long beeps during POST typically indicate a memory failure, such as a faulty or improperly seated RAM module. This is a common hardware troubleshooting scenario where the beep code points directly to RAM issues. The technician should reseat or replace the RAM modules first.

Answer

The power supply is failing.

Answer

The CPU is overheating.

Answer

The hard drive has failed.

Question 3

A small office manager wants to upgrade the RAM in several identical workstations from 8 GB to 16 GB. The current modules are DDR3-1600. The company has a box of unused DDR3-1333 modules from an older system. Can they use these modules to upgrade the workstations?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they can add the DDR3-1333 modules, but all RAM will run at 1333 MHz.. DDR3-1333 and DDR3-1600 are both DDR3, so they are physically compatible. However, mixing speeds forces all modules to run at the slower 1333 MHz, which may slightly reduce performance. The upgrade is possible but not optimal.

Answer

No, because the speeds are different and will cause system instability.

Answer

Yes, but only if they replace the existing modules entirely with the DDR3-1333 modules.

Answer

No, because DDR3-1333 is not compatible with DDR3-1600 slots.

Question 4

A technician is building a new gaming PC and installs two 16 GB DDR5-5600 modules in the correct slots. The system boots and shows 32 GB in the BIOS, but the memory speed is reported as 4800 MHz instead of 5600 MHz. What is the most likely reason for this?

Accepted Answer

XMP or EXPO has not been enabled in the BIOS.. DDR5 modules default to a standard JEDEC speed (often 4800 MHz) for stability. To achieve the rated 5600 MHz, the user must enable XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) in the BIOS, which applies the manufacturer's overclocking profile. This tests knowledge of memory speed configuration beyond plug-and-play.

Answer

The RAM modules are defective and cannot run at their rated speed.

Answer

The motherboard does not support DDR5-5600.

Answer

The RAM is installed in the wrong slots.

Question 5

A user complains that their laptop, which has 8 GB of RAM soldered on the motherboard, is running slowly when multitasking. They ask if they can add more RAM. The laptop has one empty SO-DIMM slot. What is the best recommendation?

Accepted Answer

Recommend adding a SO-DIMM module of the same type and speed as the soldered RAM.. The laptop has a single empty slot, so adding a SO-DIMM module will increase total RAM. However, mixing a soldered module with a SO-DIMM may force single-channel operation, but the capacity gain outweighs this. The technician should recommend adding a compatible DDR4 or DDR5 SO-DIMM (depending on laptop) to improve performance.

Answer

Advise the user to replace the laptop because soldered RAM cannot be upgraded.

Answer

Suggest removing the soldered RAM and replacing it with a larger module.

Answer

Tell the user to install two SO-DIMM modules for dual-channel.

Question 6

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that randomly crashes and shows memory errors in Windows. The system has four 4 GB DDR4 modules. The technician runs Memtest86 and finds errors in one module. What should the technician do to resolve the issue while maximizing performance?

Accepted Answer

Replace the faulty module with a new module of the same specifications.. The faulty module should be removed, but to maintain dual-channel performance, the remaining modules should be installed in matched pairs. Removing one module leaves three, which may force single-channel operation. The best solution is to replace the faulty module with a matching one, but if not available, removing two modules to keep a matched pair is optimal.

Answer

Remove the faulty module and leave the other three installed.

Answer

Remove all modules and install a single 16 GB module.

Answer

Remove the faulty module and the module in the same channel to keep dual-channel.

Question 7

A technician is upgrading a server that requires ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM. The technician has a box of non-ECC DDR4 modules from a desktop. Can these be used in the server?

Accepted Answer

No, because non-ECC RAM is not compatible with ECC-required systems.. ECC and non-ECC RAM are not interchangeable; servers that require ECC will not boot or may operate incorrectly with non-ECC modules. Additionally, mixing ECC and non-ECC is not supported. The technician must use ECC RAM specifically designed for the server.

Answer

Yes, as long as the speed and capacity match.

Answer

Yes, but only if the server's BIOS is set to ignore ECC errors.

Answer

No, because DDR4 desktop modules are physically larger than server modules.

Question 8

A user reports that their PC, which has 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, suddenly shows only 8 GB in Windows. The system boots normally. The technician checks the BIOS and sees 16 GB detected. What is the most likely cause of this discrepancy?

Accepted Answer

Integrated graphics is reserving 8 GB of system RAM for video memory.. When the BIOS detects full RAM but Windows shows less, it often indicates that a portion of RAM is reserved for hardware or is being used by the integrated GPU. This is common if the system uses integrated graphics and the BIOS allocates a fixed amount of system RAM for video memory. Another possibility is a 32-bit OS limitation, but that is rare with modern systems.

Answer

One of the RAM modules is faulty and not being recognized by Windows.

Answer

The system is using a 32-bit version of Windows, which has a 4 GB limit.

Answer

Windows has a memory leak that is using 8 GB of RAM.

Question 9

A technician is tasked with upgrading a workstation that uses DDR3 RAM. The technician purchases DDR3L modules (low voltage) and installs them. The system fails to boot. What is the most likely reason?

Accepted Answer

The motherboard does not support the lower voltage of DDR3L.. DDR3L modules operate at 1.35V, while standard DDR3 operates at 1.5V. Many older motherboards do not support DDR3L, or they require specific BIOS settings to handle the lower voltage. The technician should verify motherboard compatibility before installation.

Answer

The DDR3L modules are physically incompatible with DDR3 slots.

Answer

The technician installed the modules in the wrong slots.

Answer

The DDR3L modules are defective.

Question 10

A technician is configuring a high-performance workstation with 128 GB of RAM using eight 16 GB DDR5 modules. The system boots but only shows 64 GB in the BIOS. The technician has reseated all modules and verified they are in the correct slots. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The CPU does not support 128 GB of RAM.. With high-capacity RAM configurations, the CPU's memory controller may have limitations. Some CPUs, especially mainstream models, may not support 128 GB (e.g., 64 GB max per channel). The technician should check the CPU specifications for maximum supported RAM. Another possibility is a BIOS limitation or incorrect slot population, but the CPU limit is a common oversight.

Answer

The RAM modules are not all the same speed.

Answer

The motherboard only supports up to 64 GB of RAM.

Answer

The RAM is not properly seated in the slots.

Question 11

A customer reports their desktop PC is running extremely slow, especially when multiple applications are open. They mention they recently upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11. The system has 4 GB of RAM. What should you recommend as the most effective first step to improve performance?

Accepted Answer

Upgrade the RAM to at least 8 GB.. Windows 11 has a minimum requirement of 4 GB of RAM, but 8 GB is recommended for typical multitasking. Upgrading the RAM directly addresses the bottleneck caused by insufficient memory, which is the most likely cause of the slowdown with multiple applications.

Answer

Disable visual effects in Windows to reduce memory usage.

Answer

Increase the size of the page file on the hard drive.

Answer

Reinstall Windows 10 to reduce system resource requirements.

Question 12

A technician is building a new workstation for a video editor who needs to run memory-intensive applications. The motherboard supports DDR4 RAM and has four DIMM slots. The editor wants 32 GB of RAM. Which configuration should the technician choose for optimal performance?

Accepted Answer

Two 16 GB sticks of RAM.. Using dual-channel memory (two matched sticks) provides a performance boost over a single stick because it allows the memory controller to access both modules simultaneously. For 32 GB, two 16 GB sticks are the best balance of performance and capacity.

Answer

One 32 GB stick of RAM.

Answer

Four 8 GB sticks of RAM.

Answer

One 16 GB stick and two 8 GB sticks.

Question 13

A user reports that their computer randomly freezes and displays a blue screen error with the message 'MEMORY_MANAGEMENT'. They recently installed a new 8 GB DDR4 module alongside the existing 8 GB module. Both modules are from different manufacturers and have different CAS latencies. What is the most likely cause of the issue?

Accepted Answer

The RAM modules have mismatched CAS latencies, causing timing conflicts.. Mixing RAM modules with different specifications, especially CAS latency, can cause timing mismatches that lead to system instability and blue screen errors like MEMORY_MANAGEMENT. The system tries to run both sticks at the same timings, which can fail if the modules are not compatible.

Answer

The new RAM module is defective.

Answer

The RAM is not seated properly in the slot.

Answer

The motherboard does not support 16 GB of RAM.

Question 14

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop that fails to boot and emits three long beeps from the motherboard speaker. The power supply fan spins, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display output. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

The RAM is not detected or is faulty.. Three long beeps from a motherboard typically indicate a memory error, often that no RAM is detected or the RAM is faulty. The fact that other components power on suggests the issue is isolated to the memory subsystem.

Answer

The CPU has failed.

Answer

The video card is not seated correctly.

Answer

The power supply is not providing enough power.

Question 15

A technician is configuring a new server and needs to install ECC (Error-Correcting Code) RAM. The motherboard supports both ECC and non-ECC DDR4 memory. The technician installs ECC RAM, but the system boots and reports that ECC functionality is disabled. What is the most likely reason for this?

Accepted Answer

The CPU does not support ECC memory.. ECC RAM requires a compatible CPU and motherboard chipset to function. If the CPU does not support ECC, the system may still boot with the RAM installed but will run it in non-ECC mode, disabling the error correction feature.

Answer

The ECC RAM is not seated properly.

Answer

The BIOS needs to be updated to enable ECC support.

Answer

ECC RAM requires a registered (buffered) type to function.