220-1201 Practice Exam 56 — 20 Questions

Question 1

A small office has a single switch connecting all workstations. Several users report that they cannot access the internet, but they can still communicate with each other on the local network. What is the most likely cause?

Choose an answer to begin — your selection is scored in the full session.

Accepted Answer

The router is not properly routing traffic to the internet.. Local communication working while internet access fails points to a problem with the router or the connection between the switch and the router. The switch itself is functioning correctly for local traffic, so the issue is upstream.

Answer

The switch has a bad port.

Answer

The DNS server is unreachable.

Answer

The workstations have incorrect subnet masks.

Question 2

A company's remote site connects to the main office via a site-to-site VPN. Recently, users at the remote site report that they can access internal servers at the main office but cannot reach the internet. The main office users have full internet access. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The VPN is configured as a full tunnel and the main office's internet link is down.. This question tests advanced routing and VPN concepts. A split-tunnel configuration allows remote traffic to go directly to the internet, while a full-tunnel sends all traffic through the VPN. If the VPN is full-tunnel and the main office's internet gateway is misconfigured or down, remote users lose internet access.

Answer

The remote site's DNS server is down.

Answer

The remote site's firewall is blocking port 443.

Answer

The VPN encryption algorithm is mismatched.

Question 3

A small office uses a single router with four switch ports. Users on port 4 cannot access the internet, but they can communicate with each other. Port 4's LED is solid green. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Port 4 is assigned to a different VLAN without internet access.. This scenario tests understanding of VLANs and router configuration. Inter-VLAN routing is required for different VLANs to reach the internet. If port 4 is on a different VLAN without a route to the internet, users can talk locally but not externally.

Answer

Port 4 is administratively disabled.

Answer

The cable on port 4 is faulty.

Answer

The router's DHCP pool is exhausted.

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a system that randomly restarts under load. The CPU temperature never exceeds 75°C, and the power supply is rated at 750W. Which of the following should the technician check next?

Accepted Answer

Check the CPU voltage settings in BIOS. When thermal and power supply are ruled out, voltage regulation becomes a suspect. The CPU's Vcore voltage may be set too low in BIOS, causing instability under load.

Answer

Replace the CPU cooler

Answer

Update the network driver

Answer

Replace the RAM

Question 5

A technician is building a new PC for a video editing workstation. The selected components include an Intel i9-13900K, an NVIDIA RTX 4080, 64GB DDR5 RAM, three NVMe SSDs, and six case fans. What is the minimum recommended power supply wattage for this build?

Accepted Answer

1000W. High-end CPUs and GPUs like the i9-13900K and RTX 4080 can draw over 300W each under load, plus other components. A 1000W PSU provides sufficient headroom for peak power spikes and ensures stability during intensive tasks.

Answer

750W

Answer

850W

Answer

1200W

Question 6

A technician is replacing a power supply in a server that has been experiencing random lockups. The old PSU is an 80+ Bronze rated 650W unit. The technician selects an 80+ Gold rated 650W unit from the same brand. What is the primary benefit of this upgrade?

Accepted Answer

The Gold-rated PSU produces less heat and is more efficient.. 80+ Gold certification indicates higher efficiency (87-90% at typical loads) compared to Bronze (82-85%). This means less power is wasted as heat, which can improve reliability in a server environment and reduce cooling costs.

Answer

The Gold-rated PSU provides more wattage to the components.

Answer

The Gold-rated PSU has better voltage regulation and ripple suppression.

Answer

The Gold-rated PSU will automatically fix the random lockups.

Question 7

A technician is diagnosing a PC that will not power on. The multimeter shows 0V on all pins of the 24-pin connector when the PSU is plugged in and the power switch is on. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The AC power cord is loose or the wall outlet is dead.. If no voltages are present, the PSU is not receiving AC power or its internal circuits are dead. The technician should check the AC outlet, power cord, and PSU switch first before concluding the PSU is faulty.

Answer

The motherboard is shorted, preventing the PSU from starting.

Answer

The power supply is completely dead and needs replacement.

Answer

The front panel power switch is faulty.

Question 8

A technician is upgrading a server's storage and needs to connect multiple SATA SSDs. The motherboard has only four SATA ports, but the technician needs to connect six drives. Which connector solution should be used?

Accepted Answer

Install a PCIe SATA controller card with extra ports.. A SATA expansion card adds additional SATA ports via a PCIe slot, allowing more drives to be connected. This tests knowledge of expansion cards and SATA controller limitations.

Answer

Use a Y-splitter cable on one SATA port to connect two drives.

Answer

Use eSATA to SATA adapters on the external ports.

Answer

Replace the motherboard with one that has six SATA ports.

Question 9

A user wants to connect a laptop to a 4K projector for a presentation. The laptop has a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, and the projector has an HDMI input. Which cable or adapter is required?

Accepted Answer

USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable. USB-C to HDMI cables or adapters are designed for this exact scenario when the USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. This tests understanding of USB-C Alt Mode and the need for compatible cables.

Answer

USB-C to USB-C cable

Answer

HDMI to HDMI cable

Answer

DisplayPort to HDMI cable

Question 10

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that will not boot. The motherboard has a 24-pin ATX power connector and a 4-pin CPU power connector. The power supply has a 20+4 pin main connector and an 8-pin CPU connector. What is the correct way to connect the power supply?

Accepted Answer

Use the 20+4 pin connector as a 24-pin, and split the 8-pin CPU connector into a 4+4 pin to use only 4 pins.. The 20+4 pin connector can be used as a 24-pin by combining the 20-pin and 4-pin sections, and the 8-pin CPU connector can be split into a 4+4 pin to fit the 4-pin CPU power header. This tests understanding of modular power supply connectors and their flexibility.

Answer

Connect the 20-pin portion only and leave the 4-pin unconnected; use the 8-pin CPU connector as is.

Answer

Use the 20+4 pin as a 24-pin, and connect the 8-pin CPU connector to the 4-pin header by forcing it.

Answer

Replace the power supply with one that has a dedicated 24-pin and 4-pin connector.

Question 11

A customer says their external hard drive is not recognized by their laptop. The drive uses a USB-C connector and the laptop has both USB-A and USB-C ports. Which connector type should be used to ensure the fastest possible data transfer?

Accepted Answer

USB-C to USB-C cable. USB-C supports faster data transfer rates (up to 10 Gbps or more) compared to USB-A's typical 5 Gbps, and it is the correct connector for the drive. Using a USB-A port would require an adapter and may limit speed. This question tests knowledge of USB connector generations and their performance capabilities.

Answer

USB-A to USB-B cable

Answer

USB-A to USB-C adapter

Answer

Micro-USB to USB-C cable

Question 12

A user reports that their new monitor, which uses a DisplayPort connection, shows no signal. The technician finds the monitor is connected to the PC's HDMI port via a passive adapter. What is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The passive adapter cannot convert HDMI to DisplayPort. Passive DisplayPort to HDMI adapters often require an active adapter to convert the signal properly, especially if the source only outputs HDMI. This tests understanding of signal conversion and adapter types. The monitor's DisplayPort input needs a compatible signal from the PC's HDMI output.

Answer

The HDMI cable is faulty

Answer

The monitor is set to the wrong input source

Answer

The graphics driver is outdated

Question 13

A technician is setting up a conference room and needs to connect a laptop to a projector that only has a VGA input. The laptop has an HDMI output. Which adapter should the technician use?

Accepted Answer

HDMI to VGA adapter. HDMI to VGA adapters are common for connecting modern laptops to older projectors. VGA is an analog signal, so the adapter must be active to convert digital HDMI to analog VGA. This question tests knowledge of legacy connector compatibility.

Answer

HDMI to DVI adapter

Answer

USB-C to VGA adapter

Answer

DisplayPort to VGA adapter

Question 14

A technician is upgrading a server CPU and needs to select a processor that supports ECC memory. Which CPU feature is required for ECC support?

Accepted Answer

Memory controller. ECC memory requires support from the CPU's memory controller. Not all CPUs support ECC; it is typically found in workstation or server-class processors. This question tests knowledge of CPU features beyond just speed and cores.

Answer

Integrated GPU

Answer

Hyper-Threading

Answer

Overclocking capability

Question 15

A technician is configuring a new PC for a user who runs multiple virtual machines. The motherboard has an AM5 socket. Which CPU feature is most important for this workload?

Accepted Answer

High core and thread count. Virtual machines benefit from many cores and threads because each VM can be assigned to a separate core. AMD AM5 CPUs offer high core counts, making them ideal for virtualization. This tests understanding of how CPU architecture affects specific tasks.

Answer

High clock speed

Answer

Large L3 cache

Answer

Integrated graphics

Question 16

A user reports that their computer is making a loud grinding noise and then shuts down after a few minutes. The CPU temperature is normal at idle. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

CPU fan bearing failure. A grinding noise typically indicates a mechanical bearing failure in a fan. The CPU fan may still spin but fail under load, causing overheating and shutdown. This scenario tests the ability to correlate auditory symptoms with hardware failure.

Answer

Hard drive failure

Answer

Power supply fan failure

Answer

Loose CPU cooler

Question 17

A client wants to upgrade their workstation with a high-end GPU that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. Their current power supply has only one 6+2 pin PCIe cable. What is the best solution to safely power the new GPU?

Accepted Answer

Install a new power supply that has two 8-pin PCIe cables. Using a modular power supply with the correct cables is safest because it ensures proper gauge and pinout. Adapters can be risky if they exceed the power supply's capacity or cable rating. Replacing the PSU is the most reliable solution for high-power GPUs.

Answer

Use a Molex-to-PCIe adapter to create a second 8-pin connector

Answer

Connect the GPU using only the 6+2 pin cable and leave the second connector empty

Answer

Use a Y-splitter on the existing 6+2 pin cable to create two 8-pin connectors

Question 18

A technician needs to connect a new router to a cable modem using an Ethernet cable. The modem has an RJ45 port, and the router has an RJ45 WAN port. Which cable type should be used for this connection?

Accepted Answer

Straight-through cable. A straight-through Ethernet cable is used to connect different device types, such as a modem to a router. Crossover cables are for connecting similar devices like two computers. This tests knowledge of Ethernet cable standards and their applications.

Answer

Rollover cable

Answer

Crossover cable

Answer

Fiber optic cable

Question 19

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that will not power on. The power supply unit (PSU) has a 24-pin main connector and a 4+4 pin CPU connector. The motherboard has a 24-pin ATX connector and an 8-pin EPS connector. How should the technician connect the CPU power?

Accepted Answer

Combine the 4+4 pin into an 8-pin EPS connector. The 4+4 pin CPU connector can be used as an 8-pin EPS connector by combining the two halves, which is standard for modern motherboards. This tests knowledge of PSU connector configurations and motherboard compatibility. Incorrectly using a 6+2 pin PCIe connector could damage components.

Answer

Connect the 4+4 pin as a 4-pin connector only

Answer

Use a 6+2 pin PCIe power connector

Answer

Leave the CPU power unconnected

Question 20

A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires additional power. The PSU has a 6+2 pin PCIe power connector. The graphics card has an 8-pin power input. How should the technician connect the power?

Accepted Answer

Attach the 2-pin portion to the 6-pin to make an 8-pin connector. The 6+2 pin PCIe connector is designed to be used as either a 6-pin or 8-pin by attaching the extra 2-pin section. This tests understanding of modular PSU connectors. Incorrect use of other connectors could damage the card.

Answer

Connect only the 6-pin portion

Answer

Use a Molex to 8-pin adapter

Answer

Connect a SATA power cable to the card