220-1101 CPU Practice Test 2 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A technician is building a new gaming PC and wants to ensure the CPU can handle heavy multitasking and overclocking. The motherboard supports both Intel and AMD CPUs, but the technician is unsure which CPU features to prioritize. Which CPU characteristic is most important for overclocking stability?

Accepted Answer

A high-quality aftermarket CPU cooler. Overclocking increases the CPU's clock speed beyond stock settings, which generates more heat. A robust cooling solution is essential to maintain stability and prevent thermal throttling or damage. Other features like core count or cache are secondary for overclocking.

Answer

A high number of cores (e.g., 12 cores)

Answer

A large L3 cache (e.g., 32 MB)

Answer

An unlocked multiplier (e.g., Intel K-series or AMD Ryzen)

Question 2

A technician is replacing a CPU in a server that uses a LGA 1151 socket. After installing the new CPU and applying thermal paste, the system fails to post. The technician notices the CPU cooler is not making full contact with the CPU. What is the most likely consequence of this poor contact?

Accepted Answer

The CPU will overheat and the system will shut down to prevent damage. Poor contact between the CPU and cooler prevents effective heat dissipation. The CPU will quickly overheat, triggering thermal protection that shuts down the system to prevent damage. This is a common issue after improper cooler installation.

Answer

The CPU will operate at a lower clock speed but still function

Answer

The system will boot but display a warning about high CPU temperature

Answer

The CPU will be permanently damaged immediately

Question 3

A customer reports that their desktop computer intermittently freezes and emits a high-pitched whine. The issue occurs more frequently under heavy load, such as when rendering video. Which CPU-related feature is most likely causing this symptom?

Accepted Answer

Coil whine from the voltage regulator modules. The high-pitched whine from a CPU under load is typically coil whine, caused by electrical vibrations in the voltage regulator modules (VRMs) or inductors. This is not a sign of failure but can be annoying. The correct answer identifies the source as power delivery components, not the CPU itself.

Answer

CPU throttling due to overheating

Answer

A failing CPU fan bearing

Answer

Incorrect CPU multiplier setting in BIOS

Question 4

A technician is troubleshooting a system that experiences random lockups and blue screens. The technician suspects a CPU issue but has already run a stress test without errors. Which diagnostic step should the technician perform next to isolate the problem?

Accepted Answer

Run a memory diagnostic tool like MemTest86. Random lockups and blue screens can also be caused by memory errors. Running a memory diagnostic tool like MemTest86 will test the RAM for faults, which can produce symptoms similar to a failing CPU. This helps rule out memory before replacing the CPU.

Answer

Replace the CPU with a known good one

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version

Answer

Check the CPU voltage in BIOS and increase it slightly

Question 5

A technician is configuring a server that requires maximum memory bandwidth for virtual machines. The motherboard has four memory slots and supports dual-channel architecture. The technician installs two 16 GB DIMMs. Which configuration will provide the best performance?

Accepted Answer

Install both DIMMs in slots 1 and 3 (different channels). Dual-channel memory architecture requires matched pairs of DIMMs installed in specific slots (usually slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 4) to operate in dual-channel mode. Installing them in the same channel (e.g., slots 1 and 2) forces single-channel mode, halving memory bandwidth.

Answer

Install both DIMMs in slots 1 and 2 (same channel)

Answer

Install one DIMM in slot 1 and leave the other empty

Answer

Install both DIMMs in slots 2 and 3 (adjacent slots)

Question 6

A technician is building a new workstation for a graphic designer. The user needs fast single-threaded performance for Adobe Photoshop. Which CPU characteristic should the technician prioritize?

Accepted Answer

Higher clock speed (GHz). For applications like Photoshop that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, higher clock speed is more important than core count. This question tests the understanding of CPU performance metrics for specific workloads.

Answer

Maximum number of cores

Answer

Larger L3 cache size

Answer

Lower TDP

Question 7

A user reports that their computer intermittently freezes for a few seconds during normal use. The technician checks Event Viewer and finds 'WHEA-Logger' errors related to the CPU. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Unstable CPU overclock or insufficient voltage. WHEA-Logger errors often indicate hardware issues, particularly with the CPU or its voltage. This can stem from an unstable overclock or insufficient power delivery.

Answer

Outdated graphics driver

Answer

CPU overheating

Answer

Faulty hard drive

Question 8

A user complains that their computer is running slowly, especially when opening multiple browser tabs. Task Manager shows the CPU is at 100% usage constantly, even when idle. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

Background malware or a driver issue. Constant 100% CPU usage at idle suggests a background process is consuming resources, often due to malware or a misbehaving driver. This tests the ability to distinguish between hardware and software issues.

Answer

Insufficient RAM

Answer

CPU thermal throttling

Answer

Failing hard drive

Question 9

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 10

A technician is selecting a CPU for a compact home theater PC (HTPC) that will be passively cooled. Which CPU characteristic is most critical to ensure reliable operation without a fan?

Accepted Answer

Low TDP. Passive cooling relies on low heat output. TDP (Thermal Design Power) directly indicates the amount of heat a cooler must dissipate. A low TDP CPU is essential for fanless operation.

Answer

High clock speed

Answer

Integrated graphics

Answer

Large L3 cache

Question 11

A technician is upgrading a server CPU to improve multi-threaded performance for a virtualization host. The current CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads. Which of the following specifications is most important to consider for compatibility?

Accepted Answer

CPU socket type. CPU upgrades require careful consideration of socket type, chipset support, and BIOS compatibility. The socket is the most critical physical compatibility factor.

Answer

CPU clock speed

Answer

CPU core count

Answer

CPU TDP

Question 12

A technician is diagnosing a system that fails to boot after a CPU upgrade. The old CPU worked fine. The new CPU is installed correctly, but the system beeps repeatedly (1 long, 3 short). Which of the following is the most likely issue?

Accepted Answer

The motherboard BIOS does not support the new CPU. Beep codes are diagnostic indicators. 1 long, 3 short beeps from an AMI BIOS typically indicate a memory or graphics issue, but in this context, it often points to the CPU not being fully supported or a BIOS incompatibility.

Answer

The CPU is not receiving power

Answer

The RAM is incompatible with the new CPU

Answer

The CPU cooler is not installed properly

Question 13

During a motherboard replacement, a technician installs a new CPU but the system fails to POST. The CPU fan spins, but the screen remains blank. Which of the following should the technician check first?

Accepted Answer

Verify the CPU is on the motherboard's supported CPU list and update BIOS if needed. When a system fails to POST with a new CPU, the most common issue is compatibility or improper installation. The technician should verify the CPU is supported by the motherboard's BIOS version.

Answer

Check if the CPU power connector is plugged in

Answer

Reseat the RAM modules

Answer

Replace the CMOS battery

Question 14

A technician needs to install a CPU that supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a new motherboard. The motherboard manual lists support for only DDR5. Which of the following is the best course of action?

Accepted Answer

Install DDR5 RAM as the motherboard supports it. Memory controllers are integrated into the CPU, but the motherboard's memory slots and BIOS determine which type is supported. If the board only supports DDR5, using a CPU that supports both will still require DDR5 modules.

Answer

Install DDR4 RAM because the CPU supports it

Answer

Update the BIOS to enable DDR4 support

Answer

Use a different CPU that only supports DDR5

Question 15

A customer reports that their desktop computer randomly shuts down when they run video editing software. The system has a high-end GPU and 32 GB of RAM. During troubleshooting, you notice the CPU temperature quickly rises to 95°C under load. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

CPU cooler fan failure or poor thermal paste application. Overheating is a common cause of random shutdowns, especially under heavy load. The CPU thermal protection mechanism triggers to prevent damage. This scenario tests the understanding of thermal management and its impact on system stability.

Answer

Insufficient power supply wattage

Answer

Faulty RAM module

Answer

Outdated BIOS firmware