Objective 3.025% of exam

Hardware

220-1101 Practice Questions

Hardware is 25% of CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1101, covering laptop components, mobile device ports and accessories, RAM types, storage (HDD, SSD, flash), motherboards, CPUs, power supplies, and multifunction printers. Questions present real-world scenarios asking you to identify connectors, select compatible parts, interpret POST beep codes, or troubleshoot print defects and overheating issues.

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What this objective tests

220-1101 Hardware — Key Topics

Candidates must match connectors, RAM, storage, CPUs, and PSU wattage to real builds, and the most important thing is verifying motherboard socket and chipset compatibility before selecting a CPU or DDR4/DDR5 DIMMs.

Match USB, Thunderbolt, Lightning, and RJ45 ports to laptop and mobile device functions
Differentiate DDR3, DDR4, DDR5, SODIMM, and ECC RAM by speed, voltage, and use case
Identify motherboard form factors (ATX, microATX, Mini-ITX) and header functions like front-panel connectors
Diagnose laser printer defects such as ghosting, smearing, and repeated marks by component

Common exam traps

Where candidates lose marks on Hardware

⚠Confusing Thunderbolt 3 with USB-C: both use the same connector, but only Thunderbolt carries PCIe and DisplayPort natively.
⚠Assuming all M.2 slots support NVMe; some are SATA-only, so a PCIe SSD won't be recognized in those slots.
⚠Mixing up DDR generations: DDR4 and DDR5 are keyed differently and cannot be installed in the same motherboard slot.

220-1101 Hardware — Practice Questions

30 questions from this objective · 25% of your 220-1101 exam

Question 2mediummultiple choice

Hardware

220-1101 Hardware — Key Topics

Where candidates lose marks on Hardware

220-1101 Hardware — Practice Questions

A technician is assembling a workstation for video editing. The motherboard has two DIMM slots and supports dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory. The user requests 32 GB of RAM. Which memory configuration will provide the best performance?

A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires an 8-pin PCIe power connector. The existing power supply unit (PSU) only has a 6-pin PCIe power cable available. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to provide power to the graphics card?

A technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 RAM modules into a desktop motherboard that has four slots. The system powers on, but the BIOS reports only 8 GB of total memory. The technician has verified that both modules are firmly seated. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into an M.2 slot on a desktop motherboard. The drive is detected in the BIOS and appears in Windows Disk Management as 'Unknown' and 'Not Initialized'. Which of the following is the MOST likely first step to make the drive usable?

A technician is building a new desktop PC. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, and graphics card, the technician powers on the system. The fans spin, but the monitor remains black and the computer emits a series of short, repeated beeps. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that emits one long beep followed by three short beeps immediately after pressing the power button. The system does not display any video. The motherboard uses an AMI BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the beep code?

All 220-1101 Objectives

Hardware

220-1101 Hardware — Key Topics

Where candidates lose marks on Hardware

220-1101 Hardware — Practice Questions

A technician is assembling a workstation for video editing. The motherboard has two DIMM slots and supports dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory. The user requests 32 GB of RAM. Which memory configuration will provide the best performance?

A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires an 8-pin PCIe power connector. The existing power supply unit (PSU) only has a 6-pin PCIe power cable available. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to provide power to the graphics card?

A technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 RAM modules into a desktop motherboard that has four slots. The system powers on, but the BIOS reports only 8 GB of total memory. The technician has verified that both modules are firmly seated. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into an M.2 slot on a desktop motherboard. The drive is detected in the BIOS and appears in Windows Disk Management as 'Unknown' and 'Not Initialized'. Which of the following is the MOST likely first step to make the drive usable?

A technician is building a new desktop PC. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, and graphics card, the technician powers on the system. The fans spin, but the monitor remains black and the computer emits a series of short, repeated beeps. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that emits one long beep followed by three short beeps immediately after pressing the power button. The system does not display any video. The motherboard uses an AMI BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the beep code?

All 220-1101 Objectives