220-1101 Hardware Practice Test 5 — 15 Questions

Question 1

A user’s desktop computer has 16 GB of physical RAM installed (2 x 8 GB modules), but the operating system and BIOS both report only 8 GB as available. The computer powers on normally and displays video. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

Accepted Answer

One RAM module is not seated properly. The most likely cause is that one of the two 8 GB RAM modules is not seated properly in its slot. When a RAM module is not fully inserted, the system may fail to detect it during POST, resulting in the BIOS and OS reporting only half the installed memory (8 GB instead of 16 GB). The computer still powers on and displays video because the remaining module provides sufficient memory for basic operation.

Answer

The CPU is failing

Answer

The GPU is overheating

Answer

The operating system is corrupted

Question 2

A technician is building a high-end workstation for 3D rendering. The chosen CPU uses an LGA 1200 socket and supports dual-channel memory. The technician needs a motherboard that supports the CPU, at least two PCIe x16 slots for dual graphics cards, and should allow memory overclocking for optimal performance. Which of the following motherboard chipsets is the most suitable for this task?

Accepted Answer

ATX motherboard with Z490 chipset. The Z490 chipset is the only option that supports both dual-channel memory overclocking (via unlocked memory multipliers) and multiple PCIe x16 slots for dual graphics cards, while also being compatible with the LGA 1200 socket. This makes it ideal for a high-end 3D rendering workstation where CPU and memory performance are critical.

Answer

Micro-ATX motherboard with H410 chipset

Answer

Mini-ITX motherboard with B460 chipset

Answer

ATX motherboard with Q470 chipset

Question 3

A technician is building a new desktop computer and needs to connect the front-panel power button to the motherboard. Which of the following connectors or headers is designed for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

F_PANEL header. The F_PANEL header is a dedicated connector block on the motherboard that interfaces with the front-panel controls of the computer case, including the power button, reset button, and status LEDs. It uses a specific pinout to carry the momentary contact signal from the power button to the motherboard's power management circuitry, allowing the system to power on or off.

Answer

SATA cable

Answer

24-pin ATX power connector

Answer

PCIe power cable

Question 4

A technician is installing a new graphics card into a desktop computer. The graphics card requires a 6-pin PCIe power connector, but the power supply only has a 4-pin Molex peripheral connector available. The technician has access to various adapter cables. Which of the following adapters would allow the technician to power the graphics card? (Select TWO).

Accepted Answer

4-pin Molex to 6-pin PCIe power adapter. Option A is correct because a 4-pin Molex to 6-pin PCIe power adapter converts the +12V and ground from a standard peripheral connector into the required PCIe power pinout, allowing the graphics card to receive adequate power. Option B is correct because a SATA power to 6-pin PCIe power adapter similarly provides +12V and ground from a SATA power connector, which can also supply the necessary current for the graphics card's PCIe power input.

Answer

4-pin Molex to 3-pin fan adapter

Answer

6-pin PCIe to 8-pin PCIe power adapter

Question 5

A technician installs a new CPU into an existing desktop motherboard that is listed as compatible. When the system is powered on, the fans spin and LEDs light up, but the screen remains black, and there are no POST beeps. The technician has reseated the RAM and GPU, and verified the power supply voltages are within spec. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

Check the CPU socket for bent pins. The symptoms—fans spin, LEDs light, but no POST and no beeps—indicate the motherboard is receiving power but the CPU is not initializing. Since the CPU is listed as compatible but was just installed, the most likely cause is physical damage to the CPU socket, such as bent pins, which prevents proper contact between the CPU and the motherboard. Reseating RAM and GPU and verifying PSU voltages already ruled out those common issues, making a socket inspection the logical next step.

Answer

Update the motherboard BIOS to the latest version

Answer

Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage unit

Answer

Test each RAM module one at a time in different slots

Question 6

A technician is building a new desktop computer. The motherboard has two M.2 slots. The technician installs an M.2 NVMe SSD in the first slot, but the system does not recognize it during POST. The BIOS shows the SATA ports are in use. The technician checks the motherboard manual and finds that one of the SATA ports is disabled when the M.2 slot is used. Which of the following is the most likely reason the M.2 SSD is not detected?

Accepted Answer

The M.2 slot shares bandwidth with a SATA port that has a drive connected. The motherboard manual indicates that one SATA port is disabled when the M.2 slot is used, which is a classic sign of shared bandwidth. Since the BIOS shows SATA ports are in use, the M.2 slot is likely sharing its PCIe lanes with that specific SATA port, and the connected SATA drive is consuming the shared resources, preventing the M.2 NVMe SSD from being detected. This is a common design choice on consumer motherboards to reduce cost and complexity.

Answer

The M.2 SSD is SATA-based but the slot only supports NVMe

Answer

The M.2 SSD is not properly seated

Answer

The BIOS settings need to be changed to enable the M.2 slot

Question 7

A technician is replacing the storage drive in a desktop computer. The motherboard has an M.2 slot that supports both SATA and NVMe interfaces. The technician installs an NVMe M.2 SSD into this slot. Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

The SSD will operate at NVMe speeds as long as the slot is configured for PCIe connectivity.. The M.2 slot on the motherboard supports both SATA and NVMe interfaces, but the NVMe protocol operates over PCIe lanes. When an NVMe M.2 SSD is installed, it will communicate using the PCIe bus, achieving NVMe speeds, provided the slot is electrically configured for PCIe connectivity (which is standard for NVMe support). The slot's compatibility with SATA does not force the NVMe drive to use SATA protocol; the drive negotiates the highest supported interface.

Answer

The SSD will operate at SATA speeds because the slot supports both.

Answer

The SSD will require a separate SATA power cable from the power supply.

Answer

The SSD must be a SATA M.2 type to work in this slot.

Question 8

A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a server that uses RAID 1 (mirroring). After installing the new drive of the same model and capacity, the RAID controller shows the new drive as 'foreign' and 'unconfigured'. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to integrate the new drive into the existing array?

Accepted Answer

Use the RAID controller utility to import the foreign configuration. When a RAID controller detects a new drive that was previously part of another array (or is blank), it marks it as 'foreign' to prevent accidental data loss. The correct next step is to import the foreign configuration using the RAID controller utility, which allows the controller to recognize the drive and integrate it into the existing RAID 1 mirror without disrupting the data on the healthy drive.

Answer

Delete the existing array and recreate it with the new drive

Answer

Replace the new drive with a different model from a different manufacturer

Answer

Initialize the drive from the operating system’s disk management tool

Question 9

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new high-end graphics card. The power supply unit (PSU) is rated at 500W. The new graphics card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The PSU has one 6+2 pin PCIe connector and one 6-pin PCIe connector. The technician uses a 6-pin to 8-pin power adapter to convert the 6-pin connector to an 8-pin. When the computer is powered on, the fans spin briefly, then the system shuts down immediately. What is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

B. The most likely cause is that the 6-pin PCIe connector, even with a 6-pin to 8-pin adapter, cannot deliver the required power for the high-end graphics card. A 6-pin connector is rated for 75W, while an 8-pin connector is rated for 150W. The adapter does not increase the power delivery capacity; it only changes the physical shape, so the PSU's 500W rating may be insufficient, but the immediate shutdown is due to overcurrent protection (OCP) tripping when the card attempts to draw more power than the 6-pin rail can supply.

Answer

A

Answer

C

Answer

D

Question 10

A technician is upgrading a workstation with two 16 GB DDR4 memory modules. The motherboard supports up to 64 GB and has four slots. The technician installs the modules in slots DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 (the recommended slots for dual-channel). When the system boots, the BIOS reports only 16 GB of RAM. The technician has tried reseating the modules and swapping them. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

A bent pin in the CPU socket is disabling one memory channel. The correct answer is C because the symptom—only 16 GB detected despite two 16 GB modules installed in the recommended dual-channel slots—indicates that one entire memory channel is not functioning. A bent pin in the CPU socket can disable the memory controller's connection to one channel, causing all modules on that channel (e.g., DIMM_B2) to be invisible. Reseating and swapping modules would not fix a hardware-level channel fault, and the fact that the system boots with half the expected capacity strongly points to a channel-level issue rather than a module fault.

Answer

One of the memory modules is faulty

Answer

The CPU is not compatible with the RAM speed

Answer

The RAM voltage is set too low

Question 11

A technician builds a new workstation with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU (with integrated graphics) and a compatible B550 motherboard. The technician installs 32 GB (2x16 GB) of DDR4-3600 RAM in the recommended slots (A2, B2). When powering on, the system fans spin, but there is no video output. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's HDMI port. The technician tries a different monitor and cable, with no success. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

B. The BIOS needs to be updated to support the CPU. The AMD Ryzen 7 CPU requires a BIOS version that supports its architecture. B550 motherboards were released before some Ryzen 7 models (e.g., 5000 series), so the BIOS may need an update to recognize the CPU. Without CPU initialization, the integrated graphics cannot output video, even though fans spin and power is present.

Answer

A. The RAM is too fast for the CPU's memory controller

Answer

C. The motherboard's CMOS battery is dead

Answer

D. The CPU requires a discrete GPU to output video

Question 12

A technician replaces the CPU and cooler in a desktop computer. After reassembly, the computer boots but shuts down automatically after about two minutes. The technician enters the BIOS and sees the CPU temperature rapidly climbing to 100°C. The CPU cooler fan is spinning at high speed, and the heatsink is firmly attached. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

Accepted Answer

The thermal paste application or protective film on the cooler.. The rapid temperature climb to 100°C with the fan spinning at high speed and the heatsink firmly attached indicates that heat is not being transferred from the CPU to the heatsink. The most likely cause is either missing thermal paste or a protective film left on the cooler's base, which acts as an insulator. Checking and reapplying thermal paste or removing the film is the correct next step.

Answer

The CPU voltage settings in the BIOS.

Answer

Whether the CPU is compatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The power supply wattage.

Question 13

A technician assembles a new desktop PC using an Intel Core i7-12700K CPU (with integrated graphics), a Z690 motherboard, and a discrete GPU. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's HDMI port. The system powers on, fans spin, but no image appears on the monitor. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Enable integrated graphics in BIOS. The Intel Core i7-12700K includes integrated graphics, but many Z690 motherboards disable the iGPU by default when a discrete GPU is detected. Since the monitor is connected to the motherboard's HDMI port, the system will not output video until the integrated graphics are manually enabled in the BIOS. This is the most direct and likely cause of the no-display issue, and checking BIOS settings is the appropriate first step before reseating hardware or replacing cables.

Answer

Reseat the discrete GPU

Answer

Replace the monitor cable

Answer

Install the CPU again

Question 14

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's memory from 16GB (2x8GB) to 32GB (2x16GB). The technician purchases two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules from the same manufacturer and installs them in the recommended dual-channel slots (A2, B2). The system boots normally and reports 32GB. However, after running a memory-intensive application, the system crashes with a "MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" error. A memory diagnostic tool reports multiple errors at address ranges. The technician checks the BIOS and sees the memory is running at 3200MHz. The CPU is an Intel Core i7-10700K, which officially supports DDR4-2933. What is the most likely cause of the errors?

Accepted Answer

The CPU's memory controller is not rated for DDR4-3200, causing instability when XMP is enabled.. The Intel Core i7-10700K officially supports DDR4-2933. Running the memory at 3200MHz via XMP overclocks the CPU's integrated memory controller (IMC) beyond its rated specification. This can cause instability under load, leading to MEMORY_MANAGEMENT errors and diagnostic failures, even though the modules are from the same manufacturer and installed correctly.

Answer

The RAM modules are not compatible with the motherboard.

Answer

The RAM is installed in the wrong slots for dual-channel operation.

Answer

The power supply unit is providing insufficient voltage to the RAM.

Question 15

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that does not power on. The motherboard's power LED is lit. When the power button is pressed, no fans spin and no beeps occur. The technician uses a multimeter to test the power supply. The purple wire (+5VSB) reads 5.1V. The green wire (PS_ON) reads 0V when the power button is pressed. However, all other pins on the main power connector show 0V. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

Accepted Answer

The power supply unit is faulty.. The +5VSB (purple wire) reading of 5.1V confirms the standby power rail is working, and the PS_ON (green wire) dropping to 0V when the power button is pressed indicates the motherboard is correctly asserting the power-on signal. However, all other pins showing 0V means the power supply is not turning on its main outputs (+12V, +5V, +3.3V). This is a classic symptom of a faulty power supply unit (PSU) that fails to energize the main rails despite receiving a valid PS_ON signal.

Answer

The motherboard is faulty.

Answer

The power button is defective.

Answer

The CPU is not seated properly.