The answer is to combine the two 4-pin halves of the 4+4 pin CPU power cable to form an 8-pin connector and attach it to the motherboard’s EPS12V port. This is correct because the 4+4 pin cable is specifically designed as a modular solution for modern power supplies, allowing it to function as either a 4-pin or 8-pin CPU power connector by snapping the halves together. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of power supply compatibility and connector types—a common trap is assuming a 4+4 pin cable is insufficient or that you need a separate 8-pin cable, when in fact the 4+4 pin is the standard way to deliver stable power to the CPU under load. A helpful memory tip: think of the 4+4 pin as “two halves make a whole”—if the motherboard has an 8-pin EPS12V, always combine the halves before connecting.
220-1201 Motherboard Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of motherboard. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a PC that randomly freezes during boot. The technician notices that the motherboard has a 24-pin ATX power connector and an 8-pin EPS12V connector. The power supply only has a 4+4 pin CPU power cable. What should the technician do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Combine the two 4-pin halves to form an 8-pin connector and attach it
The 4+4 pin CPU power cable is designed to be used as an 8-pin EPS12V connector by combining the two halves. This is standard for modern power supplies. Using only a 4-pin connector may cause instability under load, but the 4+4 pin cable is fully compatible. The 24-pin main connector is separate and already connected.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Connect only the 4-pin portion of the cable to the 8-pin header
Why it's wrong here
This would provide insufficient power to the CPU, likely causing freezes or boot failures.
✓
Combine the two 4-pin halves to form an 8-pin connector and attach it
Why this is correct
The 4+4 pin cable is specifically designed to be combined into an 8-pin EPS12V connector, providing full power to the CPU.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use a 6-pin PCIe power cable in the 8-pin CPU header
Why it's wrong here
PCIe power cables are keyed differently and should never be used in CPU power headers; they could cause damage.
✗
Leave the 8-pin header unconnected and rely on the 24-pin connector
Why it's wrong here
Modern CPUs require the 8-pin EPS12V connector for stable operation; without it, the system may not boot or may be unstable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Motherboard — This question tests Motherboard — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Combine the two 4-pin halves to form an 8-pin connector and attach it — The 4+4 pin CPU power cable is designed to be used as an 8-pin EPS12V connector by combining the two halves. This is standard for modern power supplies. Using only a 4-pin connector may cause instability under load, but the 4+4 pin cable is fully compatible. The 24-pin main connector is separate and already connected.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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