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220-1201 Practice Question: A customer wants to use a 34-inch ultrawide…
A customer wants to use a 34-inch ultrawide monitor (3440x1440) with their desktop PC. The PC has an older GPU with a DVI-D dual-link port and an HDMI 1.4 port. Which connection should the technician recommend for the best image quality?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that DVI-D dual-link is always superior to HDMI for high resolutions, but candidates forget that DVI-D dual-link's maximum resolution is 2560x1600, not 3440x1440.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
HDMI 1.4
HDMI 1.4 supports 3440x1440 at up to 75 Hz, which is sufficient for the monitor's typical 60 Hz refresh rate. DVI-D dual-link is limited to 2560x1600 at 60 Hz and cannot deliver the full 3440x1440 resolution. Therefore, HDMI 1.4 provides the best image quality among the available ports.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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DVI-D dual-link
Why it's wrong here
DVI-D dual-link, while a digital connection, has a maximum resolution capability of 2560x1600 pixels at a 60 Hz refresh rate. This falls short of the 34-inch ultrawide monitor's native resolution requirement of 3440x1440. Consequently, using DVI-D dual-link would either force the monitor to display a non-native, scaled image, resulting in blurriness, or simply be unable to output the full resolution, making it an inadequate choice for optimal image quality.
- ✓
HDMI 1.4
Why this is correct
HDMI 1.4 is the correct choice because it provides sufficient bandwidth to support the 34-inch ultrawide monitor's native resolution of 3440x1440 pixels. This version of HDMI can reliably transmit video at 3440x1440 resolution at a refresh rate of up to 75 Hz, which comfortably accommodates the monitor's typical 60 Hz refresh rate. Given that other, more capable digital options like DisplayPort are unavailable, HDMI 1.4 stands as the best available and fully compatible solution for optimal image quality.
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VGA
Why it's wrong here
VGA is an outdated analog video interface that is fundamentally unsuitable for modern ultrawide monitors requiring high digital resolutions like 3440x1440. Its analog signal transmission is prone to signal degradation, ghosting, and blurring at resolutions exceeding 1920x1200, making it incapable of delivering a clear, sharp image at the monitor's native resolution. Attempting to use VGA would result in a significantly degraded and blurry visual experience, if it even manages to display an image at all.
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DisplayPort
Why it's wrong here
While DisplayPort is generally considered superior for high-resolution and high-refresh-rate monitors, it is not a viable option in this scenario because the PC's GPU lacks a DisplayPort output. Even though DisplayPort 1.2 and newer versions easily support 3440x1440 at high refresh rates, the physical absence of the port on the source device makes it impossible to establish a connection, regardless of its technical advantages.
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