easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is building a new workstation for a…
A technician is building a new workstation for a video editor who needs to run memory-intensive applications. The motherboard supports DDR4 RAM and has four DIMM slots. The editor wants 32 GB of RAM. Which configuration should the technician choose for optimal performance?
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
✓
Two 16 GB sticks of RAM.
Using dual-channel memory (two matched sticks) provides a performance boost over a single stick because it allows the memory controller to access both modules simultaneously. For 32 GB, two 16 GB sticks are the best balance of performance and capacity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
One 32 GB stick of RAM.
Why it's wrong here
Installing a single 32 GB RAM stick forces the system to operate in single-channel memory mode. This configuration effectively halves the available memory bandwidth compared to a dual-channel setup, significantly impeding performance for memory-intensive applications such as video editing. The workstation would experience bottlenecks when processing large video files or complex rendering tasks, making it an inefficient choice for the intended purpose.
- ✓
Two 16 GB sticks of RAM.
Why this is correct
Utilizing two matched 16 GB RAM sticks allows the system to operate in dual-channel memory mode. This configuration effectively doubles the memory bandwidth by accessing two memory modules simultaneously, which is crucial for high-performance applications like video editing. The increased data throughput ensures smoother processing of large video files, faster rendering times, and overall superior responsiveness for the workstation's demanding tasks.
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Four 8 GB sticks of RAM.
Why it's wrong here
While four 8 GB sticks also provide 32 GB and can operate in dual-channel mode (assuming a motherboard with four slots supporting it), this configuration occupies all available RAM slots. This leaves no upgrade path for future memory expansion without replacing existing modules, which is inefficient. Furthermore, populating all slots can sometimes lead to increased power consumption and heat, without offering any significant performance advantage over a two-stick dual-channel setup.
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One 16 GB stick and two 8 GB sticks.
Why it's wrong here
Combining one 16 GB stick with two 8 GB sticks creates an asymmetrical memory configuration. While some modern chipsets might attempt to run in a "Flex Mode," it often results in only a portion of the memory operating in dual-channel, with the remainder defaulting to single-channel mode. This mixed setup can lead to inconsistent performance, reduced overall bandwidth, and potential system instability, making it an unreliable choice for a high-performance video editing workstation.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.