The answer is RAID 0, the only RAID level that delivers maximum performance without redundancy. RAID 0 achieves this by striping data evenly across two or more drives, allowing the controller to read and write to all disks simultaneously, which dramatically boosts throughput for tasks like video editing. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding that RAID 0 prioritizes speed over safety, making it the correct choice when fault tolerance is explicitly not required. A common trap is confusing RAID 0 with RAID 1 or RAID 5, both of which sacrifice some performance for redundancy; remember that “0” stands for zero protection. For a quick memory tip, think “RAID 0 = zero fault tolerance, full throttle.”
220-1201 Storage and RAID Troubleshooting Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of storage and raid troubleshooting. 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 building a workstation for video editing and needs to configure a RAID array for maximum performance without redundancy. The motherboard supports RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10. Which RAID level should the technician choose?
Why wrong: RAID 1 mirrors data for redundancy, which does not improve performance and reduces usable capacity by half.
B
RAID 5
Why wrong: RAID 5 offers a balance of performance and redundancy but has write overhead due to parity calculation, making it slower than RAID 0 for write-intensive tasks.
C
RAID 0
RAID 0 stripes data across all drives, providing the highest performance with no redundancy, ideal for video editing where speed is critical.
D
RAID 10
Why wrong: RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping, offering good performance and redundancy, but it uses half the capacity for redundancy, which is not needed here.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
RAID 0
RAID 0 stripes data across multiple drives, offering the best read/write performance by utilizing all drives simultaneously. However, it provides no fault tolerance, meaning if one drive fails, all data is lost. This matches the requirement for maximum performance without redundancy.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
RAID 1
Why it's wrong here
RAID 1 mirrors data for redundancy, which does not improve performance and reduces usable capacity by half.
✗
RAID 5
Why it's wrong here
RAID 5 offers a balance of performance and redundancy but has write overhead due to parity calculation, making it slower than RAID 0 for write-intensive tasks.
✓
RAID 0
Why this is correct
RAID 0 stripes data across all drives, providing the highest performance with no redundancy, ideal for video editing where speed is critical.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
RAID 10
Why it's wrong here
RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping, offering good performance and redundancy, but it uses half the capacity for redundancy, which is not needed here.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Storage and RAID Troubleshooting — This question tests Storage and RAID Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RAID 0 — RAID 0 stripes data across multiple drives, offering the best read/write performance by utilizing all drives simultaneously. However, it provides no fault tolerance, meaning if one drive fails, all data is lost. This matches the requirement for maximum performance without redundancy.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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