hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is configuring a high-performance…
A technician is configuring a high-performance workstation with 128 GB of RAM using eight 16 GB DDR5 modules. The system boots but only shows 64 GB in the BIOS. The technician has reseated all modules and verified they are in the correct slots. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The CPU does not support 128 GB of RAM.
With high-capacity RAM configurations, the CPU's memory controller may have limitations. Some CPUs, especially mainstream models, may not support 128 GB (e.g., 64 GB max per channel). The technician should check the CPU specifications for maximum supported RAM. Another possibility is a BIOS limitation or incorrect slot population, but the CPU limit is a common oversight.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The RAM modules are not all the same speed.
Why it's wrong here
RAM modules with differing speeds will typically cause the system's memory controller to operate all installed modules at the speed of the slowest module present. While this configuration would negatively impact overall system performance due to reduced bandwidth, it does not inherently decrease the total recognized memory capacity. The full 128 GB would still be addressable, albeit at a suboptimal speed.
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The motherboard only supports up to 64 GB of RAM.
Why it's wrong here
While motherboards do have a maximum supported RAM capacity, a high-performance workstation motherboard equipped with eight memory slots is highly likely to support capacities of 128 GB or more, especially given the common density of modern RAM modules. A 64 GB limit would be unusually restrictive for such a configuration, making it less probable than a CPU-imposed limitation, though consulting the motherboard's manual or Qualified Vendor List (QVL) would confirm its specific maximum.
- ✓
The CPU does not support 128 GB of RAM.
Why this is correct
The CPU's integrated memory controller (IMC) dictates the maximum amount of RAM that the processor can physically address and utilize, regardless of the number of slots available on the motherboard. Many workstation-grade CPUs, particularly older or mid-range models, have a specified memory limit (e.g., 64 GB), which would prevent the system from recognizing or fully utilizing 128 GB even if the motherboard has enough physical slots for the modules.
- ✗
The RAM is not properly seated in the slots.
Why it's wrong here
Improperly seated RAM modules are a common cause of memory recognition issues, often leading to a system failing to POST or only recognizing a fraction of the installed memory. However, since the technician has already performed the troubleshooting step of reseating the modules, it significantly reduces the likelihood that this is the persistent underlying cause of the capacity problem. If reseating did not resolve the issue, the problem lies elsewhere.
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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.