mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a dual-monitor…
A technician is setting up a dual-monitor workstation for a financial analyst. The PC has one HDMI port and one DisplayPort. The monitors have HDMI and DVI inputs, respectively. Which cable combination will provide the most straightforward and reliable connection for both monitors?
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 to HDMI and DisplayPort to DVI (with adapter)
The best choice is to connect each monitor to the port that matches its native input. Using an HDMI-to-HDMI cable for the HDMI monitor and a DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter/cable for the DVI monitor ensures a direct, reliable connection without unnecessary signal conversions. Option A would require an HDMI-to-DVI cable from the HDMI port to the DVI monitor and a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable from the DisplayPort to the HDMI monitor. While technically functional, this swaps the native connections and may introduce compatibility issues or require additional active adapters, making it less straightforward.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
HDMI to DVI and DisplayPort to HDMI
Why it's wrong here
While an HDMI-to-DVI cable works for the DVI monitor, a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable may not work if the source lacks DP++ support. The combination is less reliable than using an adapter, so it is not the best answer.
- ✗
Two HDMI cables, using a splitter
Why it's wrong here
Using two HDMI cables with a passive splitter would duplicate the video signal, resulting in a cloned display (the same image on both monitors) rather than the extended desktop functionality typically desired for a dual-monitor workstation. Furthermore, this setup implicitly assumes both monitors possess HDMI inputs, which is not always the case in a mixed-monitor environment, making it an unsuitable and inflexible solution.
- ✗
DisplayPort to HDMI and VGA to DVI
Why it's wrong here
Connecting a VGA output to a DVI input (specifically DVI-D) necessitates an active converter to transform the analog VGA signal into a digital DVI signal. This analog-to-digital conversion introduces additional complexity, potential signal degradation, and increased cost compared to direct digital connections. It is generally not a straightforward or efficient solution for establishing a reliable display connection.
- ✓
HDMI to HDMI and DisplayPort to DVI (with adapter)
Why this is correct
This is the most effective solution for a dual-monitor setup. An HDMI to HDMI cable provides a direct, high-quality digital connection for the monitor with an HDMI input. For the DVI monitor, a DisplayPort to DVI passive adapter is reliable because DisplayPort is a multi-mode output (DP++) that can natively transmit DVI (and HDMI) signals without requiring an active conversion, ensuring a straightforward and stable digital display.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 220-1201 question from scratch — 972 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.