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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is upgrading a workstation from DDR3…
A technician is upgrading a workstation from DDR3 to DDR4 memory. The motherboard currently has two DDR3 DIMM slots occupied. What must the technician verify before installing the new memory?
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 motherboard has DDR4 DIMM slots
DDR3 and DDR4 have different notch positions and voltage requirements, so they are not interchangeable. The motherboard must physically support DDR4, which means it must have DDR4 DIMM slots. The CPU socket type and chipset are secondary; the key factor is the motherboard's memory generation support.
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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The CPU supports DDR4 memory
Why it's wrong here
While the CPU's integrated memory controller (IMC) must technically support DDR4, the immediate and most critical requirement for installing DDR4 RAM is the physical compatibility of the motherboard. A motherboard designed for DDR3 has physically different DIMM slots (unique notch position, different pin count) that prevent DDR4 modules from being inserted, regardless of the CPU's capabilities. The motherboard acts as the essential interface, dictating the specific memory type it can physically host.
- ✓
The motherboard has DDR4 DIMM slots
Why this is correct
This is the correct answer because DDR4 memory modules are physically keyed differently from DDR3 modules, featuring a unique notch position and a higher pin count (288 pins for DDR4 versus 240 for DDR3). This physical and electrical incompatibility ensures that DDR4 modules can only be installed into motherboards specifically designed with DDR4 DIMM slots. Therefore, the presence of DDR4 slots on the motherboard is the fundamental prerequisite for upgrading from DDR3 to DDR4.
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The power supply has a 4-pin connector for memory
Why it's wrong here
Memory modules receive their operating voltage directly from the motherboard's voltage regulator modules (VRMs), which convert the 12V or 5V supplied by the power supply into the specific, lower voltages required by the RAM (e.g., 1.2V for DDR4). There are no dedicated 4-pin or any other direct power connectors from the power supply that connect to the RAM modules themselves. RAM draws all necessary power through the DIMM slots on the motherboard.
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The chipset supports dual-channel configuration
Why it's wrong here
While many modern chipsets and CPUs support dual-channel or even quad-channel memory configurations to enhance performance, this capability is not a prerequisite for the physical installation of DDR4 memory. A motherboard can have DDR4 slots and function perfectly well with a single DDR4 module, even if it supports multi-channel operation. The primary concern for an upgrade from DDR3 to DDR4 is the physical compatibility of the memory type with the motherboard's slots, not advanced memory features.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Motherboard Components and Form Factors
Key term
RAM Types DDR
DDR RAM is a type of computer memory that transfers data twice per clock cycle, making it faster than older memory types.
Key term
CPU Socket Types
A CPU socket type is the physical interface on a motherboard that determines which specific processor models can be installed.
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