hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: Install a CPU that supports both DDR4 and DDR5…
A technician needs to install a CPU that supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory on a new motherboard. The motherboard manual lists support for only DDR5. Which of the following is the best course of action?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the misconception that CPU memory support alone determines RAM compatibility, when in fact the motherboard's physical slots and chipset are the deciding factors.
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
✓
Install DDR5 RAM as the motherboard supports it
The motherboard determines the memory type, not the CPU. Even if the CPU's integrated memory controller supports both DDR4 and DDR5, the motherboard's physical DIMM slots and electrical design are keyed for only one type. Since the manual specifies DDR5 support only, DDR5 RAM is the only compatible choice. Installing DDR4 would be physically impossible or electrically incompatible.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Install DDR4 RAM because the CPU supports it
Why it's wrong here
While the CPU might be backward compatible with DDR4, the motherboard is the ultimate determinant of the RAM type it can physically and electrically support. DDR4 and DDR5 modules have different pin counts, keying notches, and voltage requirements, making them physically incompatible with slots designed exclusively for the other standard. Therefore, attempting to install DDR4 RAM into a DDR5-only motherboard would fail due to physical mismatch and electrical incompatibility, regardless of CPU support.
- ✓
Install DDR5 RAM as the motherboard supports it
Why this is correct
The motherboard's memory slots are specifically engineered for a particular RAM generation, such as DDR5, dictating the physical form factor, pin configuration, and electrical signaling. Since the motherboard explicitly supports DDR5, and the CPU is also compatible with DDR5, installing DDR5 RAM ensures proper system operation. The CPU's broader compatibility with other memory types becomes irrelevant when the motherboard itself has a singular, defined memory standard.
- ✗
Update the BIOS to enable DDR4 support
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS update is firmware that manages hardware initialization and basic input/output operations, but it cannot fundamentally alter the physical design or electrical specifications of motherboard components. DDR4 and DDR5 memory modules possess distinct physical keying, pin layouts, and operating voltages, which are hardware-level differences. Therefore, no software update, including a BIOS flash, can enable a DDR5-only motherboard to physically accept or electrically communicate with DDR4 RAM.
- ✗
Use a different CPU that only supports DDR5
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the CPU with one that exclusively supports DDR5 is an unnecessary and potentially costly action, as the current CPU already supports DDR5 memory. The objective is to install compatible RAM, and if the existing CPU is capable of utilizing DDR5, there is no technical advantage or requirement to swap it out for a different model. This approach introduces additional expense and labor without resolving any underlying incompatibility.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.