easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their computer randomly…
A user complains that their computer randomly shuts down after about 30 minutes of gaming. The case feels warm to the touch, and all fans are spinning. Which component is most likely causing the shutdowns?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the confusion between thermal shutdown and power-supply failure — candidates see 'random shutdown' and pick a loose power cable, ignoring the load-correlated timing and warm case that point to overheating.
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
✓
Overheating CPU or GPU
Overheating CPU or GPU is correct because the symptom pattern — shutdown after ~30 minutes of gaming (a sustained high-load workload), a warm case, and all fans spinning — is the classic signature of thermal shutdown. Modern CPUs and GPUs have thermal protection that forces an automatic power-off when junction temperatures exceed safe limits (typically ~95-105°C for CPUs, ~90-100°C for GPUs). Gaming loads both components heavily, so heat accumulates until the protection trips.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Failing hard drive
Why it's wrong here
A failing hard drive typically manifests as data corruption, file access errors, slow system performance, or the inability to boot the operating system. In severe cases, it can lead to a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) due to critical system files being unreadable. However, a failing hard drive does not directly cause the system to randomly shut down as a thermal protection mechanism, which is characteristic of overheating components.
- ✗
Insufficient RAM
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient RAM primarily results in severe system slowdowns, application crashes, or the operating system becoming unresponsive as it struggles to manage memory. When physical RAM is exhausted, the system heavily relies on virtual memory (paging file) on the storage drive, leading to performance degradation. While this can make the system unstable, it does not trigger a sudden, complete system shutdown designed to prevent hardware damage from excessive heat.
- ✓
Overheating CPU or GPU
Why this is correct
Modern CPUs and GPUs are equipped with integrated thermal sensors and protection circuits designed to safeguard the hardware from irreversible damage. When these critical components reach dangerously high temperatures, the system's firmware (BIOS/UEFI) or operating system will initiate an emergency shutdown. This abrupt power-off is a deliberate safety measure, preventing thermal runaway and permanent component failure, which perfectly aligns with a complaint of random shutdowns.
- ✗
Loose power cable
Why it's wrong here
A loose power cable, whether internal to the power supply unit (PSU) or external connecting to the wall outlet, would typically result in an immediate and complete loss of power, causing the system to abruptly shut down without warning. Alternatively, it might prevent the system from powering on at all. This differs significantly from random shutdowns that occur seemingly under load or after a period of operation, which points more towards a thermal issue rather than intermittent power delivery.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A user's PC randomly restarts during heavy workloads, such as video rendering. The CPU temperature reads 95°C under load. The heatsink fan is spinning, but the thermal paste appears dry and cracked. What is the most effective first step?
medium- A.Replace the CPU fan with a higher RPM model.
- ✓ B.Apply new thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink.
- C.Underclock the CPU in BIOS.
- D.Add an additional case fan.
Why B: Dry, cracked thermal paste loses its ability to transfer heat from the CPU's integrated heat spreader (IHS) to the heatsink base, causing rapid temperature spikes under sustained load. Replacing the paste restores the thermal interface and is the cheapest, most direct fix. The fan is already spinning, so airflow itself is not the immediate problem — the paste is.
JA
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.