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220-1201 Practice Question: A user complains that their external monitor…
A user complains that their external monitor flickers intermittently. The monitor is connected via a DVI cable to a graphics card that has both DVI-I and DVI-D ports. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the flickering?
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 DVI cable is loose or damaged
A loose or damaged DVI cable is a common cause of intermittent flickering, as poor contact can disrupt the signal. DVI-I and DVI-D are compatible, so port type is less likely the issue. This tests troubleshooting skills for display connection problems.
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 DVI cable is loose or damaged
Why this is correct
A DVI cable transmits digital video signals via multiple TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) pairs. If the cable is loose, even a slight movement can cause one or more of these critical data lines to momentarily lose contact, leading to intermittent signal corruption. Similarly, internal damage to the cable's conductors or shielding can disrupt the integrity of the digital signal, manifesting as flickering or color artifacts on the display as the signal intermittently degrades or drops.
- ✗
The graphics card driver is outdated
Why it's wrong here
Graphics card drivers are software interfaces that enable the operating system to communicate effectively with the GPU hardware. An outdated or corrupt driver typically results in consistent display issues such as incorrect resolutions, display artifacts, system instability, or a complete lack of display output. Intermittent flickering, especially when tied to physical movement or specific timing, is rarely caused by driver software alone, which would usually present a more constant or predictable problem.
- ✗
The monitor's refresh rate is set too high
Why it's wrong here
Setting a monitor's refresh rate too high, beyond the capabilities of the display panel or the bandwidth of the DVI connection, usually causes a complete failure to display an image. The monitor's scaler cannot process the incoming pixel clock, resulting in a "no signal" message, a black screen, or severe, constant image distortion. Intermittent flickering, however, suggests a fluctuating signal integrity issue rather than a consistent inability to process the display mode.
- ✗
The DVI port is incompatible with the cable
Why it's wrong here
DVI ports come in various types (DVI-D for digital, DVI-I for integrated digital/analog, DVI-A for analog). A true incompatibility, such as attempting to connect a DVI-D cable to a DVI-A port or vice-versa, would result in a complete absence of signal because the necessary pins for data transmission would either be missing or misaligned. Intermittent flickering indicates that a signal is generally present but unstable, which is not characteristic of a fundamental port-to-cable mismatch.
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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.