easyMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: That their laptop screen flickers intermittently,…
A user reports that their laptop screen flickers intermittently, but the flickering stops when they adjust the screen angle. What is the most likely hardware issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is jumping to 'graphics chip' or 'backlight' because those sound like display failures — but the key diagnostic clue is that the symptom changes with physical screen angle, which points to a mechanical cable fault, not an electronic component failure.
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
✓
A loose or damaged display cable
Intermittent flickering that changes with screen angle is the classic symptom of a loose or damaged display cable (typically the LVDS or eDP ribbon cable connecting the motherboard to the LCD panel). Adjusting the hinge flexes the cable, temporarily restoring or breaking the connection, which is why the symptom correlates with angle. This is a mechanical/connection fault, not a component failure.
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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A failing backlight LED
Why it's wrong here
A failing backlight LED typically results in a display that is uniformly dim, appears black, or has noticeable dark spots, rather than exhibiting intermittent flickering that changes with the screen's physical angle. The backlight's primary function is to illuminate the LCD panel; its failure affects the overall brightness consistently across the screen, not the integrity of the video signal itself. Therefore, angle-dependent flickering is not a characteristic symptom of a failing backlight component.
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A defective graphics chip
Why it's wrong here
A defective graphics chip, or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), usually manifests as persistent visual artifacts such as distorted images, colored lines, pixelation, or even complete system crashes. These symptoms are generally constant and do not typically change based on the physical angle or movement of the laptop screen. A GPU issue is related to the processing and rendering of video data, not the physical transmission of that data through a cable that can be affected by movement.
- ✓
A loose or damaged display cable
Why this is correct
A loose or damaged display cable, often an internal ribbon cable (e.g., LVDS or eDP), is a very common cause of intermittent screen flickering or distortion that changes with the laptop's screen angle. As the screen is opened, closed, or adjusted, the cable can be stressed or temporarily lose its connection to either the motherboard or the display panel. This disruption in the video signal path leads to the observed flickering, color shifts, or temporary loss of display until the connection is momentarily re-established by further movement.
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Incorrect display refresh rate setting
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect display refresh rate setting would cause a consistent display issue, such as screen tearing, stuttering, or a completely blank screen, that is present regardless of the physical orientation or movement of the laptop's lid. This is a software configuration problem that affects how frequently the display updates its image, and it would not produce intermittent flickering that is directly influenced by the physical manipulation of the screen. The issue would be constant until the setting is corrected.
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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
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