The answer is a DisplayPort cable only rated for DisplayPort 1.1. This is correct because while the DisplayPort 1.2 standard itself supports 4K at 60Hz, the physical cable must have sufficient bandwidth to carry that data; a DP 1.1 cable lacks the necessary throughput, capping the refresh rate at 30Hz despite the monitor and ports supporting 60Hz. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of cable bandwidth limitations versus port standards—a common trap is assuming the port alone dictates performance. Remember that a higher version port is useless without a matching cable. For a memory tip: think of it as a hose—a narrow DP 1.1 hose can’t deliver the full 4K 60Hz water flow, only a trickle at 30Hz.
220-1201 Display Devices Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of display devices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A user reports that their 4K monitor connected via DisplayPort 1.2 only shows a 30Hz refresh rate at native resolution, causing mouse movement to feel laggy. The monitor supports 60Hz at 4K. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The DisplayPort cable is only rated for DisplayPort 1.1
DisplayPort 1.2 can support 4K at 60Hz, but the cable must be rated for that bandwidth. A cable that only meets DP 1.1 standards will limit the refresh rate. This tests knowledge of cable bandwidth limitations.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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The monitor's firmware is outdated
Why it's wrong here
Firmware issues are rare and would likely cause other problems, not just refresh rate.
✗
The graphics card does not support 4K at 60Hz
Why it's wrong here
If the GPU supports DP 1.2, it can do 4K 60Hz; the issue is more likely the cable.
✓
The DisplayPort cable is only rated for DisplayPort 1.1
Why this is correct
DP 1.1 cables cannot handle the bandwidth for 4K 60Hz, forcing 30Hz.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
The monitor's refresh rate is set to 30Hz in the display settings
Why it's wrong here
While this could be a setting, the user reports it only shows 30Hz, indicating a bandwidth limitation, not a config choice.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
While this could be a setting, the user reports it only shows 30Hz, indicating a bandwidth limitation, not a config choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Display Devices — This question tests Display Devices — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DisplayPort cable is only rated for DisplayPort 1.1 — DisplayPort 1.2 can support 4K at 60Hz, but the cable must be rated for that bandwidth. A cable that only meets DP 1.1 standards will limit the refresh rate. This tests knowledge of cable bandwidth limitations.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related 220-1201 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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