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220-1201 Practice Question: During a routine hardware upgrade, a technician…
During a routine hardware upgrade, a technician installs a new graphics card. The system powers on but no display appears. The old card works fine. What UEFI setting should be checked first?
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
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Change the primary video adapter from onboard to PCIe
If the system has integrated graphics and a discrete card, the UEFI may default to the integrated output. Changing the primary video adapter to PCIe/ PEG forces the system to use the new card. This tests understanding of video initialization order in UEFI.
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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Disable Secure Boot
Why it's wrong here
Disabling Secure Boot would not resolve an issue where a newly installed discrete graphics card fails to output video. Secure Boot is a security feature within UEFI firmware that prevents unauthorized operating systems and software from loading during the boot process by verifying digital signatures. It specifically relates to the integrity of the boot chain, not the initialization or prioritization of video hardware. Therefore, altering this setting has no bearing on which video adapter the system uses for display.
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Change the primary video adapter from onboard to PCIe
Why this is correct
Changing the primary video adapter setting in the UEFI/BIOS from the integrated (onboard) graphics to the newly installed PCIe discrete graphics card is the correct solution. This firmware setting explicitly instructs the system to initialize and prioritize the discrete GPU for video output, ensuring that the monitor connected to the new card receives a signal. Many motherboards default to integrated graphics when a new PCIe card is detected, requiring manual configuration to switch the primary display output.
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Enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module)
Why it's wrong here
Enabling the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) would not address a lack of video output from a newly installed PCIe graphics card. CSM is a component of UEFI firmware designed to provide backward compatibility for legacy operating systems, bootloaders, and hardware that do not support UEFI natively, such as those requiring a Master Boot Record (MBR) or legacy Option ROMs. While it can affect boot device recognition, it does not directly control the initial display output priority between integrated and discrete graphics adapters.
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Update the UEFI firmware to the latest version
Why it's wrong here
Updating the UEFI firmware to the latest version is generally a good maintenance practice but is not the immediate or most direct solution for a system failing to output video from a newly installed discrete graphics card. While a firmware update could potentially resolve compatibility issues with very new hardware, the problem is far more likely to be a simple configuration setting within the existing firmware that needs adjustment. It's an advanced troubleshooting step, not the initial fix for a common video adapter prioritization issue.
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JA
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.