220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician installs a new high-end graphics card into a desktop computer. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The existing power supply unit (PSU) has two 6+2-pin PCIe cables, both of which are connected properly. After installation, the computer powers on, all fans spin (including the GPU fans), but the monitor shows a 'No Signal' message. The technician has verified that the card is seated fully in the PCIe x16 slot, the monitor is connected to the GPU's display output, and the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers assume that because the GPU fans spin and the cables are connected, the card is receiving enough power, but CompTIA tests the understanding that fans can spin on minimal power while the GPU core fails to initialize due to insufficient wattage or amperage on the +12V rail.
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 power supply unit (PSU) does not have enough total wattage to power the GPU
The GPU requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, each capable of delivering up to 150W. The 6+2-pin cables are physically compatible and properly connected, but the PSU may lack sufficient total wattage or adequate amperage on the +12V rail to meet the GPU's peak power demands. When the GPU attempts to draw more power than the PSU can supply, it may fail to initialize properly, resulting in a 'No Signal' output even though fans spin (low-power components still receive enough power).
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 power supply unit (PSU) does not have enough total wattage to power the GPU
Why this is correct
Even if the PSU has the correct 6/8-pin auxiliary connectors physically plugged in, a high-end GPU can pull far more current than the power supply can deliver on its +12V rails, especially during transient spikes. Most cards require a minimum wattage rating (e.g., 650W recommended) and a certain amperage on the combined +12V output; if the PSU's capacity is undersized, the card's voltage regulators will fail initialization and the monitor will show 'No Signal' despite fans spinning. Because the fans run on standby power, they can continue to rotate while the GPU core remains dead.
- ✗
The motherboard's PCIe slot is disabled in BIOS
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS option to disable the primary PCIe x16 slot is uncommon, and when present it typically prevents the slot from receiving any link signals or enabling its power rails, so the GPU would not even spin its fans if it were completely disabled. Since the fans are spinning in this scenario, the card is receiving some power, which contradicts a hard BIOS disable. 'No Signal' right after power-on is better explained by a failure in the card's ability to initialize its display output due to insufficient PSU capacity rather than a firmware setting.
- ✗
The graphics card is defective
Why it's wrong here
A defective GPU is certainly possible, but it is a lower-probability diagnosis than PSU undersizing, and a technician should always verify the power supply's wattage and 12V rail capacity before concluding the card itself is bad. A truly defective core might still let fans spin on standby power while failing to complete PCIe link training, but this same symptom is also produced by inadequate power. The correct troubleshooting priority is to test with a known-good PSU or use a PSU tester first, because replacing the GPU prematurely doesn't fix an insufficient power source.
- ✗
The display driver is not installed
Why it's wrong here
Graphics drivers are not loaded until after the firmware hands off to the operating system, so a missing driver has no effect on POST, BIOS/UEFI screens, or the very first 'No Signal' message that appears before the OS starts. If the driver were absent, the user would still see the motherboard logo and BIOS setup screens, and the display would only fail once the OS tried to switch to the high-resolution driver. An immediate black screen during startup with fans spinning indicates a hardware-level initialization failure, not a software/driver absence.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
PCIe Slots and Expansion Cards
Key term
Power supply unit
A power supply unit (PSU) is the hardware component that converts electricity from a wall outlet into usable power for a computer's internal components.
Key term
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express
PCI Express (PCIe) is a high-speed expansion bus standard that connects internal hardware components like graphics cards, SSDs, and network adapters to a computer's motherboard.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.