220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is building a new workstation for a…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

• ✗

  Maximum number of cores

  Why it's wrong here

  While modern Photoshop versions leverage multiple cores for specific tasks like filter galleries or exporting, many fundamental operations, such as applying individual adjustments, brush strokes, or certain complex filters, remain heavily reliant on single-threaded performance. Consequently, simply maximizing the number of CPU cores often provides diminishing returns for overall Photoshop responsiveness compared to optimizing for single-core speed. This makes core count a secondary consideration for primary performance gains.

• ✓

  Higher clock speed (GHz)

  Why this is correct

  A higher CPU clock speed directly translates to more instructions per second that a single core can execute, which is paramount for applications like Photoshop. Many of Photoshop's core algorithms and real-time manipulations are still predominantly single-threaded or benefit most from the fastest possible execution on individual threads. Therefore, a CPU with a higher gigahertz rating will significantly improve the responsiveness and processing speed for these critical operations, enhancing the user experience.

• ✗

  Larger L3 cache size

  Why it's wrong here

  A larger L3 cache provides a faster memory buffer for the CPU to store frequently accessed data and instructions, reducing the need to access slower main system RAM. While beneficial for overall CPU efficiency and reducing latency, the performance impact of an incrementally larger L3 cache for single-threaded applications like Photoshop is generally less pronounced than a substantial increase in the CPU's clock speed. It's an optimization, not the primary driver of single-threaded performance.

• ✗

  Lower TDP

  Why it's wrong here

  Thermal Design Power (TDP) specifies the maximum heat output a CPU generates under load, guiding cooling system selection. While a lower TDP indicates greater power efficiency and reduced heat, it often correlates with CPUs designed for lower power consumption rather than peak performance. For a workstation dedicated to demanding applications like Photoshop, prioritizing a lower TDP over raw computational power, such as higher clock speeds, would compromise the system's ability to execute tasks quickly and efficiently.

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