hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is replacing a failed motherboard in…
A technician is replacing a failed motherboard in a desktop PC. The original motherboard had an LGA1151 socket. The replacement motherboard has an LGA1200 socket. The technician attempts to install the original CPU but finds it does not fit. What is the most likely reason?
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 CPU has a different number of pins
LGA sockets are keyed for specific generations of CPUs. LGA1151 is used for 6th/7th/8th/9th gen Intel, while LGA1200 is for 10th/11th gen. The physical pin count and keying are different, so a CPU designed for LGA1151 cannot be inserted into an LGA1200 socket. The chipset is irrelevant to physical fit, and the power connector is unrelated.
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 CPU is incompatible with the new motherboard's chipset
Why it's wrong here
Chipset incompatibility refers to the logical inability of a CPU to communicate effectively with a motherboard's chipset, even if it physically fits. However, the primary issue when moving from an LGA1151 CPU to an LGA1200 motherboard is the fundamental physical difference in the socket design. An LGA1151 CPU simply cannot be seated or secured into an LGA1200 socket due to the differing pin layouts and retention mechanisms, making chipset compatibility a secondary concern.
- ✓
The CPU has a different number of pins
Why this is correct
The scenario describes attempting to install an LGA1151 CPU into a new motherboard likely designed for a different socket, such as LGA1200. LGA1151 CPUs feature 1151 contact pads, while LGA1200 sockets are engineered for CPUs with 1200 contact pads. This disparity in the number and arrangement of electrical contacts physically prevents the CPU from aligning correctly with the socket's lands, making installation impossible due to the incompatible pin layout.
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The power supply connector is different
Why it's wrong here
Power supply connectors, such as the main 24-pin ATX and the 8-pin (4+4) EPS CPU power, adhere to industry-wide standards. These connectors are designed to be compatible across various motherboard generations and CPU manufacturers, ensuring broad interchangeability. Therefore, a difference in power supply connectors would not be the direct cause preventing an LGA1151 CPU from physically seating into a new motherboard's socket, as this issue relates to the CPU-to-socket interface.
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The CPU is an AMD processor
Why it's wrong here
The designation 'LGA1151 CPU' unequivocally identifies the processor as an Intel product. Intel's Land Grid Array (LGA) socket designs, including LGA1151 and LGA1200, are proprietary to their CPU architectures. AMD processors utilize entirely distinct socket types, such as AM4 or AM5, which are physically incompatible with any Intel LGA socket. Thus, the CPU in question cannot be an AMD processor if it is specified as LGA1151.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Motherboard Components and Form Factors
Key term
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main electronic brain of a computer that carries out instructions from software by performing basic arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations.
Key term
Motherboard
The main circuit board inside a computer that connects all components so they can communicate with each other and receive power.
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