220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is setting up a new 32-inch 4K…

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 HDMI cable is defective.

  Why it's wrong here

  A defective HDMI cable typically results in a complete loss of signal, displaying a "No Signal" message, or introduces severe visual artifacts such as flickering, static, or incorrect colors. An "Out of Range" error, however, indicates that the monitor is receiving a signal, but the resolution or refresh rate parameters exceed its supported capabilities or the GPU's output limits. Therefore, a cable defect is unlikely to be the direct cause of this specific error message.

• ✓

  The monitor's native resolution is set too high for the GPU's capabilities.

  Why this is correct

  When a monitor displays an "Out of Range" error, it signifies that the video signal being received from the graphics processing unit (GPU) has a resolution or refresh rate that exceeds the monitor's supported specifications. For a 32-inch 4K monitor, if the integrated GPU or even a discrete GPU is attempting to output 4K resolution at a high refresh rate (e.g., 60Hz or higher) but lacks the necessary bandwidth or processing power, the monitor will correctly report that the incoming signal is beyond its operational limits. Adjusting the display settings to a lower resolution or refresh rate, such as 1080p or 30Hz, would typically resolve this incompatibility.

• ✗

  The monitor's firmware is outdated.

  Why it's wrong here

  An outdated monitor firmware is generally not the cause of an "Out of Range" error, as firmware primarily manages the monitor's internal operations, on-screen display (OSD) features, and specific hardware functionalities. While firmware updates can sometimes improve compatibility or fix rare display bugs, they are unlikely to prevent a monitor from recognizing a valid signal or cause it to misinterpret a signal as "out of range" if the core display hardware supports the incoming parameters. The error directly points to a mismatch in signal parameters, not an internal processing fault.

• ✗

  The PC's BIOS has disabled the HDMI port.

  Why it's wrong here

  If the PC's BIOS had disabled the HDMI port, the monitor would not receive any video signal whatsoever, resulting in a "No Signal" message or a blank screen. An "Out of Range" error explicitly indicates that a signal *is* being received by the monitor, but its parameters (resolution, refresh rate) fall outside the monitor's acceptable display capabilities. Therefore, a disabled port would prevent any signal transmission, not cause a signal to be deemed incompatible.

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