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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that…
A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that powers on but shows no display on the monitor. The monitor's power LED is amber (standby). The PC has an integrated GPU and a discrete GPU. Which step should be taken FIRST to isolate the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the dual-GPU display trap — candidates jump to RAM or monitor replacement when the simplest and most likely cause is a cable connected to the wrong GPU output.
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
✓
Check that the monitor cable is plugged into the discrete GPU, not the motherboard
When a desktop has both integrated and discrete GPUs and the monitor shows no signal (amber standby LED), the most common cause is that the video cable is connected to the motherboard's integrated GPU output while the system is configured to use the discrete GPU, or vice versa. Checking that the cable is plugged into the discrete GPU first is the fastest, least invasive isolation step and directly addresses the most likely cause of no display.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reseat the RAM modules
Why it's wrong here
Reseating RAM modules is unlikely to resolve a "no signal" issue on a PC that powers on but displays nothing. Critical RAM errors usually prevent the system from completing the Power-On Self-Test (POST), often resulting in specific beep codes from the motherboard speaker or a continuous boot loop. A system powering on without a display typically points to a video output problem rather than fundamental memory initialization failure.
- ✓
Check that the monitor cable is plugged into the discrete GPU, not the motherboard
Why this is correct
This is the most common cause of a "no signal" message when a desktop PC powers on but shows no display. When a dedicated (discrete) graphics card is installed in a PCIe slot, the system's BIOS/UEFI typically disables the integrated graphics ports on the motherboard to prioritize the discrete GPU. Connecting the monitor cable to the motherboard's video output instead of the discrete card's ports will result in no video signal being sent to the monitor, even though the PC is otherwise functioning.
- ✗
Replace the CMOS battery
Why it's wrong here
Replacing the CMOS battery is generally not the solution for a "no signal" issue. The CMOS battery powers the real-time clock (RTC) and retains BIOS/UEFI settings when the PC is unplugged. A dead CMOS battery primarily causes the system date and time to reset upon boot and may revert BIOS settings to defaults, but it does not typically prevent the system from outputting a video signal or completing POST.
- ✗
Test the monitor on another computer
Why it's wrong here
While testing the monitor on another computer is a valid troubleshooting step to rule out a faulty monitor, it is not the most immediate or efficient first action in this scenario. Before swapping hardware or moving components, it is crucial to verify all connections on the problematic PC itself. A simple misconnection, such as the monitor cable being in the wrong port, is a much more frequent and easily rectifiable cause of a "no signal" error.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Common Ports and Protocols for A+
Key term
GPU
A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized processor that handles the rendering of images, video, and animations for display output and can also be used for general-purpose parallel computing tasks.
Key term
Light-emitting Diode
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it, commonly used as an indicator or illumination source in electronic devices.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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.