hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a high-end…
A technician is troubleshooting a high-end workstation that randomly freezes during heavy 3D rendering. The motherboard has an X299 chipset with an LGA 2066 socket. The CPU temperature is normal, and the RAM passes MemTest86. Which motherboard component is most likely causing the instability?
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 chipset heatsink is clogged with dust
Random freezes under heavy load, with normal CPU temps and good RAM, often point to the chipset overheating. The chipset (e.g., X299) manages high-speed data transfer between the CPU, GPU, and storage; if its heatsink is clogged or the fan fails, it can overheat and cause system instability. This is a common issue in workstations with heavy I/O demands.
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 power phase controller
Why it's wrong here
The CPU power phase controller, part of the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM), is responsible for delivering stable and precise voltage to the CPU. A failure in this component would typically result in significant voltage instability, causing immediate and severe system crashes, blue screens of death (BSODs), or complete power shutdowns, rather than intermittent random freezes while the CPU temperature remains normal. Such freezes with stable CPU temps suggest an issue external to direct CPU power delivery.
- ✓
The chipset heatsink is clogged with dust
Why this is correct
The chipset, especially on a high-end workstation, is a critical component that manages high-speed data flow between the CPU, RAM, PCIe slots, and storage devices. If its passive heatsink becomes clogged with dust, its ability to dissipate heat is severely compromised, leading to thermal throttling or instability. This thermal stress can cause random system freezes, particularly during periods of heavy I/O operations or data transfers, as the chipset struggles to maintain stable functionality under elevated temperatures.
- ✗
The BIOS is outdated
Why it's wrong here
An outdated BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) primarily affects system initialization, hardware compatibility, and boot processes. While it can cause issues like unrecognized hardware, incorrect boot sequences, or failure to POST (Power-On Self-Test), it typically results in consistent boot failures, specific error codes, or general instability from system startup. Random freezes on a system that otherwise boots and operates normally, especially under load, are less indicative of a simple outdated BIOS version.
- ✗
The PCIe slot is failing
Why it's wrong here
A failing PCIe slot would specifically impact the functionality of the expansion card installed within it, most commonly a high-end graphics card or NVMe SSD in a workstation. Symptoms would include display artifacts, driver crashes, loss of video signal, or the system failing to detect the device, particularly when the component is under heavy load. General system-wide random freezes, without specific graphical anomalies or device detection issues, are not the primary symptom of a failing PCIe slot itself.
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Key term
RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is your computer's short-term memory, temporarily holding data the CPU needs right now or very soon.
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.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.