220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a PC that…

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

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

• ✗

  Connect only the 4-pin portion of the cable to the 8-pin header

  Why it's wrong here

  Modern high-performance CPUs, especially those requiring an 8-pin EPS12V connector, draw significant power to operate reliably. Connecting only a 4-pin portion to an 8-pin header would supply only half the required 12V current, leading to severe power starvation. This insufficient power delivery would cause system instability, manifesting as random freezes, unexpected shutdowns, or even a complete failure to boot, as the CPU cannot operate reliably under such conditions.

• ✓

  Combine the two 4-pin halves to form an 8-pin connector and attach it

  Why this is correct

  Many power supply units (PSUs) provide the EPS12V CPU power cable as two separate 4-pin connectors, often labeled P4 or CPU. These 4+4 pin halves are specifically designed with interlocking mechanisms to be combined into a single 8-pin connector. Attaching this fully assembled 8-pin connector to the motherboard's 8-pin EPS12V header ensures the CPU receives the complete and stable 12-volt power supply necessary for its proper operation, preventing instability or performance issues.

• ✗

  Use a 6-pin PCIe power cable in the 8-pin CPU header

  Why it's wrong here

  A 6-pin PCIe power cable is designed to supply supplemental power to graphics cards and is physically keyed differently from an 8-pin EPS12V CPU power connector. Attempting to force a PCIe connector into a CPU power header is physically difficult and highly inadvisable. Even if forced, the pin assignments for 12V and ground are often different, potentially short-circuiting components or delivering incorrect voltage to the CPU, which could cause irreversible damage to the motherboard, CPU, or power supply unit.

• ✗

  Leave the 8-pin header unconnected and rely on the 24-pin connector

  Why it's wrong here

  While the 24-pin ATX main power connector supplies general power to the motherboard and some integrated components, it does not provide the dedicated, high-current 12V rails specifically required by modern CPUs. The 8-pin EPS12V connector (or sometimes a 4-pin P4) is solely responsible for delivering the substantial and stable 12V power needed for CPU operation. Leaving this critical connector unplugged will almost certainly prevent the system from booting entirely, or if it does manage to power on, it will be extremely unstable, leading to immediate crashes or freezes.

Go deeper

Related to this question