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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a PC that…
A technician is troubleshooting a PC that randomly restarts under load. The CPU temperature is normal, but the system sometimes fails to POST with a 'CPU Overvoltage Error'. The motherboard is a few years old. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests the misconception that a CPU overvoltage error is caused by the power supply; the correct answer is the motherboard VRM, since the PSU does not directly supply the CPU voltage.
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 motherboard VRM is failing
A 'CPU Overvoltage Error' at POST on an older motherboard points to a failing voltage regulator module (VRM) that is no longer delivering stable voltage to the CPU. Random restarts under load are consistent with VRM degradation, especially when the CPU temperature is normal. The VRM is the component responsible for converting the PSU's 12V rail to the low voltage the CPU needs.
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 overheating due to a failing cooler
Why it's wrong here
While CPU overheating can cause random restarts or shutdowns to prevent damage, the scenario explicitly states that CPU temperatures are within normal operating ranges. This directly contradicts a failing cooler as the root cause, as a failing cooler would inevitably lead to elevated temperatures and subsequent thermal protection mechanisms, not an overvoltage error. Therefore, despite random restarts being a symptom of overheating, the temperature reading rules this out.
- ✗
The power supply is delivering too much voltage
Why it's wrong here
Although a faulty power supply unit (PSU) can indeed deliver unstable or incorrect voltages to the motherboard, the CPU's core voltage (Vcore) is specifically regulated by the motherboard's Voltage Regulator Module (VRM). If the PSU were delivering too much voltage generally, other components would likely exhibit issues, but a CPU-specific overvoltage error points to a failure in the VRM's precise voltage regulation for the CPU, rather than the PSU's bulk output.
- ✓
The motherboard VRM is failing
Why this is correct
The Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) on the motherboard is responsible for converting the 12V input from the power supply into the precise, lower voltages required by the CPU. A failing VRM can become unstable, delivering incorrect or fluctuating voltages, including sudden spikes that exceed the CPU's safe operating limits. These overvoltage conditions trigger the CPU's or motherboard's built-in overvoltage protection, causing the system to randomly restart or shut down to prevent permanent damage to the CPU.
- ✗
The BIOS needs to be updated to support the CPU
Why it's wrong here
A BIOS update primarily addresses software-level compatibility issues, such as adding support for newer CPUs, improving stability, or fixing firmware bugs. While an outdated BIOS could cause system instability or prevent a CPU from booting, an explicit "CPU overvoltage" error message points directly to a hardware malfunction in the voltage regulation circuitry, not a lack of microcode or a software-based compatibility problem that a firmware update would resolve.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Component Compatibility Checking
Key term
Power-on Self-test
The Power-on Self-test (POST) is a diagnostic process a computer runs immediately when you turn it on to check that essential hardware components are working correctly before loading the operating system.
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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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.