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220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting a workstation…
A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that randomly crashes and shows memory errors in Windows. The system has four 4 GB DDR4 modules. The technician runs Memtest86 and finds errors in one module. What should the technician do to resolve the issue while maximizing performance?
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
✓
Replace the faulty module with a new module of the same specifications.
The faulty module should be removed, but to maintain dual-channel performance, the remaining modules should be installed in matched pairs. Removing one module leaves three, which may force single-channel operation. The best solution is to replace the faulty module with a matching one, but if not available, removing two modules to keep a matched pair is optimal.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Remove the faulty module and leave the other three installed.
Why it's wrong here
Installing three memory modules creates an asymmetrical configuration, forcing the system to operate in single-channel mode. This significantly reduces the memory bandwidth available to the CPU, hindering overall system performance, particularly for data-intensive applications or multitasking scenarios. While the total capacity might remain high, the reduced data throughput would negatively impact the workstation's responsiveness and efficiency.
- ✓
Replace the faulty module with a new module of the same specifications.
Why this is correct
Replacing the faulty module with a new one of identical specifications—including capacity, speed, and latency—is the most effective and efficient solution. This action restores the workstation to its original, fully functional state, ensuring that the full memory capacity is available and that dual-channel operation is maintained for optimal memory bandwidth and system performance. It directly addresses the problem without compromising existing resources or capabilities.
- ✗
Remove all modules and install a single 16 GB module.
Why it's wrong here
While installing a single 16 GB module would provide sufficient capacity, it represents an inefficient use of resources by discarding the remaining functional modules. Furthermore, a single module configuration would force the system to operate in single-channel mode, resulting in reduced memory bandwidth compared to a dual-channel setup. This approach is less cost-effective and sacrifices performance for a simpler, but suboptimal, memory arrangement.
- ✗
Remove the faulty module and the module in the same channel to keep dual-channel.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the faulty module and its channel partner would reduce the total system memory from 16 GB to 8 GB. While this configuration would maintain dual-channel operation, 8 GB of RAM is often insufficient for modern workstations, potentially leading to excessive disk paging and overall system slowdowns, especially under heavy workloads. This solution sacrifices necessary capacity for a partial fix.
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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.