220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is upgrading a workstation and…

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 physically too large for the socket

  Why it's wrong here

  If the CPU and motherboard share the same socket type, such as LGA 1200, the physical dimensions of the CPU package are standardized to fit that socket precisely. A CPU designed for a specific socket will physically align and seat correctly. Therefore, a CPU being "physically too large" is not a common issue when the socket types are identical; rather, it implies a mismatch in socket design itself, which is a different problem than a CPU from an unsupported generation.

• ✓

  The motherboard's chipset does not support that CPU generation

  Why this is correct

  Even if a CPU physically fits into a motherboard's socket, the motherboard's chipset must be specifically designed to support that CPU's generation. Newer CPU generations often introduce architectural changes, updated memory controllers, or different power delivery requirements that an older chipset, even with the same physical socket, cannot properly manage. This incompatibility prevents the system from booting, recognizing the CPU, or operating stably, making chipset support a fundamental requirement for CPU functionality.

• ✗

  The CPU requires more power than the motherboard can provide

  Why it's wrong here

  While a CPU's power requirements are important, motherboards are generally designed with Voltage Regulator Modules (VRMs) capable of supplying sufficient power for CPUs within their supported generation and socket type. If a CPU is incompatible due to chipset generation, the system won't even attempt to draw full power or boot properly. Power delivery issues typically arise from extreme overclocking or attempting to run a very high-TDP CPU on an entry-level motherboard, but chipset incompatibility is a more primary and fundamental reason for a CPU not functioning at all.

• ✗

  The CPU is a server-grade processor not meant for workstations

  Why it's wrong here

  Server-grade processors, such as Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC, are designed for high-performance, multi-core, and often multi-socket server environments. These CPUs typically utilize entirely different physical sockets (e.g., LGA 3647, SP3) and motherboard architectures compared to consumer or workstation CPUs. An LGA 1200 CPU is specifically designed for mainstream desktop and entry-level workstation use, making the classification as a "server-grade processor" inaccurate for this particular socket type.

Go deeper

Related to this question