220-1201 Practice Question: A user has a laptop that supports Thunderbolt 3…

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 laptop's graphics card cannot drive two 4K monitors.

  Why it's wrong here

  A laptop supporting Thunderbolt 3 typically indicates a modern system equipped with a capable integrated or dedicated graphics processing unit (GPU) designed to handle high-resolution external displays. The ability to drive two 4K monitors is usually within the GPU's capabilities for such a system, as Thunderbolt 3 itself requires significant display output support. Therefore, the limitation is unlikely to be the laptop's internal graphics hardware, but rather the external connectivity solution.

• ✓

  The hub does not support Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth.

  Why this is correct

  Driving two 4K monitors simultaneously requires substantial data throughput, specifically 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps), which is the maximum bandwidth provided by Thunderbolt 3. A generic USB-C hub, even if it uses the USB-C connector, often operates at lower USB standards like USB 3.0 or 3.1, offering significantly less bandwidth (e.g., 5-10 Gbps). This insufficient bandwidth from a non-Thunderbolt 3 hub is the critical bottleneck preventing the proper display of dual 4K resolutions.

• ✗

  The monitors are not compatible with USB-C.

  Why it's wrong here

  Monitors typically use DisplayPort or HDMI inputs, which are widely supported by various adapters and hubs that convert USB-C signals. The physical compatibility of the monitors themselves with a USB-C *port* is not the primary concern, as readily available adapters can bridge this gap. The fundamental issue lies with the *hub's* internal capabilities and insufficient bandwidth to transmit two high-resolution video streams, not the display's native input type.

• ✗

  The user needs a USB-C to HDMI adapter for each monitor.

  Why it's wrong here

  While USB-C to HDMI adapters can connect individual monitors, they do not inherently increase the overall data bandwidth provided by the hub itself. These adapters merely convert the signal format; they cannot overcome a fundamental lack of throughput from a non-Thunderbolt 3 hub. To support dual 4K monitors, a comprehensive Thunderbolt 3 dock is required to aggregate and deliver the necessary 40 Gbps bandwidth, not just simple signal conversion.

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