220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A user recently purchased a new desktop computer that does not have any USB-C ports. The user wants to add USB-C connectivity to charge devices and transfer data. Which of the following expansion cards should the technician install?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume Thunderbolt 3 is the only way to get USB-C ports, but the question specifies 'charge devices and transfer data'—a standard USB 3.0 PCIe card with USB-C ports fulfills both requirements without the additional motherboard support and cost of Thunderbolt 3.
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
✓
PCIe USB 3.0 card with USB-C ports
A PCIe USB 3.0 card with USB-C ports is the correct choice because it directly adds USB-C connectivity to a desktop lacking native ports. USB 3.0 (now USB 3.2 Gen 1) supports up to 5 Gbps data transfer and can provide up to 4.5W (0.9A at 5V) for charging, which meets the user's stated need to charge devices and transfer data. The PCIe interface ensures compatibility with the desktop's expansion slot, making this a straightforward upgrade.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
PCIe USB 3.0 card with USB-C ports
Why this is correct
A PCIe USB 3.0 card with USB-C ports is the correct upgrade because it leverages the motherboard's PCIe bus to deliver native USB controller functionality, providing standard USB-C receptacles that support USB 3.x data transfer up to 5 or 10 Gbps and USB Power Delivery for charging connected devices. Unlike Thunderbolt or proprietary interfaces, it requires no special chipset or header, making it universally compatible with any desktop PC that has an available PCIe x1/x4 slot. This straightforward expansion card resolves the missing USB-C connectivity exactly as the user needs.
- ✗
Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card
Why it's wrong here
A Thunderbolt 3 PCIe card is incorrect because it requires specific motherboard chipset support and often a dedicated header connection, which a standard desktop lacking USB-C ports is unlikely to possess. Without this underlying hardware integration, the card will not function correctly for basic USB-C connectivity. It is tempting because Thunderbolt 3 utilises the USB-C connector and offers power delivery and data transfer. This card would be the correct choice if the user specifically required Thunderbolt's high-bandwidth capabilities, such as external GPUs or multiple 4K displays, and their motherboard supported it.
- ✗
eSATA PCIe card
Why it's wrong here
An eSATA PCIe card is wrong because it implements the Serial ATA protocol for external storage, using eSATA connectors rather than USB-C. This interface does not provide USB data signaling or the 5V power line needed to charge phones or tablets, and it cannot accept USB-C plugs or communicate with USB peripherals. Its sole purpose is connecting external SATA hard drives or SSDs, so it fails entirely for the user's USB-C data and charging requirements.
- ✗
FireWire (IEEE 1394) PCIe card
Why it's wrong here
A FireWire (IEEE 1394) PCIe card is wrong because it is a legacy high-speed serial interface with its own distinct 4-pin, 6-pin, or 9-pin connectors and its own protocol stack, not USB. It lacks USB-C ports and cannot transmit USB packets, so the user cannot plug in a USB-C device or charge modern mobile devices without an active adapter that does not solve the core issue. Installing it would only add obsolete FireWire connectivity for old camcorders and external drives, not the USB-C functionality requested.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Storage Devices: HDD, SSD, NVMe
Key term
Universal Serial Bus
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard interface that allows you to connect devices like keyboards, mice, storage drives, and printers to a computer for data transfer and power delivery.
Key term
Universal Serial Bus Type C
A small, reversible 24-pin USB connector that supports high-speed data transfer, power delivery, and video output, used in modern devices.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1101 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 220-1101 exam.