220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is assembling a new desktop PC with an AMD Ryzen processor on a B550 motherboard. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, graphics card, and connecting all power cables, the technician powers on the system. The case fans spin, the motherboard LEDs light up, but there is no video output and no beep codes. The technician has verified that the monitor works with another PC, the graphics card is properly seated and has its power cables connected, and the RAM is installed in the correct slots. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates see fans spinning and LEDs lit and assume all power is connected, overlooking the separate CPU power connector that is required for processor operation.
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
✓
CPU power connector (8-pin EPS) on the motherboard
The 8-pin EPS12V CPU power connector supplies dedicated power to the processor. If this connector is not plugged in, the CPU will not initialize, resulting in no video output and no beep codes, even though case fans and motherboard LEDs receive power from the 24-pin ATX connector. The B550 motherboard requires this connection for the Ryzen CPU to operate.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
CPU power connector (8-pin EPS) on the motherboard
Why this is correct
If the CPU power connector is not connected, the CPU has no power, and the system will not POST. The fans and LEDs may still spin because other components receive power, but the processor is dead. This is a frequent first-time build mistake.
- ✗
BIOS version compatibility with the CPU
Why it's wrong here
BIOS compatibility could be an issue if the motherboard requires a BIOS update to support the installed CPU. However, in that scenario, the system would typically still show some POST activity (e.g., fan spin, but no display) and may produce beep codes. The lack of any POST activity makes a missing power connection a more likely first step.
- ✗
Power supply unit wattage rating
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient PSU wattage can cause instability or shutdowns under load, but it rarely prevents the system from POSTing entirely. The system is powering on (fans spin), so the PSU is delivering some power. Checking the CPU power connector is more direct.
- ✗
CMOS battery voltage
Why it's wrong here
A dead or missing CMOS battery can cause BIOS settings to reset and could lead to boot issues, but the system would still typically attempt POST and often produce an error message. It would not cause a complete no-POST scenario with fans spinning but no display.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Power Supply Units and Connectors
Key term
Advanced Micro Devices
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a company that designs and manufactures central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), and other computer hardware components used in personal computers, servers, and embedded systems.
Key term
Dual In-line Memory Module
A Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM) is a small circuit board that holds memory chips and plugs into a computer's motherboard to provide Random Access Memory (RAM).
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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