- A
Whether the motherboard has enough SATA power connectors.
Why wrong: SATA connectors are for storage drives, not GPUs. The upgrade requires PCIe power cables, not SATA.
- B
The physical clearance inside the case for the second GPU.
Why wrong: While physical fit is important, the electrical power delivery is the primary concern; a PSU that cannot supply enough current will cause instability.
- C
The total power draw of the system does not exceed the PSU's +12V rail capacity.
The +12V rail powers the GPU and CPU; exceeding its current rating can cause shutdowns or damage. This is the critical check.
- D
The operating system supports dual GPUs.
Why wrong: OS support is secondary; if the PSU cannot deliver power, the system won't run regardless of software support.
Quick Answer
The most important factor to check before proceeding is whether the total power draw of the system exceeds the PSU’s +12V rail capacity. This is critical because the +12V rail supplies power to the most demanding components—the CPU and GPUs—and its amperage rating directly limits how much current can be delivered. A single rail rated at 40A provides a maximum of 480 watts (40A × 12V), and two high-end GPUs can easily draw 300–400 watts combined, leaving little headroom for the CPU and other components. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of power supply specifications and load balancing; a common trap is assuming that having enough physical PCIe power cables guarantees sufficient amperage. Remember: cables are just connectors—the rail’s current rating is the true bottleneck. A helpful memory tip is “Amps on the rail, not cables on the tail”—always verify the +12V rail’s amperage against the total system draw before adding a second GPU.
220-1101 Power Supply Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of power supply. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is upgrading a workstation by adding a second high-end GPU. The current power supply has a single +12V rail rated at 40A and two 6+2 pin PCIe power cables. What is the most important factor to check before proceeding?
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
The total power draw of the system does not exceed the PSU's +12V rail capacity.
The +12V rail's current rating determines how much power it can deliver to GPUs and CPU. A single rail at 40A provides 480W, which may be insufficient for two high-end GPUs. The technician must verify total system power draw against the PSU's capacity.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Whether the motherboard has enough SATA power connectors.
Why it's wrong here
SATA connectors are for storage drives, not GPUs. The upgrade requires PCIe power cables, not SATA.
- ✗
The physical clearance inside the case for the second GPU.
Why it's wrong here
While physical fit is important, the electrical power delivery is the primary concern; a PSU that cannot supply enough current will cause instability.
- ✓
The total power draw of the system does not exceed the PSU's +12V rail capacity.
Why this is correct
The +12V rail powers the GPU and CPU; exceeding its current rating can cause shutdowns or damage. This is the critical check.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The operating system supports dual GPUs.
Why it's wrong here
OS support is secondary; if the PSU cannot deliver power, the system won't run regardless of software support.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Power Supply — This question tests Power Supply — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The total power draw of the system does not exceed the PSU's +12V rail capacity. — The +12V rail's current rating determines how much power it can deliver to GPUs and CPU. A single rail at 40A provides 480W, which may be insufficient for two high-end GPUs. The technician must verify total system power draw against the PSU's capacity.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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.
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