220-1101 Hardware and Network Troubleshooting Practice Question
A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that loses network connectivity intermittently, specifically when the user runs CPU-intensive applications like video rendering. The link light on the network interface card (NIC) turns off during these episodes. The technician has already replaced the Ethernet cable with a known-good cable and switched the workstation to a different port on the same switch, but the problem persists. The same port and cable work fine when tested with a laptop. The workstation has a recently installed high-end graphics card and a 400W power supply that came with the case. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates focus on the NIC or cable as the obvious cause of link loss, overlooking that the power supply can cause intermittent hardware resets under load, which is a common CompTIA 220-1101 troubleshooting scenario.
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
✓
Insufficient power supply wattage
The intermittent loss of network connectivity specifically during CPU-intensive tasks like video rendering points to a power supply issue. The 400W power supply is likely insufficient to handle the combined load of the high-end graphics card and the rest of the system, causing voltage drops that starve the NIC of power, making its link light turn off. Replacing the cable and switch port with no effect, while the same port works with a laptop, isolates the problem to the workstation's internal power delivery.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Faulty network card
Why it's wrong here
A faulty NIC could cause intermittent connectivity, but the direct correlation with CPU load and the link light turning off points toward a power problem rather than a defective NIC. If the NIC were faulty, it would likely fail regardless of load.
- ✓
Insufficient power supply wattage
Why this is correct
When the system is under heavy load (CPU and GPU intensive tasks), the power draw spikes. An underpowered PSU may cause voltage droop on the motherboard rails, causing the integrated or add-on NIC to lose power or reset, dropping the link. Upgrading the PSU to a higher wattage unit would resolve the issue.
- ✗
Outdated network driver
Why it's wrong here
An outdated driver could cause software-level disconnects, but it would not typically cause the link light on the NIC to turn off. A driver issue might result in an unresponsive interface but the physical link usually remains up.
- ✗
Electromagnetic interference from the GPU
Why it's wrong here
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the GPU could cause data corruption or reduced throughput, but it is unlikely to cause the link light to turn off completely. The link light indicates a physical layer connection; EMI would not typically break that connection.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This 220-1101 question is part of Courseiva's 896-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.