220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new graphics card that requires a 6-pin PCIe power connector. The existing power supply has sufficient wattage but does not have any PCIe power cables. Which of the following should the technician do to BEST resolve this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume any adapter will work because the PSU has enough total wattage, but CompTIA tests the understanding that power delivery per connector and rail capacity are critical, not just total wattage.
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
✓
Replace the power supply with one that has PCIe power cables
The existing power supply lacks PCIe power cables, and using adapters (Molex or SATA) can overload the power supply's 12V rail or cause instability due to inadequate current delivery. Replacing the power supply with one that has native PCIe connectors ensures proper power delivery and safety, as PCIe connectors are rated for up to 75W per 6-pin cable, while adapters may not handle sustained loads reliably.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a Molex-to-PCIe power adapter
Why it's wrong here
A Molex-to-PCIe adapter is an unsafe workaround because Molex connectors were designed for legacy peripherals like disk drives, with each pair of pins rated for roughly 5A on the 12V rail. Even if the adapter physically fits, the PSU's 12V rail may not have enough current headroom to safely power the GPU, and the spring-contact Molex pins can overheat or lose connection under load, causing power instability or a fire hazard.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question specified that the graphics card has low power consumption (e.g., less than 75W) and the power supply has ample wattage and spare Molex connectors, making an adapter a safe temporary solution.
- ✓
Replace the power supply with one that has PCIe power cables
Why this is correct
A power supply with native PCIe power cables is the correct remedy because modern graphics cards require dedicated 6-pin or 8-pin 12V connectors that deliver high current directly from the PSU. The PCIe slot itself supplies only about 75W, so a card with a TDP of 150W or more needs these supplementary cables to boot and operate stably. Replacing the PSU also ensures the unit's total 12V rail capacity meets the card's peak demand, avoiding voltage sag or shutdowns.
- ✗
Use a SATA-to-PCIe power adapter
Why it's wrong here
A SATA-to-PCIe power adapter is dangerously undersized because the SATA power spec limits the 12V line to about 4.5A (54W total across all rails), while a modern GPU can pull 20A or more on 12V during peak operation. Adapters force too much current through thin SATA wires and the molded SATA connector, leading to severe overheating, melted plastic, or even an electrical fire. Additionally, SATA connectors are designed for low-power drives, not high-current PCIe devices, so this adapter fails both the current and safety criteria.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician needs to power a low-power PCIe device (e.g., a small SSD or capture card) that requires a 6-pin PCIe connector, and the power supply has a spare SATA power cable. In that case, a SATA-to-PCIe adapter may be acceptable if the device's power draw is within SATA's limits.
- ✗
Leave the PCIe power connector unplugged and install the card
Why it's wrong here
Leaving the PCIe power connector unplugged is nonfunctional because the PCIe x16 slot can supply a maximum of 75W, while most discrete graphics cards draw far more—often 150W to 300W—through their supplemental connectors. Without that extra power, the card will fail to initialize, the system may not POST, or the GPU will be detected but immediately crash under load. Only low-power cards designed to draw exclusively from the slot could run this way, which would defeat the purpose of an upgrade.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the question specified that the graphics card draws all its power from the PCIe slot (e.g., a low-power card with no auxiliary power requirement) and the system has adequate power delivery through the motherboard.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 220-1101 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Replace the power supply with one that has PCIe power cablesCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
A power supply with native PCIe power cables is the correct remedy because modern graphics cards require dedicated 6-pin or 8-pin 12V connectors that deliver high current directly from the PSU. The PCIe slot itself supplies only about 75W, so a card with a TDP of 150W or more needs these supplementary cables to boot and operate stably. Replacing the PSU also ensures the unit's total 12V rail capacity meets the card's peak demand, avoiding voltage sag or shutdowns.
✗Use a Molex-to-PCIe power adapterWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Molex-to-PCIe adapters are not recommended for high-power graphics cards because Molex connectors are not designed to safely deliver the required current, posing a fire risk. The best practice is to use a power supply with native PCIe cables.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question specified that the graphics card has low power consumption (e.g., less than 75W) and the power supply has ample wattage and spare Molex connectors, making an adapter a safe temporary solution.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think an adapter is a cheap and easy fix without understanding the current limitations of Molex connectors, leading them to overlook safety and reliability concerns.
✗Use a SATA-to-PCIe power adapterWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SATA power connectors are not designed to supply the high current required by a PCIe graphics card; using a SATA-to-PCIe adapter can overload the SATA cable and cause fire or damage.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician needs to power a low-power PCIe device (e.g., a small SSD or capture card) that requires a 6-pin PCIe connector, and the power supply has a spare SATA power cable. In that case, a SATA-to-PCIe adapter may be acceptable if the device's power draw is within SATA's limits.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think any adapter works because they see a physical match (SATA to PCIe), ignoring the electrical limitations and safety risks.
✗Leave the PCIe power connector unplugged and install the cardWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Leaving the PCIe power connector unplugged will cause the graphics card to not receive sufficient power, leading to system instability, failure to boot, or potential damage to the card.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the question specified that the graphics card draws all its power from the PCIe slot (e.g., a low-power card with no auxiliary power requirement) and the system has adequate power delivery through the motherboard.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think the card can run on slot power alone, overlooking that high-performance cards require dedicated PCIe power connectors.
Analysis generated from the official 220-1101blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Power Supply Units and Connectors
Key term
Peripheral Component Interconnect Express
PCI Express (PCIe) is a high-speed expansion bus standard that connects internal hardware components like graphics cards, SSDs, and network adapters to a computer's motherboard.
Key term
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) is a computer bus interface used to connect storage devices like hard drives and solid-state drives to a computer's motherboard.
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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.