220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is upgrading a workstation's CPU from an Intel Core i5-6500 (Skylake) to an Intel Core i7-7700 (Kaby Lake) on an LGA 1151 motherboard. The motherboard manufacturer's website lists the i7-7700 as compatible with BIOS version P2.10 or later. After installing the new CPU, the system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but displays a black screen with no POST beeps. The technician has already cleared the CMOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to assume clearing CMOS resets the BIOS version or fixes all POST failures, but it only resets user-configurable settings, not the firmware version itself, and the symptom of a black screen with no beeps is classic for a CPU that is not supported by the current BIOS.
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 motherboard's BIOS version is too old to support the new CPU.
The Intel Core i7-7700 (Kaby Lake) requires a BIOS version P2.10 or later on this LGA 1151 motherboard. Since the system powers on but fails to POST with a black screen and no beeps, the most likely cause is that the current BIOS version predates P2.10, lacking the microcode needed to initialize the Kaby Lake CPU. Clearing CMOS does not update the BIOS, so the motherboard remains unable to communicate with the new processor.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The power supply unit is not providing enough wattage for the new CPU.
Why it's wrong here
The system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light), indicating the power supply is delivering power. While the TDP difference may be small, insufficient wattage typically causes instability or shutdown under load, not a complete failure to POST.
- ✓
The motherboard's BIOS version is too old to support the new CPU.
Why this is correct
Motherboards often require a BIOS update to support newer CPUs even on the same socket. The symptoms (power on, no POST) are classic for an unsupported CPU. The technician should update the BIOS with the old CPU installed.
- ✗
The new CPU is defective or was installed incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
While a defective CPU or improper installation (e.g., bent socket pins, partial seating) can certainly prevent POST, it is statistically far less likely than a BIOS incompatibility in this scenario. A newly purchased CPU rarely arrives dead, and installation issues typically manifest with other signs—such as no power at all, beep codes, or a CPU fan that spins but no display—rather than the clean power-on/no-POST symptom described. Given that the original i5-6500 worked and the new CPU is from a supported socket family but likely a newer microarchitecture, the motherboard's BIOS revision is the more probable culprit, especially if the vendor lists a minimum BIOS version for that CPU.
- ✗
The RAM modules are incompatible with the new CPU's memory controller.
Why it's wrong here
RAM incompatibility typically causes beep codes or system hangs, but not a complete no-POST with fans spinning. Also, the old CPU likely worked with the same RAM, and the memory controller is in the CPU, so a new CPU could have different requirements, but BIOS incompatibility is the more direct and probable cause.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
BIOS/UEFI Update Procedures
Key term
Power-on Self-test
The Power-on Self-test (POST) is a diagnostic process a computer runs immediately when you turn it on to check that essential hardware components are working correctly before loading the operating system.
Key term
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor
A type of semiconductor technology used in microchips that combines two types of transistors to create circuits with very low power consumption.
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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.