220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A desktop computer will not boot after a thunderstorm. When powered on, the fans spin and LEDs light, but there is no POST, no beep codes, and no display. The technician has already tested the power supply with a multimeter (all voltages within specification), reseated all RAM and expansion cards, and tried a different monitor. On close inspection of the motherboard, the technician notices several electrolytic capacitors near the CPU voltage regulator module are bulging at the top with a brownish substance around their bases. Which of the following should the technician replace to resolve the issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1101 exam often tests the misconception that fans spinning and LEDs lighting indicate a fully functional motherboard, when in fact those components can receive power independently of the VRM, leading candidates to incorrectly replace the power supply or CPU instead of the motherboard.
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 motherboard.
The bulging electrolytic capacitors with brownish residue near the CPU voltage regulator module indicate physical failure, likely due to a power surge from the thunderstorm. Damaged capacitors prevent the motherboard from delivering stable voltage to the CPU, causing no POST, no beep codes, and no display even though fans and LEDs receive power. Since the power supply tested within specification and other components have been reseated, the motherboard itself is the faulty component and must be replaced.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage unit.
Why it's wrong here
The power supply's DC voltages measured within ATX specifications and the system fans spun, indicating the PSU is delivering power correctly. The visible bulging capacitors are on the motherboard, not the PSU, meaning the surge damaged the board's voltage regulation circuitry. Swapping in a higher-wattage PSU would not repair the shorted or failed components on the motherboard, so this would leave the actual fault unresolved.
- ✗
Replace the CPU with an identical or compatible model.
Why it's wrong here
A CPU rarely fails from a transient surge without visible scorching, cracking, or burn marks, and none are described here. The bulging capacitors on the motherboard point specifically to a failure in the voltage regulator module (VRM) that supplies the CPU, not the CPU itself. Even if the CPU were suspect, it would not explain the compromised power delivery; replacing the processor without addressing the motherboard damage would not restore reliable booting.
- ✓
Replace the motherboard.
Why this is correct
Bulging electrolytic capacitors on the motherboard are a classic sign of component failure — the electrolyte has boiled or leaked, causing capacitance loss and unstable DC rails. This prevents the motherboard from supplying clean power to the CPU, memory, and chipset, which is why the system fails to POST after the storm. Replacing the motherboard eliminates the damaged power distribution circuitry and is the definitive repair for a surge-induced capacitor failure.
- ✗
Replace the RAM modules with known-good units.
Why it's wrong here
While defective RAM can absolutely prevent POST, the system here has concrete physical evidence of a motherboard-level power fault: swollen capacitors. The RAM itself shows no damage, and reseating it had no effect, making it an unlikely culprit. Furthermore, a surge that is severe enough to damage capacitors would likely affect the power delivery system as a whole, not just one RAM stick; swapping memory would not resolve the underlying electrical damage.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Multi-Monitor Configuration
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
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
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.