220-1101 Hardware Practice Question
A technician is building a desktop computer. After installing all components, the computer powers on. All fans spin, and the LED on the motherboard lights up, but there is no display output. The monitor and cable are known to work. The technician has already reseated the RAM and the graphics card. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates assume a 'no display' issue must be related to the graphics card or RAM, overlooking the fact that the CPU itself requires its own dedicated power connector to initialize.
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
✓
Verify that the 4/8-pin CPU power connector is securely connected to the motherboard.
The 4/8-pin CPU power connector supplies dedicated 12V power to the processor. If it is loose or disconnected, the CPU will not initialize, causing the system to power on (fans spin, LEDs light) but produce no display output. Since the monitor, cable, RAM, and graphics card have been verified, the next logical step is to check this critical power connection.
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
Observing the system power on with fans and LED indicators proves the power supply is at least delivering standby and main rails, so the issue is not a lack of total wattage. Replacing the unit with a higher-wattage model would not address an unplugged EPS cable or a loose connection, and it skips the logical steps of verifying voltage delivery and proper power distribution to the CPU.
When this WOULD be correct
A technician builds a PC with a high-end GPU and CPU, and the system fails to boot or randomly shuts down under load. All other connections are verified, but the existing power supply wattage is below the recommended minimum for the components.
- ✓
Verify that the 4/8-pin CPU power connector is securely connected to the motherboard.
Why this is correct
The 4/8-pin EPS connector supplies dedicated 12V power to the CPU voltage regulator module; without it, the CPU cannot initialize, so the POST halts and the display remains blank even though the 24-pin ATX connector powers fans and other peripherals. Always check that this cable is latched securely, as a loose or unmated EPS connector is a classic first-build mistake.
- ✗
Reset the CMOS by removing the battery for 30 seconds.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting the CMOS by removing the coin-cell battery clears UEFI/BIOS settings such as memory XMP profiles and boot order, which can solve no-display issues caused by misconfigured hardware. However, a newly built system on defaults is unlikely to have a corrupt CMOS, and the symptom of powered case fans with no video output points directly to a missing CPU power connection rather than a stale firmware setting.
- ✗
Replace the motherboard, as it is likely defective.
Why it's wrong here
While a defective motherboard can certainly cause a blank screen, it is the most expensive and least reversible component to replace, so standard A+ troubleshooting calls for exhausting all connectors, reseating RAM, and checking for standoff shorts first. In a fresh build, a dead board is far less common than an unseated EPS connector, and swapping the motherboard without testing those likely culprits risks creating additional cabling problems.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the system fails to power on at all (no fans, no LEDs) after verifying all power connections are secure and the power supply is known good. In such a case, a defective motherboard is a likely cause.
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.
✓Verify that the 4/8-pin CPU power connector is securely connected to the motherboard.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
The 4/8-pin EPS connector supplies dedicated 12V power to the CPU voltage regulator module; without it, the CPU cannot initialize, so the POST halts and the display remains blank even though the 24-pin ATX connector powers fans and other peripherals. Always check that this cable is latched securely, as a loose or unmated EPS connector is a classic first-build mistake.
✗Replace the power supply with a higher-wattage unit.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The system powers on with fans spinning and motherboard LED lit, indicating the power supply is delivering sufficient power. A higher-wattage unit would not resolve a missing display output caused by an unseated CPU power connector.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A technician builds a PC with a high-end GPU and CPU, and the system fails to boot or randomly shuts down under load. All other connections are verified, but the existing power supply wattage is below the recommended minimum for the components.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that insufficient power causes no display, but here the system powers on fully, ruling out a wattage issue. The temptation comes from overgeneralizing power-related symptoms.
✗Replace the motherboard, as it is likely defective.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The motherboard is unlikely defective because the system powers on with fans spinning and motherboard LED lit, indicating power delivery and basic functionality. A defective motherboard typically shows no signs of life or specific error codes, not just missing display output.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the system fails to power on at all (no fans, no LEDs) after verifying all power connections are secure and the power supply is known good. In such a case, a defective motherboard is a likely cause.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume that if basic troubleshooting steps like reseating RAM and GPU fail, the motherboard must be faulty, overlooking more common issues like loose CPU power cables.
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?”
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Display Resolutions and Refresh Rates
Key term
Light-emitting Diode
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it, commonly used as an indicator or illumination source in electronic devices.
Key term
RAM
RAM (Random-Access Memory) is volatile computer memory that temporarily stores data for quick access by the CPU.
About these practice questions
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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.