Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A technician is building a high-performance gaming PC for a client. The technician installs a motherboard that supports DDR4-3200, an Intel Core i7-10700K CPU, and 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) of DDR4-3600 RAM rated at 1.35V. The system boots normally, but the BIOS reports the RAM running at 2133 MHz. The technician enables XMP Profile 1 in the BIOS, but the system fails to POST and must be reset via CMOS clear. After clearing CMOS, the system boots again at 2133 MHz. The technician has verified that the CPU and motherboard support DDR4-3200. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the failure?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
The RAM speed is higher than the motherboard's supported maximum
The motherboard supports up to DDR4-3200, so attempting to run 3600 MHz via XMP causes instability and POST failure.
B
Distractor review
The RAM modules are not installed in the correct slots for dual-channel mode
The system boots and detects 32 GB, so the slots are correct; dual-channel mode is likely active even at 2133 MHz.
C
Distractor review
The XMP profile requires a higher voltage than the motherboard can provide
XMP profiles typically set the required voltage (1.35V for 3600 MHz), and the motherboard can usually deliver that. The failure is due to exceeding the memory frequency limit.
D
Distractor review
The CPU does not support any RAM speed above 2133 MHz
The Intel Core i7-10700K officially supports up to DDR4-2933, and many motherboards support higher speeds via XMP; the CPU is not the limiting factor here—the motherboard's max is 3200 MHz.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A user reports intermittent network connectivity on a desktop computer. The technician observes that the Ethernet link light on the NIC turns off for a few seconds and then turns back on. The cable passes a wiremap test, the switch port is verified good with another device, and the NIC driver is updated. The issue occurs more frequently when the computer's case fan runs at high speed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
Question 2
A workstation is unable to connect to the internet. The technician runs the 'ipconfig' command and sees the IPv4 address is 169.254.15.200 with a subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The workstation can ping other devices on the local subnet but cannot ping the default gateway or any external addresses. Which TWO actions should the technician take to resolve this issue? (Select two.)
Question 3
A workstation is connected to a managed switch. It obtains a valid IP address (192.168.10.50) from the DHCP server, but it cannot ping the default gateway (192.168.10.1). The link light on both the workstation NIC and the switch port are solid green. Other workstations on the same switch CAN ping the default gateway successfully. The technician accesses the switch management interface and finds that the workstation's port is configured as an access port on VLAN 10. The default gateway is located on VLAN 20. An inter-VLAN router is configured but not explicitly allowing VLAN 10 access to VLAN 20. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the problem?
Question 4
A company develops a web application that relies on a custom library available only for a specific Linux distribution. They want to deploy the application in the cloud with minimal administrative overhead, but they need full control over the software stack, including the ability to install the custom library and configure the web server. Which cloud service model BEST meets these requirements?
Question 5
A company has a legacy virtual machine running on a deprecated hypervisor (Hyper-V). They want to migrate this VM to a new hypervisor (VMware vSphere) hosted in a private cloud while preserving the VM's configuration, installed applications, and data. The migration must be performed with minimal downtime. Which of the following methods is MOST appropriate?
Question 6
A company hosts a critical database on a virtual machine in a public cloud. The database requires persistent storage that must be retained even if the VM is terminated. The storage must also be accessible from multiple VMs simultaneously for a future high-availability configuration. Which type of cloud storage BEST meets these requirements?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1101 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The RAM speed is higher than the motherboard's supported maximum — The RAM is rated for 3600 MHz, which exceeds the motherboard's maximum supported speed of 3200 MHz. Enabling XMP attempts to overclock the RAM to 3600 MHz, but the motherboard's memory controller may not be able to reliably run at that speed, causing POST failure. The motherboard supports up to 3200 MHz (depending on CPU and board), so setting the RAM to a speed within the supported range should work. The RAM itself is not defective; it is simply being pushed beyond the board's capability. The CPU's memory controller supports up to DDR4-2933 officially (for 10th Gen i7), but motherboards can often run higher speeds via XMP; however, the board's specification states 3200 MHz max. The issue is not due to incorrect slot configuration (they are installed in the recommended slots), nor is it a voltage issue, as the XMP profile sets the correct voltage (1.35V). The RAM is not faulty; it works at 2133 MHz. The solution is to manually set the RAM speed to 3200 MHz (or lower) with appropriate timings.
What should I do if I get this 220-1101 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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