Hardware

A technician is assembling a workstation for video editing. The motherboard has two DIMM slots and supports dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory. The user requests 32 GB of RAM. Which memory configuration will provide the best performance?

A technician is building a desktop computer and applies thermal paste to the CPU before installing the heatsink. The technician uses significantly more paste than recommended. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of this action?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's storage. The motherboard has one M.2 slot that supports both SATA and NVMe protocols. The user wants the fastest possible boot drive. Which type of M.2 drive should the technician select?

A technician needs to install a PCIe x4 network adapter into a desktop computer. The motherboard has the following available slots: one PCIe x16 slot (occupied by a graphics card), two PCIe x1 slots, and one PCIe x8 slot. Which slot can the technician use to install the x4 card?

A technician is building a high-performance gaming PC. The motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots, and the technician installs two 8 GB modules in slots A2 and B2 (dual-channel configuration). The PC boots and works, but the BIOS shows only 8 GB of RAM. The technician reseats the modules and tries different slots, but the issue persists. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician is building a desktop computer and has installed a SATA solid-state drive (SSD). After connecting the SATA data cable and power cable, the computer boots to the BIOS, but the SSD is not listed in the SATA devices. The technician has verified that the SATA cable is securely connected to both the drive and the motherboard and that the power supply is functioning. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is installing a new graphics card that requires an 8-pin PCIe power connector. The existing power supply unit (PSU) only has a 6-pin PCIe power cable available. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to provide power to the graphics card?

A technician is assembling a workstation. After installing the motherboard, CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, and connecting all necessary power cables, the system does not power on when the front panel power button is pressed. The technician verified the power supply works in another system. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is building a workstation for a memory-intensive application. The motherboard has four DIMM slots and supports dual-channel memory. The CPU memory controller supports a maximum of two memory channels and a limit of one rank per channel. The technician installs four quad-rank 32 GB memory modules (total 128 GB). When the system boots, only 64 GB of RAM is recognized. Each module works correctly when tested individually. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a desktop computer in a new case. After installing the motherboard and connecting all components, the computer powers on but immediately shuts down after a few seconds. The technician notices that the motherboard is touching the metal case in several places and that no standoffs were installed between the motherboard and the case tray. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the shutdown?

A technician is installing a new CPU into a desktop motherboard. After placing the CPU into the socket and applying a small amount of thermal paste, the technician is about to attach the heatsink. Which of the following is the correct method for securing the heatsink?

A technician is assembling a desktop computer using an Intel LGA1151 socket motherboard. The CPU has been installed correctly with thermal paste and a heatsink. When the power button is pressed, the system powers on for about three seconds, then shuts off, and then repeatedly attempts to restart. The CPU cooler fan spins normally during that time. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a workstation with a motherboard that has two M.2 slots. One slot (M2A) supports both SATA and PCIe, and the other (M2B) supports PCIe only. The technician installs a SATA M.2 drive in M2B. After booting, the system does not detect the drive. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician has just completed building a new desktop computer. After connecting all components and closing the case, the technician presses the power button on the front of the case, but nothing happens. No fans spin, no lights come on. The technician has verified that the power supply unit (PSU) works by testing it in another system. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is building a workstation for video editing. The motherboard has four DDR4 DIMM slots and supports dual-channel memory. The technician installs two 16 GB modules in slots 1 and 2, and two 8 GB modules in slots 3 and 4. The system boots and recognizes all 48 GB of RAM, but the memory bandwidth is lower than expected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is installing a CPU on a motherboard with an LGA socket. After placing the CPU in the socket, closing the lever, applying thermal paste, and mounting the heatsink, the technician powers on the system. The CPU temperature quickly rises to 100°C and the system shuts down after a few seconds. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a server that uses RAID 1 (mirroring). The server has hot-swappable drive bays, and the operating system continues to function with the remaining drive. Which of the following steps should the technician perform FIRST to restore fault tolerance?

A technician is upgrading the RAM in a desktop computer. After installing two new identical DDR4 modules into the appropriate slots, the computer powers on but does not display any video and emits a series of short beeps. The technician verifies that the modules are compatible with the motherboard and are firmly seated. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, heatsink, RAM, and connecting all cables, the system powers on but displays no video. The motherboard has integrated graphics. The technician hears a series of short beeps. What should the technician check first?

A technician builds a new workstation. After installing the CPU, heatsink, RAM, and a discrete video card, the system powers on (fans spin, lights come on) but the monitor shows 'No Signal'. The technician verifies the monitor works with another computer. The motherboard has integrated graphics, and the technician tries connecting the monitor to both the integrated port and the discrete video card port; neither produces a display. The system emits no beep codes. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician builds a new desktop computer. After connecting all components and pressing the power button, the system turns on for about three seconds and then shuts down. It repeatedly tries to restart in a loop. The technician has already reseated the CPU, RAM, and all power cables. The power supply unit passes the paperclip test and works in another system. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer for a graphic designer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and a high-end discrete GPU, the system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but the monitor displays 'No Signal' when plugged into the GPU. The technician verifies the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is building a gaming PC. The motherboard has a PCIe 4.0 x16 slot occupied by a PCIe 3.0 graphics card, and an M.2 slot that supports PCIe 4.0 x4. The user wants to install a high-performance NVMe SSD. Which of the following is the BEST practice for installing the NVMe SSD to maximize performance?

A technician is building a workstation with a motherboard that has four DIMM slots arranged as two channels (slots 1/2 for channel A, slots 3/4 for channel B). The technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 modules in slots 1 and 2. The system POSTs successfully and shows 16 GB of RAM, but subsequent memory benchmarks indicate that the memory bandwidth is only half of the expected value. Which of the following should the technician do to resolve this issue?

A technician replaced a failed power supply in a desktop computer with a higher wattage unit. The computer now powers on for one second then shuts down. The technician has verified all cable connections are secure and the PSU passes the paperclip test. What should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, and a high-end graphics card, the system powers on but shuts down after about 10 seconds. The CPU fan spins erratically during this time. The technician has verified the CPU is supported and properly seated. The heatsink came with pre-applied thermal paste. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new CPU and motherboard. After installation, the computer powers on but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The technician verifies the monitor works, and the GPU fans spin. The motherboard has no onboard video. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

A technician built a new desktop computer. When the power button is pressed, all fans spin and the case LEDs light up, but the monitor shows 'No Signal'. The technician has verified that the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that fails to POST. The system powers on, fans spin, but no video is output and no beep codes are heard. The technician has already reseated the RAM, GPU, and all power cables. The motherboard has a built-in speaker. The technician then removes all RAM sticks and powers on the system; this time, the system emits a series of long beeps. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician builds a new desktop computer. When powered on, all fans spin and LEDs light up, but the monitor shows 'No Signal'. The monitor is known to work. The motherboard has no onboard video output. The GPU fans spin. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is replacing a failed power supply in a desktop computer. The new power supply is the same form factor and wattage as the original. After installing it, the computer powers on for a few seconds then shuts down. The technician has already verified that all power connectors are securely attached and that the power supply passes the paperclip test when disconnected from the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 RAM modules into a desktop motherboard that has four slots. The system powers on, but the BIOS reports only 8 GB of total memory. The technician has verified that both modules are firmly seated. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is installing a new CPU on a motherboard. The CPU is properly oriented and seated, but the retention arm will not close. What is the MOST likely issue?

A technician is building a new gaming PC. After installing all components, the system powers on but there is no display output. The motherboard has no onboard video, and the dedicated GPU fans spin. The monitor is connected to the GPU and is known to work. What should the technician check FIRST?

A technician builds a new desktop computer. The system powers on, all fans spin, and case LEDs light up, but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The motherboard has no integrated graphics. The dedicated GPU is installed and its fans spin. The monitor is connected to the GPU and is known to work. The technician has already reseated the RAM, GPU, and all power cables. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The system boots into Windows, and the SSD is detected in the BIOS/UEFI. However, the drive does not appear in File Explorer. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve this issue?

A technician is building a new workstation with a high-end graphics card. The power supply is 650W 80+ Gold. The system boots and runs normally for basic tasks, but when the user launches a 3D rendering application, the computer shuts down immediately. The technician checks the GPU temperature and it stays below 70°C. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that will not boot. The motherboard has a 7-segment debug LED that displays code '55'. According to the motherboard manual, this code indicates a memory initialization error. The technician has already reseated the RAM, tested each stick individually in different slots, and replaced the RAM modules with known good ones. The computer still displays the same code. Which of the following components is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is troubleshooting a workstation that emits one long beep followed by two short beeps during POST. The monitor shows no display. The technician has tested the dedicated GPU in another system where it worked, and has reseated all power cables and RAM. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing a SATA SSD, the system powers on but the drive does not appear in the BIOS. The SATA data cable is securely connected to both the drive and the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

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?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing an M.2 NVMe SSD, the system powers on, but the drive does not appear in the BIOS/UEFI boot device list. The technician has verified that the SSD is properly seated in the M.2 slot. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician builds a new desktop computer. When starting the system for the first time, the screen displays a 'CPU Fan Error' message and the system prompts to press F1 to continue. The technician checks the CPU cooler fan and observes that it is spinning. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician replaces a failed power supply in a desktop computer. After connecting all components, the computer does not power on. The technician verifies the power supply's AC cord is plugged in and the wall outlet is working. The motherboard has a standby LED that is lit. When the technician presses the power button, no fans spin and no other LEDs light up. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, and power supply, the system powers on and fans spin, but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The technician has verified the monitor and cable work with another computer. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

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?

A technician builds a desktop computer. The motherboard has four SATA ports and two M.2 slots. The technician installs a 2.5" SATA SSD and an M.2 NVMe SSD. The system boots from the SATA SSD, but the M.2 NVMe SSD is not detected in Windows. In the BIOS, the M.2 slot is enabled. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD in a desktop computer. After installation, the computer boots to the BIOS/UEFI, but the SSD is not listed in the boot device list or among the storage devices. The technician has confirmed the SSD is properly seated in the M.2 slot and that the motherboard supports NVMe drives. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

A technician is building a desktop computer for a graphic designer. The motherboard supports both SATA and M.2 NVMe SSDs. The technician installs a 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD in the primary M.2 slot and a 2TB SATA HDD for additional storage. The computer boots from the NVMe SSD without issue. However, the SATA HDD is not detected in Windows Disk Management or in the BIOS. The technician has verified the SATA cable is connected securely and the HDD is receiving power. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a high-end graphics card that requires an 8-pin PCIe power connector. The existing power supply unit (PSU) only has 6-pin PCIe connectors available. Which adapter should the technician use to safely provide power to the new graphics card?

A technician is installing a 2.5" SATA SSD in a desktop computer that already has an M.2 SATA SSD installed in the primary M.2 slot. After connecting the SATA SSD to a SATA port, the computer boots normally but the new SATA SSD is not detected in Windows. The technician verifies the SATA cable is secure and the drive has power. The motherboard manual shows that the M.2 slot shares bandwidth with SATA port 5. The technician has connected the new drive to SATA port 3. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to resolve the issue?

A technician installs a new CPU in a desktop computer. The motherboard supports both 8th and 9th generation Intel Core processors. After assembly, the system powers on, all fans spin, but the monitor displays 'No Signal' and the motherboard's diagnostic LEDs cycle through and then stay lit on the CPU indicator. The technician has already reseated the CPU and inspected the socket for bent pins, finding none. The RAM and GPU are known to work from another system. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, heat sink, RAM, and power supply, the system powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down. The CPU fan spins during that time. The technician has verified that the power supply connections are secure. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, heat sink, and RAM, the technician powers on the system. The fans spin for a moment, then the system shuts down. The CPU fan does not spin at all. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a desktop computer. The motherboard manual states it supports DDR4-3200 RAM. The technician installs DDR4-2666 RAM. The system boots and operates normally. Which of the following best describes the performance of the installed RAM?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with two additional 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM modules. The motherboard has four DIMM slots and supports dual-channel memory. The technician installs the two new modules in slots 1 and 2 (the two slots closest to the CPU). The existing 8GB DDR4-3200 module remains in slot 3. The system boots and recognizes 24GB of RAM, but the technician notices in the BIOS that the memory is running at 2133MHz instead of 3200MHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a high-performance workstation for video editing. After assembling all components (CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, PSU), the system powers on, but the monitor remains blank. The motherboard has diagnostic LEDs. The CPU LED lights up briefly and then turns off. The BOOT LED stays on. The technician has verified that the monitor and cable are functional. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading the RAM in a desktop computer. The motherboard manual states it supports DDR3-1600 RAM. The technician installs a single 8GB DDR4-2400 module. The computer powers on but emits a series of beeps and does not display any video. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a desktop computer for a user. The power supply unit (PSU) is a 750W unit with a single 12V rail. The graphics card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The PSU has two separate cables, each with one 6+2 connector. The technician instead uses a single cable that has two 6+2 connectors daisy-chained (one at the end, one in the middle) to power the graphics card. The system boots and runs normally under light load, but under heavy gaming load, the system shuts down. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, CPU cooler, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the system powers on. All fans spin, there are no beeps, but the monitor remains dark. The monitor and cable have been verified to work on another computer. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A user’s desktop computer has 16 GB of physical RAM installed (2 x 8 GB modules), but the operating system and BIOS both report only 8 GB as available. The computer powers on normally and displays video. What is the most likely cause of this issue?

A technician is building a high-end workstation for 3D rendering. The chosen CPU uses an LGA 1200 socket and supports dual-channel memory. The technician needs a motherboard that supports the CPU, at least two PCIe x16 slots for dual graphics cards, and should allow memory overclocking for optimal performance. Which of the following motherboard chipsets is the most suitable for this task?

A technician is building a new desktop computer and needs to connect the front-panel power button to the motherboard. Which of the following connectors or headers is designed for this purpose?

A technician is installing a new graphics card into a desktop computer. The graphics card requires a 6-pin PCIe power connector, but the power supply only has a 4-pin Molex peripheral connector available. The technician has access to various adapter cables. Which of the following adapters would allow the technician to power the graphics card? (Select TWO).

A technician installs a new CPU into an existing desktop motherboard that is listed as compatible. When the system is powered on, the fans spin and LEDs light up, but the screen remains black, and there are no POST beeps. The technician has reseated the RAM and GPU, and verified the power supply voltages are within spec. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. The motherboard has two M.2 slots. The technician installs an M.2 NVMe SSD in the first slot, but the system does not recognize it during POST. The BIOS shows the SATA ports are in use. The technician checks the motherboard manual and finds that one of the SATA ports is disabled when the M.2 slot is used. Which of the following is the most likely reason the M.2 SSD is not detected?

A technician is replacing the storage drive in a desktop computer. The motherboard has an M.2 slot that supports both SATA and NVMe interfaces. The technician installs an NVMe M.2 SSD into this slot. Which of the following statements is true?

A technician is replacing a failed hard drive in a server that uses RAID 1 (mirroring). After installing the new drive of the same model and capacity, the RAID controller shows the new drive as 'foreign' and 'unconfigured'. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to integrate the new drive into the existing array?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new high-end graphics card. The power supply unit (PSU) is rated at 500W. The new graphics card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The PSU has one 6+2 pin PCIe connector and one 6-pin PCIe connector. The technician uses a 6-pin to 8-pin power adapter to convert the 6-pin connector to an 8-pin. When the computer is powered on, the fans spin briefly, then the system shuts down immediately. What is the most likely cause?

A technician is upgrading a workstation with two 16 GB DDR4 memory modules. The motherboard supports up to 64 GB and has four slots. The technician installs the modules in slots DIMM_A2 and DIMM_B2 (the recommended slots for dual-channel). When the system boots, the BIOS reports only 16 GB of RAM. The technician has tried reseating the modules and swapping them. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician builds a new workstation with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU (with integrated graphics) and a compatible B550 motherboard. The technician installs 32 GB (2x16 GB) of DDR4-3600 RAM in the recommended slots (A2, B2). When powering on, the system fans spin, but there is no video output. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's HDMI port. The technician tries a different monitor and cable, with no success. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician replaces the CPU and cooler in a desktop computer. After reassembly, the computer boots but shuts down automatically after about two minutes. The technician enters the BIOS and sees the CPU temperature rapidly climbing to 100°C. The CPU cooler fan is spinning at high speed, and the heatsink is firmly attached. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician assembles a new desktop PC using an Intel Core i7-12700K CPU (with integrated graphics), a Z690 motherboard, and a discrete GPU. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's HDMI port. The system powers on, fans spin, but no image appears on the monitor. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's memory from 16GB (2x8GB) to 32GB (2x16GB). The technician purchases two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules from the same manufacturer and installs them in the recommended dual-channel slots (A2, B2). The system boots normally and reports 32GB. However, after running a memory-intensive application, the system crashes with a "MEMORY_MANAGEMENT" error. A memory diagnostic tool reports multiple errors at address ranges. The technician checks the BIOS and sees the memory is running at 3200MHz. The CPU is an Intel Core i7-10700K, which officially supports DDR4-2933. What is the most likely cause of the errors?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that does not power on. The motherboard's power LED is lit. When the power button is pressed, no fans spin and no beeps occur. The technician uses a multimeter to test the power supply. The purple wire (+5VSB) reads 5.1V. The green wire (PS_ON) reads 0V when the power button is pressed. However, all other pins on the main power connector show 0V. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician builds a high-end gaming PC. The motherboard supports PCIe 4.0, the CPU supports it, and the graphics card is PCIe 4.0. The technician installs a new NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot. The system boots, but the SSD is not detected in the BIOS or Windows. The technician has tried reseating the SSD and checking the motherboard manual. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, heatsink, and attaching the CPU fan to the motherboard header, the technician connects all power cables. When the system is powered on, the case fans spin and the motherboard LEDs light up, but no display appears and no beep codes are heard. The technician has already verified the monitor works and the video cable is connected to the dedicated GPU. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is building a new desktop PC. After installing the CPU, RAM, motherboard, and power supply, the technician connects the monitor to the motherboard's video output. When the PC is powered on, the fans spin, but no display appears and no beep codes are heard. The technician has verified that the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician upgrades a desktop computer by installing two new 16GB DDR4 memory modules into the available slots. When the computer is powered on, it emits a series of long beeps and no video is displayed. The technician has verified that the memory is an approved type for the motherboard and that it is installed in the correct slots according to the manual. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC. The motherboard is an LGA1700 socket type, and the technician installs the CPU, heatsink, and RAM. When powering on, the system turns on for a few seconds then shuts off and restarts repeatedly. The technician has verified that the power supply is functional and all power cables are connected. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC with an AMD Ryzen processor on a B550 motherboard. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, graphics card, and connecting all power cables, the technician powers on the system. The case fans spin, the motherboard LEDs light up, but there is no video output and no beep codes. The technician has verified that the monitor works with another PC, the graphics card is properly seated and has its power cables connected, and the RAM is installed in the correct slots. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC with a new high-end graphics card. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The power supply unit (PSU) has two 6+2 pin PCIe cables. After installing the card and connecting both cables, the system powers on, all fans spin, but there is no display output from the graphics card. The technician has verified the card is fully seated in the PCIe slot, the monitor is connected to the card's output, and the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer with an AMD Ryzen 5 CPU on a B550 motherboard. After installing the CPU, heatsink, RAM, and graphics card, and connecting all power cables, the technician powers on the system. The case fans spin, the motherboard LEDs light up, but there is no display output and no beep codes. The motherboard has a set of diagnostic LEDs; the LED labeled 'CPU' remains lit. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician replaces the thermal paste on a desktop CPU because the computer was overheating. After cleaning the old paste from the CPU and heatsink, the technician applies a new pea-sized amount of paste and reinstalls the cooler. When the computer is powered on, the CPU temperature quickly reaches 95°C under light load. Which of the following did the technician MOST likely forget to do?

A technician is building a new gaming PC. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, and graphics card, the system powers on but immediately powers off after about 5 seconds. The technician has verified that the CPU cooler fan is spinning, the power supply is sufficient, and all cables are connected. The motherboard has diagnostic LEDs; none light up before the system shuts down. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading the CPU in a desktop computer. The new CPU is listed as compatible with the motherboard on the manufacturer's website. After installing the CPU, heatsink, and connecting the CPU power cable, the system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but there is no display and no POST beeps. The motherboard has a set of diagnostic LEDs; the CPU LED is stuck on. The technician has verified that the CPU is installed correctly in the socket with no bent pins. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

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?

A technician replaced the thermal paste on a desktop computer's CPU. After reassembling the system and powering it on, the computer runs for about 10 seconds and then shuts off. The technician touches the CPU heatsink and finds it is cool to the touch. The CPU fan is spinning. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the shutdown?

A technician is installing a new CPU on a compatible motherboard. After placing the CPU in the socket, the technician installs the heatsink and fan, connects the fan header to the motherboard, and powers on the system. The system powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but immediately shuts down after about 3 seconds. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician installs a new SATA SSD into a desktop computer. After connecting the data and power cables, the computer powers on and boots into the operating system from the existing hard drive. However, the new SSD is not detected in File Explorer or Disk Management. The technician has verified that the SATA cable is securely connected and that the power supply is providing power (the SSD does not spin, but it is an SSD). Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The motherboard has two M.2 slots: M.2_1 supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA modes, and M.2_2 supports PCIe 3.0 x2 and SATA modes. The technician inserts the NVMe SSD into the M.2_2 slot. The computer boots from the existing SATA SSD, but the new NVMe drive is not visible in Disk Management. The BIOS shows that M.2_2 is enabled and set to 'Auto' mode. The technician consults the motherboard manual and discovers that when M.2_2 is used in PCIe mode, SATA port 5 (SATA5) is disabled. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

A technician is assembling a new custom workstation. After installing the motherboard, CPU, cooler, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the system powers on when the power button is pressed. The case fans spin, the CPU cooler fan spins, and LEDs on the motherboard light up. However, there is no display, and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has already tried reseating the RAM in different slots and using a single stick, but the issue persists. The CPU and motherboard are both new and listed as compatible. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is installing additional RAM into a desktop computer. The motherboard supports DDR4-3200 up to 64GB. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 sticks into the correct slots (A2 and B2) as per the motherboard manual. Upon powering on, the computer powers on with fans spinning but there is no display and no POST beeps. The technician removes the new RAM and reinstalls the original RAM (two 8GB sticks), and the computer boots normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a new computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the system powers on (fans spin, power LED on) but there is no display on the monitor. The monitor is connected to the motherboard's integrated video port using an HDMI cable. The motherboard's diagnostic LEDs show a solid white light on the VGA LED. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

A technician is assembling a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B550 motherboard. After installing the CPU, two DDR4-3600 RAM sticks in slots A2 and B2 (as per manual), and a dedicated GPU, the system powers on but there is no display. The motherboard's CPU debug LED remains lit. The technician has reseated the CPU and checked for bent pins (none found). The PSU is a known-good 650W unit and all fans spin. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop with a Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and an ASUS B550 motherboard. After installing two 16GB DDR4-3600 sticks in the slots color-coded as 'A1' and 'A2' (both blue slots), the system powers on but shows no display. The motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has reseated the RAM and tested each stick individually in the A2 slot, but the problem persists. The CPU and motherboard are listed as compatible on the manufacturer's website. Which of the following should the technician try NEXT?

A technician is building a custom gaming PC. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and a dedicated graphics card, the technician connects all power supply cables. The system powers on (fans spin, lights come on) but there is no display on the monitor, and no POST beeps are heard. The technician verifies that the monitor is functional and correctly connected to the graphics card's display port. The motherboard's diagnostic LEDs show a solid red CPU LED. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is building a new gaming PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and a B550 motherboard. The technician installs two 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM modules into the two blue slots (A1 and A2) as labeled on the motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display and the motherboard's DRAM_LED remains lit. The technician has previously verified that the RAM modules are compatible with the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the issue?

A technician is building a custom workstation for 3D rendering. The components include an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU, a B550 motherboard (box states 'AMD Ryzen 3000 desktop ready'), two 16GB DDR4-3600 modules (on the QVL), and a dedicated GPU. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but the motherboard’s CPU debug LED remains lit and there is no display. The technician has reseated the CPU and found no bent pins. The RAM and GPU have been verified working in another system. The PSU is a known-good 750W unit. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD in a desktop computer that previously only had a SATA HDD and boots from it. After installation, the BIOS does not list the M.2 drive in the storage devices or boot menu. The technician has already reseated the M.2 drive. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, heatsink, RAM, and power supply, the computer powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down immediately. The technician has checked all power connections and they are secure. What is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, RAM, motherboard, and power supply, the system powers on for approximately 3 seconds and then shuts off completely. The CPU fan begins to spin and then stops along with the system. The technician rechecks all connections and they appear secure. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer by installing a new high-end graphics card that requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The existing power supply unit (PSU) is a 500W unit with only one 8-pin connector. The technician uses a Y-splitter adapter to power both connectors on the GPU from the single 8-pin rail. After powering on, the computer boots but the display remains blank, and the GPU's fans do not spin. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is replacing a failed power supply in a desktop computer. After installing the new power supply unit (PSU), the computer powers on for a few seconds and then shuts down completely. The technician has verified all cable connections are secure. The motherboard requires an 8-pin CPU power connector and a 24-pin main connector. The new PSU provides a 4+4 pin CPU cable and a 20+4 pin main cable. The technician connected the 4+4 pin cable by combining the two halves and inserting them into the motherboard's 8-pin CPU power socket. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B450 chipset motherboard. The system powers on, case fans spin, and the CPU fan spins, but there is no display output and no POST beeps. The motherboard's CPU debug LED remains lit. The technician has already reseated the CPU (no bent pins), verified the RAM is compatible and seated correctly, and tested the power supply with a multimeter (voltages within spec). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a new desktop computer using an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B450 chipset motherboard. After assembling all components, the system powers on. The case fans and CPU fan spin, but there is no display output. The motherboard's CPU debug LED remains lit. The technician has already reseated the CPU (no bent pins), verified the RAM is seated correctly, and tested the power supply with a multimeter (voltages within specification). The GPU works in another system. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, heatsink, RAM, and power supply, the technician presses the power button but nothing happens. No lights turn on, no fans spin. The power supply is brand new and known to be compatible. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician is building a high-performance workstation for video editing. The system uses an Intel Core i9-13900K CPU, a Z790 motherboard, and 64GB DDR5 RAM. After assembly, the system powers on, all fans spin, but there is no POST and no display output. The motherboard's CPU debug LED is lit. The technician has reseated the CPU and verified no bent pins, and tested the power supply with a multimeter (voltages within spec). The RAM is listed on the motherboard's QVL. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new dedicated graphics card. After installation, the computer powers on, the GPU fans spin, but the monitor displays a 'No Signal' message. The monitor is known to be working, and the technician has confirmed the card is properly seated in the PCIe x16 slot and the PCIe power connectors are securely attached. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician installs a new high-end graphics card into a desktop computer. The card requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The existing power supply unit (PSU) has two 6+2-pin PCIe cables, both of which are connected properly. After installation, the computer powers on, all fans spin (including the GPU fans), but the monitor shows a 'No Signal' message. The technician has verified that the card is seated fully in the PCIe x16 slot, the monitor is connected to the GPU's display output, and the monitor works with another computer. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is installing a new SATA SSD into a desktop computer. After connecting the SATA data cable and SATA power cable, the technician powers on the system. The system boots normally from the existing OS drive, but the new SSD is not listed in the BIOS boot menu or in the operating system's Disk Management utility. The technician has verified that the SATA data and power cables are securely connected and that the SSD is known to work from another system. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician upgrades the RAM in a desktop computer from 4 GB to 8 GB by installing a new 8 GB stick. After installation, the system boots normally, but the operating system reports only 4 GB of RAM. The technician has reseated the RAM stick multiple times and verified it is fully inserted. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer's power supply to support a new graphics card. The new PSU has a 24-pin main connector and two 8-pin PCIe power cables. However, the motherboard requires an 8-pin CPU power connector, and the PSU does not have any 4+4 pin or 8-pin CPU cable. Which of the following is the BEST solution?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into an appropriate M.2 slot on a desktop motherboard. After booting the system, the BIOS does not detect the SSD. The SSD is known to work in another computer. The technician has verified the SSD is fully inserted and secured with the mounting screw. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After connecting all components, the system powers on and the CPU fan spins, but none of the case fans spin. The technician has verified that the case fans are connected to the motherboard's 4-pin fan headers. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the case fans not spinning?

A technician is installing additional RAM into a desktop computer. After installation, the computer powers on but emits a series of long beeps and does not display any video. The technician verifies that the new RAM module is the correct type (DDR4) for the motherboard and that it is listed on the motherboard's QVL. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the beep code?

A technician builds a high-performance workstation for video editing. The motherboard supports DDR4 RAM up to 3200 MHz, and the CPU's official memory controller supports DDR4 up to 2933 MHz. The technician installs two 16 GB sticks rated at 3600 MHz. The system boots, but the memory speed is only 2133 MHz. The technician has enabled XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) in the BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason the RAM is not running at its rated speed?

A technician installs a new CPU and cooler in a desktop computer. After powering on, the system starts but shuts down abruptly after about 10 seconds. The technician has verified that the CPU cooler fan is spinning and the CPU is correctly seated in the socket. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop PC from components. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and power supply, the technician needs to connect the front panel power switch to the motherboard. Which of the following motherboard headers should the technician connect the power switch cable to?

A technician is building a new PC using an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and an Asus TUF GAMING B550-PLUS motherboard. When powering on, the motherboard's Q-LED indicator shows a solid red light for the CPU. The CPU fan spins, and all other fans and LEDs appear normal. The technician has carefully reseated the CPU and verified there are no bent pins. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the CPU error light?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into an M.2 slot on a desktop motherboard. The drive is detected in the BIOS, but it does not appear in Windows Disk Management. Which of the following is the MOST likely first step to make the drive usable?

A technician installs a new M.2 SATA SSD into a desktop motherboard. The SSD is not detected in the BIOS. The technician has verified that the SSD is compatible with the motherboard and that it is fully seated. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician builds a PC with a CPU that supports PCIe 4.0, a motherboard with PCIe 4.0-capable slots, and a PCIe 4.0 GPU. After installation, the GPU is running at PCIe 3.0 speeds according to GPU-Z. The technician has updated the motherboard BIOS to the latest version and installed the latest chipset drivers. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the GPU not running at PCIe 4.0?

A technician builds a new PC and installs two 8GB DDR4 RAM modules from the same kit into the appropriate slots on the motherboard. The system boots and the BIOS reports only 8GB of total memory. The technician has reseated the modules and verified they are fully inserted. The motherboard manual indicates that the slots used are correct for dual-channel configuration. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician installs two 8GB DDR4 RAM modules into a desktop motherboard. The system powers on, but the monitor remains black and there are no beep codes from the speaker. The technician has verified that the RAM modules are securely seated and that both the CPU and GPU fans are spinning. The motherboard is known to work with the same RAM model. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC with a new graphics card that requires two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The existing power supply unit (PSU) has two 6+2 pin PCIe cables. The technician connects both 6-pin connectors from the cables to the card. The system powers on, but the graphics card is not detected, and its fans spin briefly then stop. The technician has verified that the card is properly seated in the PCIe slot and that the PSU is rated for 500W, which should be sufficient for the system. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is upgrading a desktop computer with a new CPU. The motherboard uses an LGA1700 socket, and the technician installs an Intel Core i7-12700K CPU correctly, lowering the retention arm without force. The system powers on, the fans spin, but the monitor remains black and there are no POST beeps. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a new PC using an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and an Asus TUF GAMING B550-PLUS motherboard. After installing all components, the system powers on, the CPU and GPU fans spin, but the monitor remains black and there are no POST beeps. The technician has already reseated the RAM and GPU, and verified that the 8-pin EPS12V power connector is connected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician installs two 16GB DDR4 RAM modules into a desktop motherboard. The motherboard manual specifies to use slots A2 and B2 for dual-channel. The technician installs the modules in slots A2 and B2. The system boots, but the BIOS reports only 16GB of total memory. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

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?

A technician is building a new desktop PC. After installing the CPU, cooler, RAM, and graphics card, the technician powers on the system. The fans spin, but the monitor remains black and the computer emits a series of short, repeated beeps. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is rebuilding a desktop PC after a motherboard failure. The technician installs a new motherboard that supports DDR4-3200, an Intel Core i5-11400 CPU, and 2x8GB of DDR4-3200 RAM. The system powers on for about 10 seconds, then shuts down and immediately restarts, repeating this cycle indefinitely. The technician has verified that the CPU cooler is properly mounted with thermal paste and that the RAM is fully seated in the correct slots (A2 and B2). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and power supply, the technician connects the main 24-pin ATX power cable and the 8-pin EPS12V CPU power cable. When the power button is pressed, the system fans spin briefly and then stop immediately. The motherboard power LED does not light up. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading the CPU in a desktop computer from an older generation to a newer one. The motherboard is several years old but the manufacturer's website indicates it supports the new CPU with a BIOS update. The technician installs the new CPU, applies thermal paste, attaches the cooler, and powers on the system. The system fans spin, but the monitor remains black and the motherboard's CPU diagnostic LED glows solid red. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that emits three short beeps and then repeats after the power button is pressed. The monitor remains black and the system does not display any video. The motherboard uses an AMI BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that fails to boot with the error 'Bootmgr is missing.' The technician boots from a Windows installation media and runs bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot, which complete successfully. After restarting, the error persists. The hard drive is detected in BIOS and appears in the boot order. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and graphics card, the technician connects the 24-pin main power cable and all other necessary cables. When the power button is pressed, the fans spin for about one second and then stop. The motherboard's power LED does not illuminate. The technician uses a multimeter and confirms the power supply outputs 12V, 5V, and 3.3V on the appropriate pins of the 24-pin connector. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is building a desktop PC. After installing the motherboard, CPU, and RAM, the technician attempts to power on the system. The fans spin for a second and then stop. The motherboard's power LED does not light up. The technician has confirmed the power supply is functional by testing with a multimeter. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop PC that emits one long beep followed by three short beeps immediately after pressing the power button. The system does not display any video. The motherboard uses an AMI BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the beep code?

A technician installs a new M.2 SSD into a desktop computer. The motherboard has two M.2 slots: one labeled M.2_1 (PCIe only) and one labeled M.2_2 (PCIe/SATA). The technician places the SSD into the M.2_1 slot, but the drive is not detected in the BIOS. The SSD is a M.2 SATA drive. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for the detection failure?

A technician is upgrading a workstation by adding a second high-end graphics card for a rendering application. After installation, the system powers on but displays no video output from either card. Both cards were working previously in other systems. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a PC for a user who needs to run multiple virtual machines. The motherboard supports a maximum of 32GB of RAM across 4 DIMM slots. Currently, two 8GB modules are installed. The user requires at least 32GB of RAM total, and the technician wants to reuse the existing modules. Which of the following is the MOST cost-effective upgrade?

A technician is upgrading the memory in a desktop computer that has a motherboard supporting DDR4 RAM with a maximum speed of 3200MHz. The technician installs two 8GB modules rated at 3600MHz. What will be the effective speed of the memory?

A technician is building a high-performance workstation for data analysis. The user requires error-correcting code (ECC) memory for data integrity. The technician selects an Intel Xeon processor and a motherboard with a chipset that supports registered memory. Which type of RAM should the technician install?

A technician upgrades the CPU in a desktop computer and installs a new aftermarket cooler. After reassembly, the computer powers on but shuts down after about one minute. The technician enters the BIOS and sees the CPU temperature is 95°C and rising. The case fans are spinning normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

An administrator is configuring a file server with three identical hard drives. The server requires fault tolerance; it must be able to survive the failure of any one drive without data loss. Additionally, the configuration should maximize usable storage space. Which RAID level should the administrator implement?

A technician is building a new desktop computer. When power is applied, the fans spin, the drives spin up, but the monitor shows no signal and no beep codes are heard. The technician verifies that the power supply is adequate for the components. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a workstation using an Intel LGA1151 motherboard that supports 9th generation processors. The technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into the M.2 slot labeled 'M2A_SATA'. After installation, the SSD is detected in the BIOS but the system fails to boot from it. The SSD is confirmed to be functional in another system. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for the boot failure?

A technician is building a database server that requires fast random read/write performance for small data blocks. Which of the following storage devices will BEST meet this requirement?

A technician is upgrading a workstation used for graphic design. The user wants to improve application load times and file transfer speeds for large design files. The current system has a single 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive. The motherboard has an available M.2 slot that supports PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA modes, and two available SATA III ports. Which upgrade will provide the MOST noticeable performance improvement?

A technician is building a new desktop computer for a graphic designer who works with large files. The motherboard has an M.2 slot that supports PCIe 3.0 x4. Which of the following storage devices will provide the BEST performance for this user?

A technician is building a new PC for a video editor. The motherboard has four DIMM slots, labeled A1, A2, B1, and B2, and supports dual-channel memory. The technician installs two identical 8 GB DDR4 modules. Which of the following slot configurations will provide the BEST memory performance?

A technician installs two 8 GB DDR4-2666 memory modules into a desktop motherboard that supports DDR4-3200. The system powers on and the BIOS detects 16 GB of RAM. What speed will the memory run at?

A technician is replacing the central processing unit (CPU) on a motherboard that features an LGA1200 socket. Which of the following CPU families is MOST likely compatible with this socket?

A technician is replacing a CPU on a desktop motherboard. After carefully installing the new CPU and reattaching the heatsink, the technician powers on the system. After a few minutes, the system shuts down due to overheating. The technician verifies that the CPU fan is spinning and the heatsink is firmly attached. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the overheating?

A technician is assembling a new workstation. The motherboard supports DDR4 memory and has four DIMM slots: A1, A2, B1, B2. The technician installs two 16 GB DDR4-3200 modules. After powering on, the system detects 32 GB of RAM but reports a speed of 2133 MHz. The technician confirms the modules are rated for 3200 MHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely reason for the lower speed?

A technician is building a PC for a stock trader who needs to connect four external monitors. The motherboard has one HDMI port and one DisplayPort. Which of the following components should the technician add to support all four monitors?

A technician upgrades a workstation's memory. The motherboard has four DIMM slots and supports dual-channel DDR4 memory. Two 8 GB DDR4-3200 modules are installed in slots A1 and B1. The system boots, detects 16 GB of RAM, but reports the memory speed at 2133 MHz. Which step should the technician take to achieve the rated speed of 3200 MHz?

A technician is installing a new power supply unit (PSU) into a desktop computer. The PSU has a 4+4 pin CPU power connector, but the motherboard only has a 4-pin CPU power header. Which of the following steps should the technician take to properly connect the CPU power?

A technician is building a PC for a video editor. The motherboard has one PCIe x16 slot and one PCIe x4 slot. The technician installs a high-end graphics card in the x16 slot. The system powers on but displays no video output. The graphics card's fans spin, and the LED on the card lights up. Which of the following should the technician check FIRST?

A technician builds a workstation with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and a B550 chipset motherboard. The technician installs a compatible NVMe M.2 SSD into the first M.2 slot (M.2_1). After powering on, the system boots from the NVMe drive, but two SATA ports (SATA 5 and SATA 6) are not detecting any drives. The technician confirms the SATA drives are powered and the cables are connected securely. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a high-performance workstation for 3D rendering. The motherboard supports PCIe 4.0 and has three PCIe x16 slots. The technician installs two identical graphics cards for SLI. After installing the cards and connecting the SLI bridge, the system boots but only one card is detected. Both cards have power connected. The technician checks BIOS settings and confirms the slots are set to x16 mode. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a workstation and installs an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU (which does not have an integrated GPU) onto an ASUS B550 motherboard that has an HDMI port. The technician connects a monitor to the motherboard's HDMI port, but the monitor displays 'No Signal'. The system powers on, fans spin, and RAM is installed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A user recently purchased a new desktop computer that does not have any USB-C ports. The user wants to add USB-C connectivity to charge devices and transfer data. Which of the following expansion cards should the technician install?

A technician is building a workstation and installs two 16 GB DDR4-3200 memory modules into a motherboard with four DIMM slots: A1, A2, B1, B2. The modules are installed in slots A1 and B2. After powering on, the system detects only 16 GB of RAM. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

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?

A technician is upgrading a workstation used for video editing. The current configuration includes an M.2 SATA SSD in the only M.2 slot on the motherboard, which supports both SATA and PCIe NVMe devices. The user wants the fastest possible storage performance for large video files. Which of the following upgrades will provide the GREATEST performance improvement without replacing the motherboard?

A technician is installing two 8 GB DDR4-3200 memory modules into a desktop motherboard that has four DIMM slots: A1, A2, B1, B2. The technician installs the modules in slots A1 and A2. When the system boots, it only detects 8 GB of RAM. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is building a desktop PC and installs two 8GB DDR4-3200 memory modules into a motherboard with four DIMM slots. The motherboard manual states that for dual-channel configuration, modules should be installed in slots A2 and B2 (or A1 and B1). The technician installs both modules in slots A1 and A2. When the system boots, it only detects 8GB of RAM. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician replaced the power supply unit (PSU) in a desktop PC. After installation, the system does not power on at all—no fans spin and no LEDs light up. The technician confirms that the PSU is plugged into a known-good wall outlet and the PSU's power switch is in the 'ON' position. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician installs a new SATA SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is not detected in the BIOS or the operating system. The technician has confirmed that the SATA data cable and power cable are securely connected to both the drive and the motherboard/PSU. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer that previously used only SATA drives. After physically installing the drive, the BIOS does not detect the new M.2 SSD. The technician confirms the M.2 slot on the motherboard supports NVMe and the drive is properly seated. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that powers on (fans spin, LEDs light) but the monitor displays 'No Signal.' The technician has already verified the monitor is functional by testing it with another computer, and the video cable is securely connected to both the computer and monitor. The computer has both an integrated GPU on the motherboard and a discrete graphics card installed. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician upgrades a desktop computer by installing a new M.2 NVMe SSD. The computer previously booted from a SATA SSD connected to port 0. After the installation, the computer fails to boot and enters the BIOS setup utility. The BIOS detects both the SATA SSD and the M.2 NVMe drive. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST to resolve the boot issue?

A technician has assembled a new desktop computer. When the power button on the case is pressed, the system does not power on at all—no fans spin and no LEDs light up. The technician has verified that the power supply unit (PSU) is connected to the motherboard and that the PSU switch is in the ON position. Using a multimeter, the technician tests the PSU and confirms that it outputs the correct voltages on the 24-pin and CPU power connectors when the power button is pressed. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC. The motherboard has integrated graphics and a discrete PCIe graphics card is installed. The monitor is connected to the discrete graphics card. When powered on, the system fans spin and the power LED lights, but there is no video output and no POST beep codes. Which of the following should the technician do FIRST?

A technician is building a new desktop PC and installs a single 16GB DDR4-3200 memory module into slot A1. The system boots and displays 16GB. The technician then adds a second identical 16GB module into slot B1. The system now only shows 16GB total. What is the most likely reason?

A technician is building a video editing workstation. The motherboard supports PCIe 4.0, and the installed M.2 NVMe SSD is rated for PCIe 4.0 x4 speeds. The system boots and runs, but benchmarking the SSD shows it only achieves about half of its expected sequential read/write speeds. The technician confirms the SSD is correctly installed in the M.2 slot labeled for PCIe 4.0. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading a gaming desktop with a new high-end graphics card that requires additional power. After installing the card and connecting the PCIe power cables from the 500W power supply, the system powers on but there is no display output when the monitor is connected to the graphics card. However, when the monitor is connected to the motherboard's integrated graphics port, the system boots normally. The technician has verified that the graphics card is properly seated and the PCIe power connectors are fully inserted. What is the MOST likely cause of this issue?

A technician installs a second monitor on a desktop PC. Both monitors are connected to the same discrete GPU. The first monitor works correctly, but the second monitor shows 'No Signal'. The technician verifies the second monitor and its cable are functional by testing them on the first monitor's port. The GPU has two HDMI ports. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop PC. The technician needs to connect the power button, reset button, HDD LED, and power LED from the case to the motherboard. Which of the following should the technician consult for the correct pin layout?

A technician is installing a new CPU on a motherboard that uses an LGA 1151 socket. After carefully placing the CPU into the socket, the technician tries to lower the retention arm but it resists and will not close fully. The technician has not applied any force yet. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, thermal paste, and heatsink, the technician connects all power cables and turns on the system. The fans spin, but the system shuts down after about 10 seconds. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC with a new SATA SSD. After installing the SSD and connecting the SATA data cable to the motherboard and the power cable from the PSU, the system boots but the SSD is not detected in the BIOS. The technician has verified the SATA cable is firmly connected at both ends and the drive is listed in the motherboard's manual as compatible. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician builds a new desktop computer. After pressing the power button, the system powers on for about 5 seconds, then shuts down, and then immediately attempts to power on again, repeating the cycle. The technician has verified that all power connections are secure and has reseated the CPU and RAM. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is upgrading a desktop PC by adding two additional 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM sticks to an existing pair of 8GB DDR4-3200 sticks. After installation, the system powers on but does not POST; the fans spin and the power LED is on, but no display appears. The technician has reseated all four sticks and verified they are fully clicked into place. The original two sticks alone allow the system to boot normally. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician is assembling a new desktop computer. After installing the CPU, heatsink, RAM, and inserting the motherboard into the case, the technician connects all power cables and presses the power button. The system powers on for about five seconds, then shuts down, then immediately attempts to power on again, repeating this cycle. The technician has verified that the CPU cooler is properly mounted and thermal paste is correctly applied. Which of the following should the technician check NEXT?

A technician is building a new gaming PC. The motherboard supports dual-channel memory and has four DIMM slots (A1, A2, B1, B2). The technician installs two 8GB DDR4-3200 memory modules into slots A1 and A2 (both on the same channel). The system boots and the BIOS reports 16GB of RAM, but the memory speed shows 2133 MHz instead of the rated 3200 MHz. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is detected in the system BIOS, but it does not appear in Windows Disk Management. The technician has verified that the correct driver is installed and the SATA controller mode is set to AHCI. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT to make the drive available in Windows?

A technician is replacing the power supply unit in a desktop computer. The new PSU is correctly rated for the system and the technician connects the 24-pin main motherboard connector and the 4+4 pin CPU power connector. When the power button is pressed, the system does not power on; no fans spin and no LEDs light up. The technician verifies that the PSU's power switch is on and that the wall outlet is functional. Using a multimeter, the technician confirms that the PSU outputs correct voltages on the 24-pin connector when the paperclip test is performed. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is detected in the system BIOS, but it does not appear in Windows Disk Management. The technician checks Device Manager and sees the drive listed under 'Other devices' with a yellow exclamation mark. Which of the following should the technician do NEXT?

A technician builds a new desktop computer and installs a high-end dedicated graphics card. The system boots into Windows, but the display resolution is locked at 800x600 and the option to change it is grayed out. In Device Manager, the graphics card is listed under 'Other devices' with a yellow exclamation mark. Which of the following steps should the technician perform FIRST?

A technician installs a new M.2 NVMe SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is detected in the system BIOS, but it does not appear in Windows File Explorer or Disk Management. The technician checks Device Manager and sees the drive listed under 'Other devices' with a yellow exclamation mark. Which of the following steps should the technician perform NEXT to make the drive available in Windows?

A user's laptop was accidentally knocked off a desk. The laptop powers on and boots to Windows, but the built-in LCD display shows a distorted image with vertical lines and flickering colors. The technician connects an external monitor via HDMI, and the image displays correctly without any distortion. Which of the following components is MOST likely damaged?

A technician assembles a new desktop computer using a third-party CPU cooler. After powering on, the CPU temperature rapidly rises to 95°C within a few seconds, and the CPU fan spins at maximum speed. The technician verifies that the thermal paste is applied correctly and that the CPU fan is connected to the CPU_FAN header. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the high temperature?

A technician is troubleshooting a desktop computer that boots normally and runs for approximately five minutes before the screen goes blank and the system becomes unresponsive. The technician has replaced the power supply, RAM, and graphics card, but the issue persists. The CPU fan is spinning, and the CPU temperature reads 45°C in the BIOS. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the issue?

A technician installs a new SATA SSD into a desktop computer. The drive is not detected in the BIOS. The technician verifies that the SATA power cable is connected and the SATA data cable is properly seated on both the drive and the motherboard. The drive spins up (vibration is felt). Which of the following is the MOST likely cause of the drive not being detected?

A technician is building a new gaming PC. After installing the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and power supply, the technician connects the case front panel connectors (power switch, reset switch, HDD LED, power LED) to the motherboard header. When the power button is pressed, the system powers on for a split second and then immediately shuts down. The CPU fan twitches briefly. The technician has verified that the motherboard is properly seated on standoffs and that the 24-pin and 8-pin CPU power connectors are firmly connected. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

A desktop powers on but repeatedly shuts down under load. The CPU temperature rises quickly even after dust is removed from the case. What should the technician inspect next?

A technician installs an NVMe SSD in a desktop, but the drive is not detected. The motherboard manual states that one M.2 slot supports SATA only. What should the technician do?