FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A technician is installing a new graphics card and needs to connect it to the motherboard. Which type of slot is typically used for a dedicated GPU?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests basic hardware component-to-slot mapping, and candidates confuse storage slots (M.2, SATA) with expansion slots (PCIe), or mistakenly associate DIMM slots with add-in cards.
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
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PCIe slot
Dedicated graphics cards connect to the motherboard via a PCI Express (PCIe) slot, which provides the high-bandwidth serial interface needed for GPU data transfer. PCIe x16 slots are the standard for discrete GPUs, offering the throughput required for rendering and compute workloads. No other listed slot type is designed for a GPU.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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DIMM slot
Why it's wrong here
DIMM slots accept memory modules, not expansion cards, so a graphics card cannot physically seat or communicate there. It is tempting because DIMM slots also sit on the motherboard and handle high-bandwidth data, but they serve RAM exclusively. A PCIe x16 slot is the correct interface for a dedicated GPU.
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M.2 slot
Why it's wrong here
M.2 hosts NVMe storage and some wireless cards, not a dedicated GPU. It would be the right answer when installing an SSD or Wi-Fi module, where the slot's PCIe lanes serve storage or networking rather than graphics output.
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SATA port
Why it's wrong here
SATA connects drives, carrying no PCIe lanes for graphics. It would be correct when attaching a hard disk or optical drive, where the storage controller's interface, not the GPU's PCIe bus, is what the device requires.
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PCIe slot
Why this is correct
Dedicated graphics cards interface via PCI Express, the serial expansion bus providing the high bandwidth and power delivery a GPU requires. PCIe x16 slots are the standard motherboard connection, satisfying the requirement to link the new graphics card to the motherboard.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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