FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
A technician must install an operating system on a workstation that will run a virtual machine with direct access to a graphics card for CAD rendering. The physical CPU and motherboard support the required feature. Which setting must be enabled in the UEFI/BIOS for the virtual machine to use the GPU directly?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming any virtualization-related firmware toggle enables hardware passthrough, when only IOMMU provides the DMA remapping required.
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
✓
IOMMU (VT-d/AMD-Vi)
Direct device assignment to a virtual machine requires the hypervisor to isolate and remap DMA transactions, which is the function of the IOMMU. Intel markets this as VT-d and AMD as AMD-Vi, and both must be enabled in firmware alongside CPU virtualization extensions. Secure Boot, TPM, and XMP serve security, cryptographic, and memory performance roles that do not enable GPU passthrough.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Secure Boot
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot verifies the digital signature of bootloaders and drivers to prevent unauthorized code from loading at startup. It does not provide a mechanism for passing a physical GPU through to a virtual machine. Enabling it is a security measure, not a virtualization enabler, so it does not satisfy the requirement.
- ✗
XMP
Why it's wrong here
Extreme Memory Profile is an overclocking profile that lets memory run above standard JEDEC speeds. It affects system performance and stability but is unrelated to virtualization or device assignment. Enabling XMP would not allow a virtual machine to access the physical graphics card directly.
- ✗
TPM
Why it's wrong here
A Trusted Platform Module stores cryptographic keys and supports measured boot and disk encryption. It has no role in assigning PCIe devices to virtual machines. While TPM is often required for Windows 11 installation, it does not enable GPU passthrough, so enabling it would not meet the CAD rendering requirement.
- ✓
IOMMU (VT-d/AMD-Vi)
Why this is correct
IOMMU, marketed as VT-d on Intel and AMD-Vi on AMD, remaps device memory accesses so a virtual machine can be granted direct control of a physical PCIe device such as a GPU. Without it, the hypervisor cannot safely isolate and assign the card. Enabling IOMMU in firmware is the prerequisite for GPU passthrough.
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JA
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
This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.