FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
A user has a desktop computer with a SATA SSD and wants to upgrade to an NVMe M.2 SSD. The motherboard has an M.2 slot. What must the user verify before purchasing the NVMe drive?
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
✓
The M.2 slot supports NVMe (PCIe).
NVMe M.2 drives use the PCIe interface and require a motherboard that supports NVMe via M.2 slot with PCIe lanes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The power supply has enough wattage.
Why it's wrong here
NVMe drives draw power through the M.2 slot from the motherboard, so PSU wattage is not the limiting factor. It is tempting because storage upgrades are often assumed to stress the PSU, but the real check is whether the M.2 slot supports PCIe/NVMe rather than SATA-only operation.
- ✓
The M.2 slot supports NVMe (PCIe).
Why this is correct
An M.2 slot may be wired for SATA only, in which case an NVMe drive will not work. The slot must expose PCI Express lanes to support NVMe, so confirming PCIe support prevents buying an incompatible drive.
- ✗
The operating system is 64-bit.
Why it's wrong here
A 64-bit OS is irrelevant to whether an M.2 slot supports NVMe; the slot's keying and PCIe lane support determine compatibility. It is tempting because NVMe drivers exist only in 64-bit Windows, but the decisive check is whether the M.2 slot offers PCIe rather than SATA signalling.
- ✗
The SATA cable is compatible.
Why it's wrong here
NVMe drives use the PCIe bus through the M.2 slot and require no SATA data cable at all, so cable compatibility is irrelevant to this upgrade. It is tempting because SATA SSDs do rely on a SATA data connection, and checking cabling is sensible when swapping that older drive type.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.