FC0-U71 Infrastructure Practice Question
A user wants to connect an external storage drive to a laptop for fast file transfers. The laptop has USB-A, USB-C, and Thunderbolt 3 ports. Which connection provides the fastest theoretical data transfer speed?
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the assumption that USB-C always means the fastest speed, when in fact USB-C is just a connector — the underlying protocol (USB 3.1 vs Thunderbolt 3) determines the actual bandwidth.
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
✓
Thunderbolt 3
Thunderbolt 3 offers a theoretical bandwidth of 40 Gbps, far exceeding USB-A 2.0 (480 Mbps), USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbps), and USB-C 3.1 (10 Gbps). For an external storage drive, Thunderbolt 3 therefore provides the fastest theoretical transfer rate among the listed options, making it the correct choice.
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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USB-A 2.0
Why it's wrong here
USB-A 2.0 caps at 480 Mbps, far below Thunderbolt 3's 40 Gbps or USB-C's higher rates, so it cannot deliver the fast transfers sought. It is tempting because USB-A remains ubiquitous for legacy peripherals, and would suffice for keyboards or mice where bandwidth is irrelevant.
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USB-A 3.0
Why it's wrong here
USB-A 3.0 caps at 5 Gbps, far below Thunderbolt 3's 40 Gbps. It is tempting because USB-A is ubiquitous and backward compatible, making it the default choice for external drives, but the scenario asks for the fastest theoretical link available.
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USB-C 3.1
Why it's wrong here
USB-C 3.1 delivers up to 10 Gbps, whereas Thunderbolt 3 reaches 40 Gbps over the same connector. USB-C is tempting because the physical port matches, but the interface's signalling rate, not the connector shape, determines the ceiling.
- ✓
Thunderbolt 3
Why this is correct
Thunderbolt 3 provides 40Gbps over USB-C, exceeding USB 3.2 Gen 2's 10Gbps and far surpassing USB-A implementations. This satisfies the stem's fastest-transfer constraint, since the drive's own interface, not the port alone, ultimately limits real-world throughput.
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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.