- A
The SATA 3 Gb/s drives are bottlenecking the SATA 6 Gb/s controller.
Why wrong: A speed mismatch would limit throughput but not cause system freezes; it would just be slower.
- B
The drives are overheating due to continuous I/O.
RAID 5 with heavy I/O generates heat; if cooling is inadequate, drives can overheat and cause the system to freeze or throttle.
- C
The RAID controller's firmware is outdated.
Why wrong: Outdated firmware might cause bugs, but the most direct cause of freezing during heavy I/O is thermal throttling.
- D
The stripe size is set too small.
Why wrong: Stripe size affects performance but does not typically cause system freezes; it would just result in slower I/O.
Question 973 of 1,020
RAID 5 Freezes During Heavy I/O: Thermal Throttling
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of storage and raid troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is configuring a RAID 5 array with three 1 TB HDDs on a motherboard RAID controller. After setup, the array works but the system occasionally freezes during heavy disk I/O. The drives are all SATA 3 Gb/s and the motherboard supports SATA 6 Gb/s. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the drives are overheating due to continuous I/O, causing the system to freeze. When a RAID 5 array experiences heavy disk I/O—such as during parity calculations or rebuilds—the sustained read/write activity generates significant heat, which can exceed the thermal threshold of the hard drives. This triggers thermal throttling, where the drives temporarily halt operations to cool down, or the controller locks up, resulting in the observed freezes. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this question tests your understanding of thermal management in storage subsystems, often as a trap where test-takers mistakenly blame SATA speed mismatches (3 Gb/s drives on a 6 Gb/s controller) or controller incompatibility. Remember, SATA speeds are backward-compatible and won’t cause freezing—heat is the hidden culprit. Memory tip: “RAID 5 rebuilds run hot; if it freezes, check the spot.”
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 drives are overheating due to continuous I/O.
Mixing SATA speeds (3 Gb/s drives on a 6 Gb/s controller) is generally backward-compatible and should not cause freezes. The freezing during heavy I/O suggests a thermal issue, as RAID 5 rebuilds and heavy writes generate significant heat. Overheating can cause drives to throttle or the controller to lock up.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 SATA 3 Gb/s drives are bottlenecking the SATA 6 Gb/s controller.
Why it's wrong here
A speed mismatch would limit throughput but not cause system freezes; it would just be slower.
- ✓
The drives are overheating due to continuous I/O.
Why this is correct
RAID 5 with heavy I/O generates heat; if cooling is inadequate, drives can overheat and cause the system to freeze or throttle.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The RAID controller's firmware is outdated.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated firmware might cause bugs, but the most direct cause of freezing during heavy I/O is thermal throttling.
- ✗
The stripe size is set too small.
Why it's wrong here
Stripe size affects performance but does not typically cause system freezes; it would just result in slower I/O.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Storage and RAID Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1201 question test?
Storage and RAID Troubleshooting — This question tests Storage and RAID Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The drives are overheating due to continuous I/O. — Mixing SATA speeds (3 Gb/s drives on a 6 Gb/s controller) is generally backward-compatible and should not cause freezes. The freezing during heavy I/O suggests a thermal issue, as RAID 5 rebuilds and heavy writes generate significant heat. Overheating can cause drives to throttle or the controller to lock up.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.
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