CompTIA Hardware Practice 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A technician is upgrading a workstation to support NVMe storage but the motherboard only has older PCIe 3.0 slots and no M.2 slots. What is the best solution?
- NVMe drives require M.2 slots and cannot be installed without one
- Install a PCIe add-in card with an M.2 NVMe slot (Correct answer)
- Use a SATA to NVMe adapter cable
- Replace the motherboard with one that has M.2 slots
Correct answer: Install a PCIe add-in card with an M.2 NVMe slot
PCIe add-in cards with M.2 slots allow NVMe SSDs to be installed in standard PCIe slots, enabling NVMe on older motherboards.
Question 2: A desktop system is randomly shutting down under load. Temperatures appear normal. What component should the technician suspect?
- CPU cooler
- Power supply unit failing under load (Correct answer)
- RAM speed mismatch
- Monitor refresh rate setting
Correct answer: Power supply unit failing under load
A failing PSU may deliver insufficient or unstable power under load, causing abrupt shutdowns even when temperatures are acceptable.
Question 3: What does 'TDP' (Thermal Design Power) represent for a CPU or GPU?
- The maximum electrical power the component can draw from the PCIe slot
- The amount of heat the cooling solution must dissipate under sustained load (Correct answer)
- The total data processing speed in teraflops
- The power efficiency rating assigned by the manufacturer
Correct answer: The amount of heat the cooling solution must dissipate under sustained load
TDP represents the maximum heat generated under sustained workloads that the cooling system must be rated to handle.
Question 4: A technician is installing a new PCIe x16 graphics card but the slot cover screw is stripped. What is the safest immediate action?
- Force-remove the screw with pliers without concern for damage
- Use a screw extractor tool or a rubber band to grip and remove the stripped screw (Correct answer)
- Skip securing the GPU with a screw since the slot holds it
- Drill out the screw hole entirely
Correct answer: Use a screw extractor tool or a rubber band to grip and remove the stripped screw
A screw extractor or rubber band grip technique removes stripped screws safely without damaging the chassis or nearby components.
Question 5: Which characteristic differentiates DDR5 RAM from DDR4 RAM in terms of physical installation?
- DDR5 uses a 240-pin interface while DDR4 uses a 288-pin interface
- DDR5 has a different notch position making it physically incompatible with DDR4 slots (Correct answer)
- DDR5 requires a separate power connector
- DDR5 operates at lower voltages only compatible with newer CPUs
Correct answer: DDR5 has a different notch position making it physically incompatible with DDR4 slots
DDR5 DIMMs have a keying notch in a different position than DDR4, preventing accidental installation in incompatible motherboards.
Question 6: A user wants to add a second storage drive to their laptop but it only has one M.2 slot currently occupied. What expansion option should the technician check for?
- Install a 3.5-inch drive using an external dock
- Check if the laptop has a secondary M.2 slot or a 2.5-inch SATA bay (Correct answer)
- Replace the existing M.2 drive with a larger capacity model
- Add storage via a PCIe x16 card
Correct answer: Check if the laptop has a secondary M.2 slot or a 2.5-inch SATA bay
Many laptops include a secondary M.2 slot or a 2.5-inch SATA bay that can accommodate an additional drive.
Question 7: When installing a CPU cooler with a backplate mounting system on an ATX motherboard, why should the motherboard be removed from the case?
- To prevent static discharge from the case
- To access the back of the motherboard for backplate installation (Correct answer)
- To reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery simultaneously
- Backplate coolers cannot be installed with the board in the case
Correct answer: To access the back of the motherboard for backplate installation
Backplate mounting requires access to the rear of the motherboard, which is typically obstructed by the case unless the board is removed.
CompTIA Hardware Practice 5
A technician is upgrading a workstation to support NVMe storage but the motherboard only has older PCIe 3.0 slots and no M.2 slots.
What is the best solution?