100-140 Question 102
Single answerA technician is tasked with installing a new graphics card into a desktop computer. The graphics card requires a PCIe x16 slot. Upon opening the computer case, the technician finds PCI, PCIe x1, and PCIe x4 slots available. Which of the following actions should the technician take to resolve the compatibility issue?
- A
Install the graphics card into the PCIe x4 slot since it is backward compatible.
- B
Replace the motherboard with one that has a PCIe x16 slot.
- C
Use a PCI to PCIe x16 adapter to install the graphics card.
- D
Install the graphics card into the PCI slot to achieve limited functionality.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
A PCIe x16 graphics card requires a PCIe x16 slot for proper operation. Since the current motherboard lacks a PCIe x16 slot, the only viable option is to replace the motherboard with one that provides the necessary interface. Attempting to use incorrect slots or adapters will not provide the required functionality and may lead to hardware damage.
- A. Incorrect.
PCIe x4 slots are not compatible with PCIe x16 cards because they don't provide the necessary physical or electrical connections required for the card to function properly.
- B. Correct.
Replacing the motherboard with one that has a PCIe x16 slot is the only solution that ensures the graphics card will have the correct interface and operate as intended.
- C. Incorrect.
PCI to PCIe x16 adapters are not a viable solution because they do not support the bandwidth requirements or physical compatibility for a PCIe x16 graphics card.
- D. Incorrect.
PCI slots are an entirely different interface from PCIe and are not compatible with PCIe x16 graphics cards, making this option invalid.