220-1101 Question 205
Single answerVideo cablesA technician is setting up a new workstation with a 4K monitor in a conference room. The desktop has available HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. The monitor supports HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA. The user wants to run the display at 3840 x 2160 resolution at 60 Hz with audio over a single cable and avoid using any adapters. Which cable should the technician choose?
- A
VGA cable
- B
Single-link DVI-D cable
- C
HDMI cable
- D
DisplayPort cable
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The best answer is DisplayPort because the scenario requires 4K at 60 Hz, audio over a single cable, and no adapters. DisplayPort is designed for computer display use and commonly supports high resolutions and audio in a native PC environment. VGA is ruled out because it is analog and does not carry audio. Single-link DVI-D lacks the bandwidth for 4K at 60 Hz and is not the right choice for this requirement. HDMI can also support audio and, depending on the version, may support 4K at 60 Hz, but when both HDMI and DisplayPort are available on a workstation and monitor, DisplayPort is generally the best-practice choice for a PC monitor connection in CompTIA A+ Core 1 scenarios. This aligns with standard A+ objectives covering cable types, connector capabilities, and selecting the appropriate video cable based on resolution and feature requirements.
- A. Incorrect.
VGA is incorrect because it is an analog video standard and does not carry audio. It is also not the appropriate choice for a modern 4K 60 Hz digital display setup. A technician might choose VGA because the monitor supports it, but it would not meet the resolution, refresh rate, and audio requirements in this scenario.
- B. Incorrect.
Single-link DVI-D is incorrect because it is a digital video connection but does not normally provide audio support for a monitor setup like HDMI or DisplayPort. In addition, single-link DVI does not provide enough bandwidth for 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz. This distractor targets the misconception that any digital cable can handle all modern display requirements.
- C. Incorrect.
HDMI is incorrect in this question because, although many HDMI versions can carry both digital video and audio, the scenario asks for the best choice without adapters and with assured 4K at 60 Hz capability. On A+ exam-style questions, DisplayPort is typically the preferred PC monitor connection for high-resolution computer displays when both the system and monitor support it directly. A technician might select HDMI because it is common and does carry audio, but DisplayPort is the more appropriate answer here.
- D. Correct.
DisplayPort is correct because it is a digital video interface commonly used on PCs, supports high resolutions such as 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz, and carries audio over the same cable. It also satisfies the requirement to avoid adapters because both the desktop and monitor have native DisplayPort ports. This makes it the best fit for a modern workstation-to-monitor connection.