220-1101 Question 264
Single answerPCIeA technician is upgrading a small form factor desktop by adding a new PCIe x16 graphics card. After installing the card, the system powers on, but there is no video output and the GPU's fans briefly spin and then stop. The motherboard manual states the PCIe x16 slot supports the card, and the card's documentation shows it requires one 8-pin PCIe power connector. Which action should the technician take FIRST to resolve the issue?
- A
Connect the required 8-pin PCIe power cable from the power supply to the graphics card
- B
Move the graphics card to a PCI slot because it is more compatible with older systems
- C
Replace the motherboard because a PCIe x16 slot cannot provide enough bandwidth for video output
- D
Change the monitor cable from HDMI to VGA because PCIe graphics cards usually initialize only on analog output
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best first step is to verify and connect the required 8-pin PCIe power cable. In A+ Core 1 troubleshooting scenarios, technicians are expected to check the simplest and most likely installation issue first, especially after new hardware is installed. PCIe slots provide slot power, but many graphics cards require additional power directly from the PSU. According to common PCI Express power guidelines used by motherboard and GPU manufacturers, the motherboard slot can supply up to 75W, while 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors are used to deliver additional power for higher-performance cards. This is a practical, real-world installation issue frequently encountered when adding discrete GPUs.
- A. Correct.
This is correct. Many discrete GPUs require supplemental power beyond what the PCIe x16 slot can provide. A PCIe x16 slot can deliver up to 75W, but cards that need more power also require dedicated PCIe power connectors from the PSU, such as 6-pin or 8-pin. If the 8-pin connector is not attached, the system may power on but the GPU may fail to initialize, often resulting in no display output.
- B. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. PCI and PCIe are different expansion bus standards and are not interchangeable. A modern graphics card designed for a PCIe x16 slot cannot be installed in a legacy PCI slot. This distractor targets the misconception that all expansion slots are functionally similar.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. The issue described is not caused by insufficient PCIe bandwidth. PCIe x16 is the standard slot for discrete graphics cards, and the motherboard manual already confirms compatibility. Lack of supplemental GPU power is a much more likely cause than a motherboard failure.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. The display cable type is not the first issue to address here. Modern PCIe graphics cards commonly support digital outputs such as HDMI and DisplayPort, and many no longer support VGA at all. The symptoms point to a power problem with the GPU rather than a monitor cable format problem.