220-1101 Question 273
Single answerIntelA technician is upgrading a small office workstation that uses an Intel 10th Gen Core i5 processor on an LGA1200 motherboard. The user wants better performance for running multiple business applications at once, but the company wants to avoid replacing the motherboard. Which replacement CPU is the BEST choice to meet this requirement?
- A
An Intel 11th Gen Core i7 designed for socket LGA1200, after confirming BIOS support
- B
An Intel 12th Gen Core i7 because newer Intel CPUs are backward-compatible with older Intel sockets
- C
An AMD Ryzen 7 processor with the same thermal design power (TDP) as the current CPU
- D
An Intel Xeon Scalable processor because Xeon CPUs are optimized for multitasking workloads
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is the Intel 11th Gen Core i7 for LGA1200, provided the motherboard manufacturer supports that processor with the appropriate BIOS revision. For A+ Core 1, Intel CPU upgrades are typically evaluated by checking socket type, chipset support, and firmware compatibility rather than simply comparing brand or performance tier. Intel desktop platforms commonly change sockets across generations; for example, many 10th and 11th Gen desktop Core CPUs use LGA1200, while 12th Gen Core moved to LGA1700. Best practice is to verify the motherboard CPU support list and BIOS requirements on the system or board manufacturer's documentation before purchasing or installing the replacement processor.
- A. Correct.
Correct. An Intel 11th Gen Core i7 that uses the same LGA1200 socket is the best choice because it can provide improved performance while preserving the existing motherboard, assuming the motherboard vendor provides BIOS support for that CPU generation. In real deployments, matching the socket is necessary, but it is not sufficient by itself; technicians must also verify chipset and BIOS compatibility before installation.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Intel 12th Gen Core processors moved to the LGA1700 socket, so they are not backward-compatible with LGA1200 motherboards. A common misconception is that newer CPUs from the same manufacturer will fit older boards, but Intel frequently changes socket and chipset requirements between generations.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. AMD Ryzen processors are not compatible with Intel motherboards. Even if power requirements were similar, CPU compatibility depends on platform design, including socket, chipset, firmware support, and electrical layout. TDP does not determine motherboard compatibility.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Intel Xeon Scalable processors are server-class CPUs that use different sockets, chipsets, and platform requirements than mainstream desktop LGA1200 systems. Someone might choose this option because Xeon is associated with higher-end performance, but it would not be an appropriate drop-in upgrade for a standard office desktop motherboard.