220-1101 Question 274
Single answerMultisocketA small engineering firm wants to upgrade a workstation used for 3D rendering and simulation. The software vendor recommends a system with two physical CPUs to improve performance during long render jobs. The technician selects a motherboard advertised as supporting multisocket operation. Which additional requirement must be met for the upgrade to work as intended?
- A
Install two identical server-class processors that the motherboard and chipset support for dual-socket use
- B
Install one high-clock-speed desktop CPU and enable multithreading in the BIOS
- C
Use two different processor models as long as they have the same socket type
- D
Populate all RAM slots before installing the second processor
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Multisocket refers to a motherboard designed to support more than one physical CPU. For an A+ Core 1 candidate, the key practical point is that this is not simply a matter of having two open sockets. The motherboard firmware, chipset, and processor models must all support symmetric multiprocessing or the platform's specific multiprocessor design. In real deployments, technicians should verify the motherboard manufacturer's CPU support list, socket compatibility, BIOS/UEFI revision requirements, and vendor guidance for matched processor installation. CompTIA A+ Core 1 objectives commonly distinguish multisocket systems from multicore CPUs and multithreading, which are different technologies. Best practice is to confirm support through the system board documentation and CPU compatibility documentation before purchase or installation.
- A. Correct.
Correct. In a multisocket system, the motherboard, chipset, and CPUs must all support operation with more than one physical processor. In practice, this usually means using supported server/workstation-class CPUs of the same family/model requirements specified by the vendor. Simply fitting the socket is not enough; the processor must support multiprocessor operation and be on the board's compatibility list.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A single CPU with multithreading is not the same as a multisocket configuration. Multithreading allows one physical CPU to handle multiple threads, but it does not replace the need for two physical processors when the goal is to build a dual-socket system.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Matching socket type alone does not guarantee compatibility in a multisocket system. Dual-socket boards typically require closely matched or identical supported CPUs, and mixing processor models can cause POST failures, instability, or unsupported operation even if the physical socket matches.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. While memory population rules can matter for performance and platform design, filling all RAM slots is not a prerequisite for adding a second CPU. Some systems may recommend balanced memory across CPU channels, but the essential requirement for multisocket operation is compatible CPUs and motherboard support.