220-1101 Question 308
Single answerWattage ratingA technician is upgrading a desktop workstation that currently has a 350W power supply. The user wants to add a dedicated graphics card that requires a 450W minimum system power supply and one 8-pin PCIe power connector. The system already has a 95W CPU, two SSDs, and 16GB of RAM. The existing power supply has no 8-pin PCIe connector. Which of the following is the BEST recommendation?
- A
Keep the 350W power supply and use a Molex-to-PCIe adapter because the graphics card only uses 450W at full load
- B
Replace the power supply with a unit rated above 450W that includes the required 8-pin PCIe connector
- C
Use the existing 350W power supply because wattage ratings are based only on the CPU, not expansion cards
- D
Install the graphics card first and replace the power supply only if the system begins to shut down unexpectedly
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
When selecting a power supply, a technician must consider the total system load and the connector requirements of installed components. In this scenario, the graphics card vendor specifies a 450W minimum system PSU, and the current 350W unit also lacks the required 8-pin PCIe connector. The most appropriate action is to install a higher-rated PSU that includes the correct native connector. This aligns with common hardware vendor guidance and PC building best practices: verify total wattage, ensure proper rail/connector support, and leave reasonable headroom rather than relying on adapters or waiting for failures. On the A+ Core 1 exam, wattage rating questions often test whether candidates understand that PSU sizing is based on the whole system, not a single component.
- A. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A graphics card requirement of a 450W minimum system power supply refers to the recommended total PSU capacity for the entire computer, not just the card's individual draw. Using a Molex-to-PCIe adapter on an undersized 350W PSU does not solve the lack of total available power and may introduce power-delivery risks if the PSU was not designed for the GPU load.
- B. Correct.
Correct. The best practice is to replace the PSU with one that meets or exceeds the graphics card vendor's minimum recommended system wattage and provides the proper native 8-pin PCIe power connector. This ensures sufficient power headroom for the CPU, drives, motherboard, and GPU, while also avoiding improvised cabling solutions.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. PSU wattage ratings apply to the total power available to all system components. Expansion cards, especially dedicated GPUs, can consume substantial power and are a major factor in PSU sizing. Ignoring graphics card power requirements is a common mistake.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Waiting for instability is not an appropriate recommendation. An undersized PSU can cause boot failure, random shutdowns, poor performance under load, or hardware stress. Proper capacity planning should be done before installation rather than treating shutdowns as an acceptable test method.