220-1101 Question 425
Single answerSizing issuesA technician is upgrading a user's desktop with a new high-end graphics card. After opening the case, the technician notices the card is significantly longer and thicker than the old one. The motherboard has an available PCIe x16 slot, but the drive cage is close to the slot area and the power supply is installed directly above part of the motherboard. Which action should the technician take FIRST to avoid a sizing-related installation problem?
- A
Verify the graphics card's physical dimensions and slot-width requirements against the case clearance and adjacent expansion slot space
- B
Install the graphics card and then check whether the system firmware detects it during POST
- C
Replace the PCIe x16 slot with a riser card so the graphics card can fit in any orientation
- D
Update the motherboard chipset drivers before confirming whether the card physically fits
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question focuses on sizing issues, a common A+ Core 1 hardware topic. In real-world PC upgrades, a component can be electrically compatible but still fail installation because of physical constraints such as card length, card thickness, case form factor, drive cage placement, side-panel clearance, or blocked adjacent slots. Best practice is to verify manufacturer specifications for the graphics card and the chassis before installation. For GPUs, this typically includes card length, slot width, power connector clearance, and available internal case space. CompTIA A+ Core 1 objectives emphasize practical hardware installation and compatibility checks, including confirming that replacement parts fit the system physically as well as logically.
- A. Correct.
Correct. When dealing with sizing issues, the first step is to confirm the card's length, height, and thickness, along with whether it uses two or more slot positions, and compare those requirements to the case's internal clearance. In a real deployment, components such as drive cages, front fans, side panels, power supply placement, and neighboring expansion cards can prevent installation even when the motherboard slot is compatible. Physical fit must be verified before software or firmware considerations matter.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. POST detection is only relevant after the card has been installed successfully. In this scenario, the immediate risk is that the card may not physically fit because of case clearance and slot-width limitations. Attempting installation first could waste time or potentially damage the card or internal components.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A riser card is not a standard fix for ordinary desktop GPU sizing issues and can introduce compatibility, airflow, mounting, and stability concerns. It also does not mean the card can fit in any orientation. The correct first step is to validate physical dimensions and chassis support, not to assume an alternate mounting solution is appropriate.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Driver updates can be important after hardware installation, but they do not solve a physical clearance problem. The common misconception here is treating all upgrade issues as software-related. In this case, the technician must first ensure the new GPU can physically fit in the case and use the required slot space.