220-1101 Question 435
Single answerOverheatingA technician is asked to troubleshoot a desktop PC that shuts down after 10 to 15 minutes of gaming or video rendering. The system powers on normally, works fine for basic web browsing, and then suddenly turns off under heavy load. After cooling for several minutes, it starts again. The technician confirms the CPU temperature rises rapidly during stress testing. Which of the following is the BEST next step to resolve the issue?
- A
Replace the power supply because unexpected shutdowns usually indicate unstable voltage
- B
Reapply thermal paste and verify the CPU heatsink/fan is mounted correctly
- C
Increase the monitor refresh rate to reduce GPU lag during gaming
- D
Disable automatic restart in the operating system to prevent shutdowns under load
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The key clues are that the shutdown occurs only under heavy processing load, the CPU temperature rises quickly during stress testing, and the machine starts again after cooling down. Those facts strongly support an overheating diagnosis. For A+ Core 1, a technician should recognize that CPU overheating is commonly caused by poor airflow, dust buildup, failed fans, an improperly seated heatsink, or incorrect/missing thermal paste. Given the data already gathered, the best next step is to inspect and correct the CPU cooling assembly. This aligns with standard PC hardware troubleshooting practices and manufacturer guidance for processor cooling: ensure the heatsink is securely attached, the CPU fan is spinning and connected properly, and thermal interface material is present and correctly applied. Power issues and operating system settings can cause shutdown-like symptoms, but they are less consistent with the temperature evidence in this scenario.
- A. Incorrect.
This is plausible because a failing power supply can cause random shutdowns, especially under load. However, the scenario specifically states that CPU temperature rises rapidly during stress testing and the machine works again after cooling down, which strongly indicates a thermal issue rather than a primary power-delivery fault. Replacing the PSU would not be the best next step based on the evidence provided.
- B. Correct.
This is correct. Rapid CPU temperature increase under load, followed by shutdown and successful restart only after cooling, is a classic overheating symptom. In A+ troubleshooting, a best-practice next step is to check the cooling solution first: confirm the heatsink/fan is properly seated, the fan is operating, and thermal interface material is correctly applied. Improper heatsink installation or dried/missing thermal paste can prevent efficient heat transfer from the CPU to the cooler.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Monitor refresh rate affects display output and user experience, not internal CPU cooling. A candidate might choose this if confusing gaming performance problems with thermal shutdowns, but it does nothing to address the rising CPU temperature or system power-off behavior.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Disabling automatic restart can help reveal blue-screen errors, but the scenario describes a thermal shutdown, not an OS crash followed by reboot. The system is turning off when temperature rises under load, which points to hardware protection mechanisms. Changing this setting would not resolve the overheating condition.