220-1102 Question 282
Single answerDedicated vs. integrated graphics cardA small engineering firm is repurposing several office desktops for light 3D CAD work and dual-monitor use. One employee reports poor viewport performance on a system that uses integrated graphics, and the second monitor occasionally disconnects when large models are opened. The technician confirms the system has enough RAM and that the displays and cables are working properly. Which upgrade is the BEST solution to improve graphics performance and reduce reliance on system memory?
- A
Install a dedicated graphics card that has its own onboard VRAM and supports the required monitor outputs
- B
Increase the system page file so the integrated GPU has more virtual video memory available
- C
Replace the motherboard with one that has more USB ports for the monitors
- D
Disable hardware acceleration so the CPU handles all graphics rendering instead of the GPU
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Integrated graphics commonly share system RAM with the CPU, which is acceptable for basic office tasks but can become a bottleneck for 3D applications, high-resolution displays, and multi-monitor setups. A dedicated graphics card is designed for graphics-intensive work because it includes a separate GPU and dedicated VRAM, reducing contention for system memory and improving rendering performance. In real-world support, technicians should also verify compatibility factors such as available PCIe slot, power supply wattage, required auxiliary PCIe power connectors, physical card clearance, and display output types. This aligns with standard PC hardware best practices and vendor documentation from major GPU and system manufacturers, which distinguish integrated graphics as suitable for basic workloads and dedicated GPUs as better for CAD, media creation, and other graphics-intensive tasks.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A dedicated graphics card is the best upgrade in this scenario because it provides its own GPU and onboard video memory (VRAM) instead of borrowing shared system RAM like integrated graphics typically do. This improves 3D rendering performance and can provide more reliable multi-monitor support, provided the card has the necessary output ports and the power supply can support it.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Increasing the page file does not meaningfully improve graphics performance for an integrated GPU. Virtual memory on storage is much slower than RAM and is not a substitute for dedicated VRAM. This option reflects a common misconception that any memory-related setting will help graphics workloads.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Monitor connections for standard desktop displays are handled through graphics outputs such as HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI, not USB ports on the motherboard in a typical A+ scenario. Adding USB ports does not address GPU processing limitations or shared-memory constraints.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Disabling hardware acceleration usually reduces graphics performance because it shifts rendering work away from the GPU and onto the CPU. For CAD and multi-monitor graphics workloads, that would generally make the user's experience worse rather than better.