TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

What should you ensure is compatible when purchasing new memory modules?

1. Operating system used

2. Type of CPU

3. Motherboard documentation

4. Graphics card model

The correct answer is: Motherboard documentation

When purchasing new memory modules, it is crucial to ensure compatibility with the motherboard documentation. The motherboard is responsible for supporting specific types of memory (such as DDR4 or DDR5) and has limits on the maximum amount of RAM and speeds it can accommodate. The documentation provides vital information about the types of modules that can be used, including the number of slots available and the maximum memory capacity supported. Understanding this compatibility is essential because using memory that is not supported by the motherboard can lead to system instability or failure to boot. This documentation will also detail the preferred configurations and any specific memory brands or configurations that have been tested for reliability with that particular motherboard model. While the other options touch on important components of a computer system, they are not as direct in determining memory compatibility as the motherboard documentation is. For example, the operating system and CPU can influence overall performance and limits, but they do not dictate what memory types can be physically installed. The graphics card model, while relevant to performance in graphical tasks, has no relation to the type of RAM to be installed.