CompTIA 220-1201 hardware guide covering boards, power, storage, peripherals, and compatibility decisions.
This is the heaviest pure-content chapter in Core 1. A+ rewards candidates who can tell the difference between form factor, interface, connector, firmware setting, and replacement part instead of treating all hardware choices as one blur.
Form factor: The physical size and layout standard of a part such as
ATX,MicroATX,2.5-inch, orM.2.PCIe: Peripheral Component Interconnect Express, the internal expansion path used by devices such as graphics cards and some high-speed storage.
CompTIA currently weights this domain at 25% of Core 1.
| Lesson | Focus |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Boards, CPUs & Memory | Learn the board, socket, memory, and firmware decisions that affect compatibility and boot behavior. |
| 3.2 Power & Cooling | Work power supplies, airflow, cases, connectors, and upgrade-fit reasoning. |
| 3.3 Storage & RAID | Separate SATA, NVMe, form factor, file system, RAID, and health-report concepts cleanly. |
| 3.4 Cables & Ports | Match the correct connector or expansion path to displays, data, storage, and peripherals. |
| 3.5 Printers & Peripherals | Recognize printer technologies, maintenance parts, and common peripheral support moves. |
| If the question is really about… | Go first to… |
|---|---|
| motherboard slots, RAM type, firmware, or CPU support | 3.1 Motherboards, Firmware, CPUs & Memory |
| PSU sizing, airflow, heat, or case fit | 3.2 Power, Cooling, Form Factors & Build Compatibility |
| disks, SSDs, RAID, and file-system fit | 3.3 Storage Devices, Interfaces & RAID Basics |
| cable types, display ports, or expansion cards | 3.4 Cables, Connectors, Ports & Expansion Hardware |
| laser printers, inkjet behavior, or scanner issues | 3.5 Printers, Scanners & Peripheral Support |
| If the answers look close because they all sound “hardware-related” | Keep this distinction clear |
|---|---|
| form factor vs connector | physical size and fit are different from the port or cable used |
| connector vs protocol | a plug shape is not the same thing as the feature or signal it can carry |
| M.2 vs NVMe | form factor is different from storage protocol |
| bad print quality vs bad paper movement | image-engine defects are different from feed-path problems |
Use these tie-breakers:
M.2 and NVMe as synonymsProtect these lessons first:
When your misses still feel random in Core 1, this chapter is usually where the language itself needs tightening first.