RAM slots

[stinkiusminkius]

Sorry - probably a very silly question, but does it matter what RAM is in what slot? I have s x 2gb and 2 x 512mb, but the 512's are in slots 1 and 2 - would it be best to have the higher RAM in slots 1 and 2 or is there absolutley no difference?

Ta.

[PrntRhd]

If they are matched pairs and the mainboard supports dual channel RAM, it works if you put the matching pairs in the same color slots.

[stinkiusminkius]

OK, thats good. I have matched pairs like that. But is it better to have the pair of 2gb ram in slots 1 and 2, and the 2 x 512 in slots 3 and 4, or wont it matter?

[Paul Komski]

As long as they are both matching pairs from a hardware perspective, it shouldn't matter which pair goes where because memory management is pretty sophisticated.

[jlreich]

It may not matter these days with modern boards, but in the past it has always been best practice to put the larger sticks in the first slot. Reason being that the first slot or channel would be accessed first and you wouldn't take a performance hit as soon when the first gets filled up and the system starts using the second.

But I don't think it matters these days. I think modern memory controllers negate the tiny performance hit you take, if it even still exists.

[mjc]

But you do need to know which slot matches which slot...they are usually color coded. You then put the paired sticks in the same color slots instead of slot x and slot y. (sometimes slot one doesn't 'match' slot two...it is mated to slot three...)+

[Paul Komski]

As mjc points out: the pairs may be color coded:

They can be spaced:

http://media.bestofmicro.com/,Q-P-47617-3.jpg

Or they may be color coded in adjacent pairs:

http://img.tomshardware.com/us/2005/06/21/the_next_generation_of_cool/memory.jpg

The pairs should be placed by color code and not by any specific number. Though on some boards you must start with Slot 1 and not leave it empty.

[stinkiusminkius]

Thanks for all that.

Mine are colour coded adjacent, and ive managed to place them correctly.

Cheers all.