s about RAM slots and related issues.

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carlinkos
Junior Member

7

11-07-2016, 08:00 AM

#1

Hello everyone, I checked my components using CPU-Z and saw the details in the SPD section. There are 4GB in Slot #1 and 8GB in Slot #2. Should I swap them around? I’m just starting out with desktop builds, so I appreciate your help. Thanks!

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superQ71
Member

65

11-07-2016, 09:10 AM

#2

It wouldn't change much if your mainboard only has two dimming ports. You might want to include the mainboard model for clarity.

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peemja
Junior Member

49

11-07-2016, 10:31 AM

#3

The slot numbers are just for simplifying troubleshooting. It doesn’t matter which DRAM stick goes into which slot. There’s a caviot involved here. If your motherboard offers four or more RAM slots, it likely supports multiple memory channels. Consider each channel as a path for data between your CPU and RAM. More lanes mean higher bandwidth, which improves performance depending on the processor (Ryzen thrives on bandwidth). You should distribute the channels evenly so all are utilized. Each channel can hold up to two DIMMs, meaning a two-slot board has one channel while a four-slot board has two. Boards with six or more DIMMs usually indicate servers or high-end systems, so this probably isn’t your setup. Generally, if you have four slots for RAM (the most common configuration), arrange the modules so there’s space between them. This ensures at least one DIMM is available on each channel. With two slots (common on budget or older boards), your memory is already set up correctly.