Does It Matter What Slots I Put My RAM In?

It’s a common question asked by first-time builders: “Does it matter what slots I put my RAM in?” The answer is… kind of. It’s not critical, but there are some benefits to putting RAM in certain slots.

Here’s a quick guide to help you make the best decision for your build.

The Basics: One Slot vs. Two Slots

Most motherboards have four RAM slots. That means you can install up to four sticks of RAM in your computer.

But you don’t have to fill all four slots. In fact, you can get by just fine with one stick of RAM in one slot.

So, does it matter which slot you put your RAM in? Not really. As long as one stick of RAM is inserted into one slot, your computer will work just fine.

But there are a few benefits to using two slots instead of one.

Dual-Channel Memory: A Performance Boost?

If your motherboard has four RAM slots, it will probably be labeled something like “1+2+1” or “2+2”. This is called the channel configuration, and it refers to how the data channels between the RAM and the CPU are arranged.

Most motherboards will have either a dual-channel or triple-channel configuration.

For our purposes, all you need to know is that dual-channel configurations provide a small performance boost over single-channel configurations. If your motherboard supports dual-channel memory and you have two or more sticks of RAM, pop them into the appropriate slots and enjoy that sweet, sweet performance boost.

But I Only Have One Stick of RAM!

No problem! If you only have one stick of RAM, just put it in any available slot and forget about the whole thing. Your computer will work just fine and you won’t need to worry about filling up all the slots or anything like that.

Should I Upgrade to More RAM?

If your computer is running slowly or if you find yourself running out of memory frequently, upgrading to more RAM is a great way to improve performance without spending a lot of money. Just make sure your motherboard supports the amount and type of RAM you want to use before making any purchases.

Conclusion: So Does It Matter What Slots I Put My RAM In or Not?
In short, no it does not matter what slots you put your ram in! As long as there is only one stick per channel, or if you are using all four sticks (if your MOBO supports quad channel) then it does not matter at all which slot(s) they go into!.