It’s a common question asked by first-time builders: which slots should I put my RAM into? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Depending on your motherboard and CPU, the answer could be any of the following: both slots, the two outermost slots, the two innermost slots, or a single slot.
Let’s take a look at each option in turn.
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The most common configuration is to put identical modules in both RAM slots. This is how most motherboards are designed, with the dual-channel memory controllers located right next to each other.
If your motherboard has four RAM slots, it’s likely that you’ll want to put two 4GB modules in there for a total of 8GB of RAM.
However, some higher-end motherboards have separate memory controllers for each RAM slot. In this case, you’ll want to put your modules in the same color-coded slots.
For example, if you have a motherboard with two black RAM slots and two red RAM slots, you’ll want to put one module in each color-coded slot for optimal performance.
If your motherboard only has two RAM slots, it’s generally best to put the modules in the outermost slots. This will ensure that they get the best possible airflow and cooling.
However, if your CPU cooler is in the way of one of the outermost slots, you may need to use the innermost slot instead.
Finally, some CPUs only have a single memory controller and can only use one RAM slot at a time. In this case, you’ll obviously want to just use a single module in the only available slot.
So which slots should you put your RAM into? It depends on your motherboard and CPU. However, in most cases you’ll want to put identical modules in both of the outermost slots for best performance.
