when using only 2 out of 4 ram slots which 2 are best?

[keakar]

like the title says, when you are using only 2, out of 4, ram slots, which 2 are best?

i prefer to use the 2 outer most ram slots to give the cpu heatsink fan more space for free airflow

my MB instructions dont say much about it, so does it really matter if you use the

different colored slots 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, vs using the same colored slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4?

so should you use the two matching-colored slots or not?

update - sorry guys, i should have mentioned this is not the MB in my specs, its this one

GIGABYTE B760M DS3H DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel B760 M-ATX Motherboard with DDR4, Dual M.2, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, PCIe EZ-Latch - Newegg.com

 

[DR4G00N]

You need to use 2 & 4 (Preferred) or 1 & 3 otherwise it will only operate in Single-Channel mode instead of Dual-Channel and it'll perform worse.

 

[Marcus L]

like the title says, when you are using only 2, out of 4, ram slots, which 2 are best?

i prefer to use the 2 outer most ram slots to give the cpu heatsink fan more space for free airflow

my MB instructions dont say much about it, so does it really matter if you use the

different colored slots 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, vs using the same colored slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4?

so should you use the two matching-colored slots or not?

Some boards don't care and will run dual channel regardless of which slots you put them, others they have to be in a1/b1 etc there should be some documentation about it in the motherboards manual though, what board is it, the one in your system specs?

 

[tabascosauz]

like the title says, when you are using only 2, out of 4, ram slots, which 2 are best?

i prefer to use the 2 outer most ram slots to give the cpu heatsink fan more space for free airflow

my MB instructions dont say much about it, so does it really matter if you use the

different colored slots 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, vs using the same colored slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4?

so should you use the two matching-colored slots or not?

Whatever the board spec or manual recommends as the optimal 2. Like you said, usually 2 and 4, when counting outwards from the CPU socket.

T-topology boards are rarer than hen's teeth now, so choosing the subpar two slots will actually significantly impact achievable speeds/stability, if they even work. The difference should be even more pronounced on DDR5.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

It's usually always A2 and B2, so slot 2 and 4, basically.

 

[Toothless]

Reading the manual or looking at the board near the DIMM slots will tell you which to use first.

Right in your board manual..

 

[keakar]

Some boards don't care and will run dual channel regardless of which slots you put them, others they have to be in a1/b1 etc there should be some documentation about it in the motherboards manual though, what board is it, the one in your system specs?

its the new GIGABYTE B760M DS3H DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel B760 M-ATX Motherboard with DDR4

i just bought it and the instructions are one-page, printed front to back. it literally just says, install PSU then ram, then cpu and cooler, then install the board.

it shows a drawn picture of using 2 sticks of ram in the black and the gray slots 3 & 4, but the instructions literally just say one line, install ram next, lol

but as we know, you have no room to install the board with the cpu cooler in the way, so the instructions it has are way beyond being too simplistic

the board i have in my specs came with installation instructions that were 3--5 pages long that explained everything

 

[ChoGGi]

B760M DS3H DDR4 (rev. 1.0) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ultimate platform for...

www.gigabyte.com

There's 40 pages in the manual.

2-4 shows instructions for ddr memory slots:

 

[keakar]

You need to use 2 & 4 (Preferred) or 1 & 3 otherwise it will only operate in Single-Channel mode instead of Dual-Channel and it'll perform worse.

well i wasnt sure if that changed, everything else sure has changed over time and MB install instructions are frustratingly too simplistic

the board in my specs has 4 sticks so it was not an issue, but the new board i just bought im only using 2 sticks in it so i wanted to make sure i used the correct slots

this is the new MB, so i'll use the gray slots 2 & 4 https://c1.neweggimages.com/ProductImageCompressAll1280/13-145-426-02.jpg

B760M DS3H DDR4 (rev. 1.0) Support | Motherboard - GIGABYTE Global

Lasting Quality from GIGABYTE.GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ motherboards bring together a unique blend of features and technologies that offer users the absolute ultimate platform for...

www.gigabyte.com

There's 40 pages in the manual.

2-4 shows instructions for ddr memory slots:

ok i got nothing in my brand new factory sealed box,

i didnt realize you have to go online to download a manual so you get decent instructions for it

now i know

 

[ChoGGi]

Yeah, it's the new cost saving measure. They only give you the quick start guide (if that).

 

[InVasMani]

Always good idea to check manufacturer website for PDF files on your MB board if it's shipped with lacking information on something. Usually good idea to see if there is a newer support bios and drivers anyway as well while you're at it.

 

[gurusmi]

like the title says, when you are using only 2, out of 4, ram slots, which 2 are best?

i prefer to use the 2 outer most ram slots to give the cpu heatsink fan more space for free airflow

my MB instructions dont say much about it, so does it really matter if you use the

different colored slots 1 & 2 or 3 & 4, vs using the same colored slots 1 & 3 or 2 & 4?

so should you use the two matching-colored slots or not?

update - sorry guys, i should have mentioned this is not the MB in my specs, its this one

GIGABYTE B760M DS3H DDR4 LGA 1700 Intel B760 M-ATX Motherboard with DDR4, Dual M.2, PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2.5GbE LAN, Q-Flash Plus, PCIe EZ-Latch - Newegg.com

I would rtfm i.e. provided by Gigabyte on their website, . As always A1 & A2 are the right slots.

 

[chrcoluk]

Check the board manual. It will either be 1,3 or 2,4. Although labelled differently.

 

[keakar]

Yeah, it's the new cost saving measure. They only give you the quick start guide (if that).

i saw on the internet that boards where it doesnt matter where you put the RAM have all the same colored RAM slots

and boards where it does matter always have the different colored slots to help you match the correct slots

and if you see it on the internet it must be true

not sure if thats true, but it does sound plausible i guess

last time i built a computer was 2015 so its been a while and i wasnt sure if it was still dual channel and the ram slots used still mattered

I would rtfm i.e. provided by Gigabyte on their website, . As always A1 & A2 are the right slots.

thanks for the help but that is wrong

according to gigabyte or the post above from ChoGGi who posted the gigabyte ram install instructions above

it says for only 2 sticks use slots A2 and B2, or what i call slots 2 & 4