Are you concerned about the RAM Slot Order: Which Ram Slots to Use and How to Make RAM Placement in 2022? Fear not, I am here to help you out with those mind confusing questions.
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RAM Slot Order
A RAM slot is a pocket present in the motherboard of your device, that is where you insert the RAM chip for your device.
Inserting the RAM chip in your device’s motherboard may not seem like a difficult task. However, for you to get fast and effective results, it is important that you to place the RAM in the correct RAM Slot Order.
The motherboards of various devices, in general, have certain RAM slots or channels. Consequently, these RAM Slots have to be occupied by the correct type of RAM chip.
Additionally, a motherboard, that has a single RAM slot, is easy to deal with. However, dual-channel motherboards require you to insert the RAM chips in certain pairs.
RAM Slot Orders are available in pairs of 1 and 3, as well as 2 and 4. These pairs are formed as per the dual channel configuration.
Furthermore, since the RAM slots, in the motherboard of your device, are available in pairs; color-coding on each RAM slot helps you to understand the sequence of the RAM pair to be used together.
The RAMs should be the same in terms of storage, type, and stick when you enter them in the pairs of RAM Slots. This will enable you to get faster results.
Similarly, it is very important for you to keep in mind the types of RAM the device’s RAM slot will accept while buying a new PC or a laptop.
Hence, this will help you to save time and money, as there are cases when the RAM slots are completely occupied beforehand. This is due to the fact of RAMs being installed by the device developer.
RAM Slots and RAM Placement
It is absolutely important for you to consult the manual of the motherboard of your device if you are wondering which RAM Slots to Use and How to Make RAM Placement.
Each RAM slot on the motherboard should be occupied by the correct RAM chip for faster performance.
Similarly, as I mentioned before, the RAM slots have color-coding in pairs. What this means is; RAM slots are grouped together in pairs and each pair on the motherboard has a single color selected for it.
Hence, this makes it easier for you to understand which pair of RAM chips are to be installed together on the motherboard of your device.
Similarly, each pair of RAM slots, that is present on the motherboard of your device, is known as a channel.
For instance, there are two blue RAM slots on the motherboard of your device. For your device to function properly, you will insert the same 2 RAM chips in these 2 blue RAM Slots.
This RAM Slot Order will help in the smooth functioning of your device.
Difference in RAM Slots for PC, Mac and Laptop
In this section, we will be looking at the differences in the RAM slots between a PC, Mac, and laptop. In order to explain to you in an easy way, I will be demonstrating the difference in the RAM slots between a PC, Laptop, and Mac as a summary first:
| PC | Laptop | Mac | |
| Location | Close to the CPU | Parallel to the motherboard | 21.5-inch version has the RAM fixed to its motherboard |
| Size | Can cater to larger sized RAMs due to more space | Smaller sized RAMs can be catered to due to limited space within a laptop | Smaller sized RAM |
| Space | More space | Limited space | Limited space |
| Color-coding | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Installation | RAM can be inserted in the RAM slot quite easily on your own | You can insert the RAM in the RAM slot quite easily on your own | Inserting RAM on your own requires special equipment |
RAM Slot on PC
For your PC, you can see the RAM slots of your device located close to the CPU. The RAM slots will be either 2, 3, or even 4, hence you can easily insert your RAM chips there.
In the case of 4 RAM slots, these RAM slots will have color-coding to them. Thus, enabling you to understand the correct pairs of the RAM slots while inserting the RAM into your PC.
Similarly, each color will have the same RAM inserted in the RAM Slot. Moreover, each RAM slot should always be occupied by the same type of RAM for your device to perform at a faster pace.
In order to improve the performance of your PC, one of the things you can do is to install an upgraded version of RAM on your device.
Luckily, a PC offers you the luxury of changing the RAM of your device whenever you want.
Similarly, when we talk about the placement of the RAM in the RAM slot, it only fits in a single direction.
This basically means; the area of the RAM comprising of golden pins should be notched in the RAM slot when you are inserting the RAM in the respected RAM Slot.
Your RAM will be ruined if you do it the other way, hence the RAM will no longer work properly since the golden pins of the RAM are damaged.
RAM in PC
Furthermore, the most widely used memory module in a PC is DIMM; Dual In-line Memory Module. This module comprises a key of notches, they help you to correctly install RAMs on your PC.
Your PC’s performance basically depends on the type of RAM it has. In cases, where the RAM is not as per the capacity of your device, your PC’s operating system will work at a slower rate than usual.
Hence, in order to avoid such a situation, it is important that your PC has the correct RAM size installed.
The greater the RAM, the greater the speed of your operating system. Similarly, you can find out about the size of the RAM installed in your PC by clicking on the windows option or key of your device.
RAM Slot on Laptop
Since a laptop is a bit different in layout, the internal space of a laptop is quite smaller as compared to a PC.
Consequently, the ways in which RAMs are inserted into the RAM slots of a PC and Laptop are different.
Similarly, the RAM in your laptop is placed into the RAM slots in parallel to its motherboard. This is so because the space inside a laptop is quite less as compared to a PC’s CPU. Moreover, the size of the RAMs inserted in a laptop is smaller than that of the RAMs inserted in a PC.
Furthermore, you can look at the placement of the RAM in your laptop by flipping your laptop upside-down.
Here, at the back, there is a removable board or a part that you can unscrew to get access to your RAM.
However, there are some laptops that have their RAMs joined into their systems beforehand, hence you cannot change the RAM on your own.
Additionally, the latest laptops may not provide you with the luxury of changing your device’s RAM. This is the case because the RAM is already fixed on the motherboard of your laptop.
Similarly, most of the laptops we find these days, tend to have 2 RAM Slots. However, the smaller ones tend to have either a single RAM Slot or no RAM Slot at all.
The RAM is either fixed or soldered to the motherboard of the device in laptops that have no RAM Slot.
Additionally, if we talk about the laptops used for gaming, these laptops tend to have around 4 RAM Slots.
However, there are some laptops in which the RAM is fixed or soldered to the motherboard, but at the same time it comes with an extra RAM Slot.
RAM in Laptop
Most laptops these days tend to have RAM of up to 8 GB. There are some that have 4 GB or even 2 GB RAM. Similarly, some high-end models of laptops tend to have a RAM of up to 16 GB.
Gaming Laptops come in with a RAM size of up to 24 GB or 32 GB.
While a PC uses a DIMM memory module, a laptop has the SODIMM memory module. Additionally, this SODIMM memory module has either a 4 GB or 8 GB capacity in it.
However, there is a rare chance of it coming with a capacity of up to 16 GB.
RAM Slot on Mac
If we talk about Apple’s Mac, the 21.5-inch version of the Mac by Apple has its RAM fixed to its motherboard.
Thus, the RAM cannot be changed by yourself once you have bought your Mac from the store.
Additionally, you will need a special type of equipment if you do decide on changing the RAM of your Mac on your own.
Even if you take your Mac to a tech specialist for a change in its RAM, you will be losing its warranty.
The best way to avoid this is to decide the RAM size at the time you purchase your device. This feature of Apple’s Mac prevents the device from being customer-friendly since you lose the warranty by getting the RAM changed.
Therefore, I would suggest you buy your Mac after you have carefully researched and decided on the amount of RAM you require for your device as per your need.
RAM in Mac
Do you want to save your warranty? Here I will be presenting some RAM options that are present in Apple’s Mac.
The latest Macs have a RAM of up to 16 GB. However, the MacBook Air of 2015 version and Mac mini of 2014 version only has 4 GB RAM.
Apple’s Macs come in 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, and finally 128 GB, hence choose the one that best fits your needs.
Installation of RAM in PC and Laptop
In this section, I will walk you through the ways in which you can install RAM in your device; depending on the type of device you have.
Installation in PC
By adhering to the following steps, you will be able to install the RAM in your PC without damaging it or the system.
- Before installing the RAM chip, turn off your PC
2. Open the clips located on the RAM Slots of your PC
3. Now position your RAM chip in a way that aligns with the socket
4. Press the RAM chip downwards until you feel it connected in the socket
5. Finally, check if your RAM chip is perfectly fitted in the RAM Slot or not
However, it is absolutely important for you to keep in mind the color-coding of the RAM Slots in cases where your PC has 2 or more RAM Slots.
Following the correct RAM Slot Order will save you from unnecessary hassles.
Installation in Laptop
The following steps are a guide for you; adhering to them will help you in installing RAM on your laptop.
- Turn off your device
2. Now, find the memory module part on your device
3. Position your RAM in such a way that it is well aligned towards the RAM Slot of your device
4. Now slide the RAM in the RAM Slot
5. Push the RAM downwards with your finger to make sure it sits well in the RAM Slot
Well that was simple, wasn’t it? Just simply following the above-mentioned steps will help you to install the RAM on your PC or Laptop.
RAM Slots 1-3 vs 2-4
RAM Slots come in pairs or in a particular RAM Slot Order. The RAM Slot Order is either 1 and 3 or 2 and 4.
But you might be wondering:
Why is the RAM Slot Order set as 1 and 3, but not 1 and 2?
This is pretty simple to understand.
The method of assigning pairs to the RAM Slots is known as ‘the dual channel configuration’.
Motherboards are designed in such a way: RAMs in each next RAM Slot use the same path of acquiring data from the processor.
Each RAM chip will have its own path of getting data from the processor this way, hence faster data processing.
If a pair was set as 1 and 2, both the RAMs would have to use the same path or channel for getting the data, hence slower speed or hindrance in the functioning of the device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which RAM Slots to use first?
You will first fill in slot 1 and then move towards the next available slots. However, in the case of dual-channel motherboard, the slots have to be filled as per a RAM Slot Order. For pairs 1 and 3, fill in slot 1 first, but at the same time, for pairs 2 and 4, fill in slot 2.
Does the RAM Slot Order matter?
A RAM can be inserted in the RAM Slot the way you desire; in the case of a single RAM Slot.
However, dual-channel motherboards require you to follow a particular RAM Slot Order. To get a better idea of the RAM Slot Order, consult the manual of your motherboard.
Can I remove the RAM chip from my PC while it is still on?
You can do so, however, this will ruin your RAM chip and even your PC. It is better to turn off your PC while dealing with matters related to your RAM chip for better results.
