What Slots Do My Ram Go In
PCI slots are going away as well but are still available from some major computer manufacturers but they usually only offer one PCI slot. Ram PC Systems has several different systems available with 2 or more PCI slots. PCI Express Slots. PCI Express slots are the replacement for PCI slots, and also AGP (used only for video cards).
When purchasing a new Server, Workstation or PC to support an expansion card one of the most important things to determine is what type of slot does the motherboard have. There are 3 types of slots that have been used for over the years: ISA, PCI, and PCI Express (PCIe). These are also the most common types of slots that computer motherboards have had for expansion cards. Let’s take a look at each of these:
General rule: 1. Slots are A1-A2 B1-B2 2. With two same type RAM you plug A1-B1 / A2-B2 slots. The pic Nightgloom provided explains it perfectly. The slots having the matching colors are paired, so a matched set of memory modules would plug into the slots having the white tabs, and likewise for the slots having the black tabs. For best performance you need to install memory beginning with the first slot, which is usually a white tab, I think.
ISA Slots
The ISA Slots are shown in Green in image to the right. This is the oldest slot type that is still available today. Computers with ISA slots are no longer available from major computer manufacturers, Ram PC Systems still sells industrial class systems with ISA slots.
PCI Slots
PCI slots were the replacment for ISA slots. The PCI Slots are shown in the Red box in the image. PCI slots come in several different versions including 5 volt and 3.3 volt slots, and 32-bit and 64-bit PCI-X slots. PCI slots are going away as well but are still available from some major computer manufacturers but they usually only offer one PCI slot. Ram PC Systems has several different systems available with 2 or more PCI slots.
PCI Express Slots
PCI Express slots are the replacement for PCI slots, and also AGP (used only for video cards). PCI Express, also labeled as PCIe come in numerous bus widths labeled: x1, x2, x4, x8, and x16.
Related Posts and Helpful Links
Adding additional RAM memory to computer had been always one of the easiest and efficient upgrades. Over years with baggage of hardware generations and new technologies it can get tricky.
When installing memory it’s not important what to do, but more important to do it right
Choose memory
There are two main factors in memory: type and speed.
By type most of it is one of DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 (unless you are looking at really old computer). Memory of different types is not compatible mechanically or electronically. Motherboards usually have slots for one specific kind of memory, some rare models can support memory of two types (but not at the same time).
Speed of memory is faster for newer types, but also differs in margins of every type. Motherboards might only support slower speed than memory can come with. Memory of different speeds will in general work with any motherboard of required type. Slow memory will work at its speed even if motherboard can go faster. Fast memory will slow down to match motherboard if needed.
So you need memory that matches motherboard in type and (best case) speed. If adding memory it is also good idea that new modules match old ones in parameters and brand.
Manufacturers always provide (in manual and online) information on what memory motherboard supports and larger brands even offer lists of practically tested modules for each motherboard.
Choose slots
I remember times when you just had to stick modules in, but those are gone.
Currently most of motherboards/processor combos support at least two memory channels. I think there are already rare (for now) configurations with three channels.
Different channels correspond to different physical slots on board. The idea is that memory must be balanced between channels and that requires them to be filled in specific order.
Motherboard manual has diagram of slot channels and numbers. For example like this one:
Letter commonly refer to channel, numbers commonly refer to order inside channel. In usual case (when manual doesn’t have other explicit instructions) slots must be filled in following order:
- First slot of first channel (A1 in example)
- First slot of second channel (B1)
- Second slot of first channel (A2)
- Second slot of second channel (B2)
- And so on.
What Slots Do My Ram Go In The Morning
If you need to install multiply modules it is best to add them one by one.
Overall
Installing memory is not hard, but my advice is to have motherboard manual open and ready. Those slots rarely come in any kind of sane order. I had recently upgraded computer for a friend and it took me five attempts to get kit of 3x2GB memory modules working correctly.