Whein installing new RAM is it important which slots they go in?

Question

I have a PC with 256mb RAM which I am pulling out and replacing with 1gB (2 x 512 cards). The machine has 4 slots ie 2 pairs of 2 slots. Does it matter which slots the new RAM goes in?

Answer 1

It doesn't matter. although some motherboards can take both DDR and DDR2 RAM. On type of Ram cannot fit into the other's slot.
If it fits, it works.

Answer 2

Which Slots To Install Ram

Answer 3

OK, ill just summarize from all the answer above, and correct view things. which slot the go in definitely important if you talk about installing RAM on motherboard that accept 2 kinds of RAM, (yes there are several motherboard that designed to accept 2 kinds of RAM). on that motherboard you must install it on the right slot, or it will not works.
it is not important which slots they go in if you installing RAM on motherboard that accept 1 kind of RAM, but usually you don't put RAM on the last bank, because many people experienced system instablelity after installing RAM on the last bank.
for double bank memory or RAM, yes placing is important so you can get extra performance, you should look at the mother board and see 2 slots or banks are colored identically. you should place or install the 2 ram on the banks that have the same color.
double bank memory doesn't requires a special memory, although a special selected RAM can guaranteed a maximum extra performance.

Answer 4

If the old ram was bad then yes you should remove it. You should put the same type ram in the same color slots for dual channel performance. When all else fails, trial and error. put the ram in and boot up. If it doesnt boot, move it to the other slots. You can also try this with the old ram if you think some of may still be good. I have used the trial and error method many times and never caused any major issues so you should be ok swapping it around till you find the best install combo..

Answer 5

Assuming you've checked your PC's tech specs as well as the compatability of your new RAM cards.....it doesn't matter which of the 4 RAM slots you install the new RAM cards in---as long as those slots ARE for RAM only.

Answer 6

yes.you will have to look at your owners manual to find out whitch ones. or if your pc has color coded slots stick them both in the same color. the slots can either be arranged in slot 0-1-2-3 or 0-2-1-3 depending on your mobo they count outwards from the processor. put your ram sticks in slot 0 and 1

Answer 7

Probably not, as long as you put them in a pair of slots. It depends how your mobo is configured... if it must use pairs, then you must use paired slots with same characteristic memory in. If it uses pairs better than singles, it's best to put memory of the same characteristics in both slots of a pair.

Otherwise, any slot will do.

Answer 8

Well new ones with a dual core usually have dual channel memory meaning it writes to both banks at once. If you only have 256 though, its probably a single core and you should use 1 and 2 closest to the processor.