A memory slot, memory socket, or RAM slot allows RAM (computer memory) to be inserted into the computer. Most motherboards have two to four memory slots, which determine the type of RAM used with the computer. The most common RAM types are SDRAM and DDR for desktop computers and SODIMM for laptop computers, each having various types and speeds. The picture below is an example of what memory slots may look like inside a desktop computer. In this picture, there are three open and available slots for three memory sticks.
When buying a new computer or motherboard, pay close attention to the types of RAM the memory slots can accept. Make sure you know exactly the type of RAM to buy for your computer. It is also important to note how many available memory slots are available in your computer. It is not uncommon for computers to have all memory slots occupied. If all slots are full and you want to upgrade the computer memory, you need to remove some or all of the existing memory.
I just want to add that on my favorite MoBo manufacturer's boards - which I won't identify here because their boards are great and this is a minor annoyance - that their documentation no longer includes the DIMM order, and that one board that wanted two of four (if you only did two) to be in the same colour, in another board wants them to be installed in opposite colours starting at the CPU. Dual-channel memory slots, color-coded orange and yellow for this particular motherboard. Dual-channel-enabled memory controllers in a PC system architecture use two 64-bit data channels. Dual-channel should not be confused with double data rate (DDR), in which data exchange happens twice per DRAM clock.
Why are the memory slots different colors?
When a motherboard has different colored memory slots, it indicates the memory slots are dual-channel, and pairs of memory should be installed on the same channel (color). For example, a motherboard could have two yellow and two black memory slots. The yellow memory slots could indicate Channel A and Channel B could be indicated by the black slots. If you were only installing two memory sticks, you'd want to install both of them in Channel A (yellow slots) for optimal performance.
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I just want to add that on my favorite MoBo manufacturer's boards - which I won't identify here because their boards are great and this is a minor annoyance - that their documentation no longer includes the DIMM order, and that one board that wanted two of four (if you only did two) to be in the same colour, in another board wants them to be installed in opposite colours starting at the CPU. Dual-channel memory slots, color-coded orange and yellow for this particular motherboard. Dual-channel-enabled memory controllers in a PC system architecture use two 64-bit data channels. Dual-channel should not be confused with double data rate (DDR), in which data exchange happens twice per DRAM clock.
Why are the memory slots different colors?
When a motherboard has different colored memory slots, it indicates the memory slots are dual-channel, and pairs of memory should be installed on the same channel (color). For example, a motherboard could have two yellow and two black memory slots. The yellow memory slots could indicate Channel A and Channel B could be indicated by the black slots. If you were only installing two memory sticks, you'd want to install both of them in Channel A (yellow slots) for optimal performance.
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