Question Does Ram placement on Motherboard really matter ?

[triplepen]

Hello, I had 8 RAM sticks running with an old i7 5820k processor. Yesterday, when I tried to rebuild this system in a new case, I couldn't get any display output. I removed all 4 RAM sticks from the slots on one side of the CPU, leaving the other 4 on the opposite side. Now, my system is working. There's an issue either with the RAM sticks or the RAM slots on that section of the motherboard, but I'm not entirely sure. For now, although my system is reduced to 32GB, it seems to be running without problems.

According to the motherboard's user manual, when using 4 RAM sticks, it recommends distributing them across the 4 slots on both sides of the CPU—2 RAM sticks on one side and 2 on the other. However, to do this, I would need to remove the cooler block, but I currently don't have access to thermal paste, so I can't do that.

In short, what issues might I face if I keep all 4 RAM sticks on just one side of the CPU? Yesterday, I ran a MemTest64 for about an hour and didn't encounter any issues. Would there be a performance loss? I’d appreciate your help. Thank you!

 

[Lutfij]

However, to do this, I would need to remove the cooler block, but I currently don't have access to thermal paste, so I can't do that.
You can try it out for yourself, most cases you'll be dealing with instability issues or a no-POST scenario. I would stick to what the motherboard manual states, better to go alongside the board makers instructions than winging it.

Yesterday, when I tried to rebuild this system in a new case, I couldn't get any display output. I removed all 4 RAM sticks from the slots on one side of the CPU, leaving the other 4 on the opposite side. Now, my system is working.
Could be a faulty stick of ram, a failing motherboard or a failing integrated memory controller.

What is the make and model of your motherboard? What BIOS version are you working with? Make and model of your ram kit?

 

[SkyNetRising]

what issues might I face if I keep all 4 RAM sticks on just one side of the CPU?

You loose quad channel memory operation mode.

 

[triplepen]

However, to do this, I would need to remove the cooler block, but I currently don't have access to thermal paste, so I can't do that.
You can try it out for yourself, most cases you'll be dealing with instability issues or a no-POST scenario. I would stick to what the motherboard manual states, better to go alongside the board makers instructions than winging it.

Yesterday, when I tried to rebuild this system in a new case, I couldn't get any display output. I removed all 4 RAM sticks from the slots on one side of the CPU, leaving the other 4 on the opposite side. Now, my system is working.
Could be a faulty stick of ram, a failing motherboard or a failing integrated memory controller.

What is the make and model of your motherboard? What BIOS version are you working with? Make and model of your ram kit?

Motherboard is MSI x99a Mpower , rams are g-skill ripjaws4 32gb (4x8) . I was using two sets of these rams which I bought different times. I know it is not recommended but I used them like this around 10 years and had no issues :') I which there was a way to check each ram stick to find which one is faulty.

 

[triplepen]

You loose quad channel memory operation mode.

Do you think I will loose noticable performance ?

 

[faalin]

Pull out the CPU, check the socket pins, then reinstall cpu and cooler with new thermal paste.