Questions about motherboards and memory

[gramps1968]

First off, please forgive me since I am not that technically advanced....I'm looking to replace my motherboard and RAM. How do you tell if they will hold two 4gb or a single 8 gb stick? I have looked at pictures, but not sure how you tell? All the descriptions tell me is the maximum RAM and the speeds they will take.

 

[pierrerock]

it is number of RAM slots. most ATX mother board will hold up to 4 sticks. But you do want 2 RAM sticks in your computer to benefit from dual channel memory setting. Also, when you look for a new motherboard, make sure it has the same CPU slot as your CPU uses.

New intel uses LGA 1150
AMD FX uses AM3 +
AMD new APU uses FM2

these are examples, but this is to give you an idea of what to look at.

 

[boju]

I think he means the capacity each dimm slot can handle and that information will be in the manual you can view online by searching the motherboard model and manual.

Motherboards today can handle upto 8GB dimm easily.

 

[gramps1968]

it is number of RAM slots. most ATX mother board will hold up to 4 sticks. But you do want 2 RAM sticks in your computer to benefit from dual channel memory setting. Also, when you look for a new motherboard, make sure it has the same CPU slot as your CPU uses.

New intel uses LGA 1150
AMD FX uses AM3 +
AMD new APU uses FM2

these are examples, but this is to give you an idea of what to look at.

I'm going with AMD and have been looking at AM3+ motherboards. So do the individual slots hold either one 8gb stick or two 4gb sticks? Or are 8 and 4gb sticks the same size?

 

[boju]

DDR3 desktop memory is 240pin, all different capacities are the same size physically.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Each RAM slot will hold one RAM module, be it 1GB, 2GB , 4GB, or 8GB. Multiple RAM modules in a computer should be of the same speed/capacity and should also be compatible with the motherboard. The best way to achieve this is to purchase memory in kits: (capacity)2x8GB (speed)DDR3-1600 for example for a total of 16GB of RAM.

-Wolf sends

 

[gramps1968]

[strike][/strike]

DDR3 desktop memory is 240pin, all different capacities are the same size physically.

Thank you!! Thats what I was trying to ask... I wasn't sure if the sticks were different physical sizes because I have never actually seen a 8gb stick before!

 

[gramps1968]

Just curious what dual channel means in laymans terms?

 

[boju]

Can research dual channel whenever you like for more definitive answer but in layman's terms;

dual memory= dual highway

Traffic flows more than single memory highway 😀