I have a Z890 Eagle WiFi 7 motherboard, and the fourth RAM slot appears to be damaged or nonfunctional. With only two memory sticks, should I install them in slots 1 and 2, or slots 2 and 3? I want to preserve dual-channel performance if possible.
2 Answers
Use the first and third physical slots—usually labeled A1 and B1. That keeps the sticks in separate memory channels so dual-channel mode can work. Normally two sticks go in A2 and B2, but if the fourth slot is unusable, A1 and B1 are the sensible alternative.
Assuming you’re counting the slots from left to right, install the RAM in slots 1 and 3 rather than placing both next to each other. Check the motherboard labels as well, since the printed A1/B1 names matter more than the physical numbering.
Thanks, that clears it up. I checked the manual but found it confusing, so I’ll try slots 1 and 3.