Should You Fill All Ram Slots

Joined: Feb 20, 1999

Messages: 51,022

If, while using the heaviest app on your PC, your RAM is half full, then you might not need to increase the size. If you want to squeeze more performance out of the same amount (which is sufficient. Can I use only two 8 GB RAM modules with my mid 2010 27' iMac (2.8 GHz Core I5)? In other words, do you have to fill all 4 memory slots or are 2 filled slots sufficient?

The motherboard I am getting (ASUS P5WD2) has four slots for memory, total of 8 Gig. I'm going to put 2 Gig in (need it for large video editing files) Am I better off to get 4 512s and fill all slots so if one goes bad I can replace at cheaper price or am I better off to go with two 1 Gig sticks? Will that board run on only 1 stick or does it need to be in pairs? If the memory needs to be installed in pairs, then I think it would be better to have 4 sticks so you can troubleshoot memory.
What do you think?
And what about memory brands? Is Altas Good? If not what is do you recommend?

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Which Ram Slot To Use

It all depends on whether you need raw RAM speed or a higher total amount of RAM. Today's RAM is so fast you may not notice the drop from triple channel to single channel. However, considering you can easily put 12GB or more in the first 6 slots using two 3-channel kits, there's really not much reason to use all 8 unless you need to max out the. If you just have one stick, you don't have to fill Slot 2. In the case of a motherboard with four RAM slots, it's probable you'll want to install your first RAM stick into the slot labeled 1.