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Problem installing three ram modules

The ASRock H81M-DGS has only 2x DDR3 slots. For best results, put identical memory sticks in both slots. So: don't be putting 4 Gb in one slot and 2 Gb in the other slot.
Put 2x 4 Gb sticks in both slots, or 2x 2 Gb sticks in both slots.
 
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H manual...

"Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used."

Are you installing modules that are single sided, double sided or both?
Below is how they should be configured...
GigManMem.jpg
 
Blain said:
Gigabyte Z77-DS3H manual...

"Make sure that the motherboard supports the memory. It is recommended that memory of the same capacity, brand, speed, and chips be used."
Click to expand...

I have a similar 4 RAM slot Gigabyte MB used in a build which originally I only budgeted to include 4GB of RAM. I fitted a Corsair XMS3 4GB (2xGB) DDR3 1600 kit. Later on in the build I decided to upgrade to 8GB so bought an 'identical' kit to use in the other two slots.

Since then I've been thinking of upgrading again but have been concerned about this same RAM 'matching' issue. I was thinking of bumping the RAM up to 12GB by replacing one of the sets of 2x2GB RAM modules with 2x4GB instead ie. Corsair XMS3 1600.

If the make, type and speed are all the same, just the capacity is larger would that really cause any problems?
 
Mantrid-Drone said:
I have a similar 4 RAM slot Gigabyte MB used in a build which originally I only budgeted to include 4GB of RAM. I fitted a Corsair XMS3 4GB (2xGB) DDR3 1600 kit. Later on in the build I decided to upgrade to 8GB so bought an 'identical' kit to use in the other two slots.

Since then I've been thinking of upgrading again but have been concerned about this same RAM 'matching' issue. I was thinking of bumping the RAM up to 12GB by replacing one of the sets of 2x2GB RAM modules with 2x4GB instead ie. Corsair XMS3 1600.

If the make, type and speed are all the same, just the capacity is larger would that really cause any problems?
Click to expand...

I was just "observing" this thread, trying to assess what the OP was doing and what -- or if -- there was a problem. So I'm actually a bit surprised that you posted this question about the ambiguity in the motherboard manual for the Z77 board that I ALSO noticed.

That is, it might seem ambiguous to the uninitiated, and it is not clearly written as I see it -- or from the view of those who "know" about these things.

You can install two kits of (recommended) the same basic model and manufacture. The kits can be of different capacity/size. So you could use a 2x4 or 2x8GB kit with a 2x2GB kit, etc. Install the larger kit in the two channel A & B slots recommended for a single kit; install the smaller kit in the remaining A & B slots.

I was just getting ready to run upstairs and install a 2x2 kit in my brother's new system, which already has a 2x4GB kit. Coincidence, I guess.
 
It's possible the mainboard does not accept one and a half kits. In this case, stay with 6GB or buy another 4GB DIMM for a total of 12GB.

Personally I used 6x2GB + 2x1GB and it did not work out.
 
ArisVer said:
It's possible the mainboard does not accept one and a half kits. In this case, stay with 6GB or buy another 4GB DIMM for a total of 12GB.

Personally I used 6x2GB + 2x1GB and it did not work out.
Click to expand...

Most any mobo with Intel consumer chipset that I've seen over good part of a decade -- DDR2 or DDR3 -- are dual-channel. I think the X58 chipset offered triple-channel, so you would buy a kit of 3 modules or sticks.

Otherwise, all the boards I'd encountered -- a limited set, I admit -- would allow you to pair a 2x2GB with a 2x1GB or a 2x4GB with a 2x2GB, etc. So for instance, if I had a 2x8GB kit occupying two of the four slots and memory socketed to have dual-channel, I might find a 2x4GB kit in the same make, model, voltage and timings for a total of 24GB.

I once had a board that seemed to have a f***y RAM slot, and I had problems putting a 2x512MB adding to a 2x2GB kit. Later, I had a duplicate board -- same model, same chipset, same BIOS revision. I was able to install two identical kits of 2x2GB. It may have been that the 2x512MB didn't work the first time, didn't work with a defective board. It may have been that the board "wouldn't work" with two kits of different size. But, then . . . why would the motherboard manual say that it would?

Ever since, I've never had a problem with this particular possibility. More often, I'd just socketed two identical kits; occasionally, I'd use similar kits of different model and speed from the same make, although those -- too -- were identical in capacity.

But -- proof of the pudding -- we're running HCI Memtest-64 as I speak on an ASUS Z77-A (budget) board with 2x2 and 2x4GB kits. So far, it's passed 200% coverage 0 errors. I don't foresee a problem with that.
 
Just in case anyone paid particular attention to my previous post, appended below, which could easily be missing some point or digresses from the OP's question -- only a reader might opine.

NOW I remember the situation I had with a 680i motherboard and Crucial 2x512MB and 2x1GB DDR2-1000 sticks. I think to find the "right" CPU:RAM ratio for that technology, I opted to downclock these to 900Mhz and tighten the latencies. The process indicated more voltage, but they were just within the lifetime warranty spec. So there are reasons to suspect some other cause for trouble I had with them.

And the problem I had with them completely eclipsed any chance that the configuration itself wouldn't work: the RAM was recognized in Windows. Instead, it was an instability problem, and I simply removed the modules rather than hone my earlier over-clocking skills to make the right tweaks to CPU-VTT, Northbridge or other possibilities. End of story.

I can only say there's no problem mixing 2x-kit sizes or two different kits of same model, speed and timings in an Intel dual-channel system.

BonzaiDuck said:
Most any mobo with Intel consumer chipset that I've seen over good part of a decade -- DDR2 or DDR3 -- are dual-channel. I think the X58 chipset offered triple-channel, so you would buy a kit of 3 modules or sticks.

Otherwise, all the boards I'd encountered -- a limited set, I admit -- would allow you to pair a 2x2GB with a 2x1GB or a 2x4GB with a 2x2GB, etc. So for instance, if I had a 2x8GB kit occupying two of the four slots and memory socketed to have dual-channel, I might find a 2x4GB kit in the same make, model, voltage and timings for a total of 24GB.

I once had a board that seemed to have a f***y RAM slot, and I had problems putting a 2x512MB adding to a 2x2GB kit. Later, I had a duplicate board -- same model, same chipset, same BIOS revision. I was able to install two identical kits of 2x2GB. It may have been that the 2x512MB didn't work the first time, didn't work with a defective board. It may have been that the board "wouldn't work" with two kits of different size. But, then . . . why would the motherboard manual say that it would?

Ever since, I've never had a problem with this particular possibility. More often, I'd just socketed two identical kits; occasionally, I'd use similar kits of different model and speed from the same make, although those -- too -- were identical in capacity.

But -- proof of the pudding -- we're running HCI Memtest-64 as I speak on an ASUS Z77-A (budget) board with 2x2 and 2x4GB kits. So far, it's passed 200% coverage 0 errors. I don't foresee a problem with that.
Click to expand...
 
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