What Is Dimm Slot?

What Is Dimm Slot

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DIMM (dual in-line memory module) slots are the place on your motherboard where the RAM goes. As such, you may also see DIMM slots referred to as ” RAM slots.” The more DIMM slots your motherboard has, the more RAM you can install. Your motherboard may have anywhere from one to eight DIMM slots, but most mainstream motherboards have four.

Motherboards come in three sizes.
They are, from smallest to biggest, Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX and ATX.
Mini-ITX motherboards usually have a maximum of two DIMM slots in order to save space.
Motherboards running low-end chipsets also tend to have just two DIMM slots.
Contrastingly, motherboards based on high-end chipsets, like AMD’s X399 chipset for its Threadripper CPUs or Intel’s X299 chipset for its Core X CPUs, have eight DIMM slots.

So how many DIMM slots do you actually need? It depends on how much RAM you want and how many DIMMs you’ll use to get there.16GB of RAM should do the trick if you’re mostly focused on mainstream tasks and games, while 32GB is more than enough. You can achieve 32GB RAM with two DIMM slots (using two 16GB RAM sticks).

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Scharon Harding has a special affinity for gaming peripherals (especially monitors), laptops and virtual reality. Previously, she covered business technology, including hardware, software, cyber security, cloud and other IT happenings, at Channelnomics, with bylines at CRN UK.

What is the purpose of DIMM?

Continue Reading About DIMM (dual in-line memory module) –

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What is DIMM in memory RAM?

DIMM stands for dual in-line memory module; more commonly, it is called a RAM stick. It is a long, thin strip of printed circuit board containing RAM (random access memory) chips, with pins that connect it directly to a motherboard. DIMM has become the predominant type of memory modules on the market because it is natively 64 bits, allowing for faster data transfer than its 32-bit SIMM (single in-line memory module) predecessor, while consuming less power.

Is DIMM and DDR4 the same?

How does DDR4 differ from DDR3 in appearance? – Physically, a, or dual in-line memory module (DIMM), looks very similar to a DDR3 DIMM. However, DDR4 has 288 pins compared with DDR3’s 240 pins; DDR4 SO-DIMMS have 260 pins instead of 204 in DDR3. The DDR4 key notch is in a different place, and the edge connector looks like a slightly curved “V” to facilitate insertion.

How does DDR4 differ from other DDR generations?
The following table compares the different DDR generations.
DDR Evolution
Table 1. Comparison of different DDR generations
What are the advantages of DDR4 over DDR3?
Lower power

DDR4 modules are more energy-efficient, operating only at 1.2V compared with DDR3’s 1.5V or 1.35V. The reduced power consumption gives substantial power savings and allows operation at higher speeds without higher power and cooling requirements.

Higher module density
DIMM densities start at 2 GB, reaching up to 128 GB – a big leap from DDR3’s 512 MB to 32 GB capacities.
Faster data transfer speed

ATP’s latest DDR4 modules for embedded and industrial applications deliver high-speed data transfers up to 3200 MT/s. DDR4-3200, the latest industrial DDR4 offering from ATP, transfers data about 70% faster than DDR3-1866, one of the fastest DDR3 versions available, for a big boost in theoretical peak performance.


Item	DDR3-1866	DDR4-3200
I/O bus clock	933 MHz	1600 MHz
Data rate	1866 MT/s	3200 MT/s
Peak transfer rate	14928 MB/s	25600 MB/s

Table 2. DDR3-1866 vs. DDR4-3200 Figure 2. Performance comparison: DDR3-1866 vs. DDR4-3200. Do the latest Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors support DDR4 modules from ATP? Yes. Each of the latest Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors with Intel® C620 Series Chipsets (formerly code-named Skylake-SP and Lewisburg) provides native support for six memory channels that can operate at the same speed even at full load.

Which applications and industries will benefit most from DDR4-3200/2933/2666/2400?
The increased interface speed amplifies theoretical peak performance for the most critical computing applications in industries such as telecommunication infrastructures, networking storage systems, network-attached storage (NAS) servers, micro/cloud servers, and embedded systems like industrial PCs.
What are available from ATP Electronics?


	Form Factor
Category	LRDIMM	RDIMM	UDIMM	UDIMM ECC	SO-RDIMM	SO-DIMM	SO-DIMM ECC	Mini-RDIMM	Mini-UDIMM	Mini-UDIMM ECC
Data Rate Speed (MT/s)	3200 2933 2666 2400 2133	2400 2133	3200 2933 2666 2400 2133	2400 2133
PCB Height	Low profile	VLP: 0.74″ height
	VLP option: 0.74″ height	ULP option: below 0.74″ height	VLP option: 0.74″ height			VLP option: 0.74″ height
Density	32 GB 64 GB 128 GB	4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 32 GB 64 GB 128 GB	2 GB 4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 32 GB	4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 32 GB	2 GB 4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 32 GB	4 GB 8 GB 16 GB 32 GB
Voltage	1.2V
Working Temperature	Wide Temp: -40-95°C Commercial Grade: 0-85°C
Golden Finger	30µ

Table 3. ATP DDR4 product family How will I know if my system supports DDR4? Can I install a DDR4 DIMM on a DDR3 slot? Every DDR generation is different from the others. DDR4 is not backward-compatible with DDR3 so a DDR4 DIMM will not fit on a DDR3 DIMM slot.

Not only is the key notch of each DDR generation different (please refer to Figure 1 above), but the DDR4 pin size and arrangement is different from DDR3.
Notice that towards the middle of the DDR4 module, some pins are longer, giving it a slightly curved “V” shape.
Refer to your motherboard documentation to make sure that it has the correct DDR4 slot.

Figure 3. A standard DDR4 ECC DIMM module from ATP. Pins in the middle are longer, giving the module a slightly curved “V” shape. How can I choose which DIMM type to use on my system? Different DIMM types serve several purposes. DIMMs may or may not have error correcting code (ECC/non-ECC).

They could be unbuffered or fully buffered (UDIMM/FB-DIMM), registered (RDIMM), or load-reduced (LR-DIMM).
Different systems platforms can accommodate different memory types, so make sure to check which DIMMs are supported on your motherboard.
For a quick look at common memory types, read “” on the ATP Blog.

Is it possible to combine DIMMs with different data rates on the same system? To get the best memory performance, it is recommended that you install identical DIMMs on the same system. When mixing DIMMs of different operating speeds, the motherboard will underclock the faster one so it will only run at the speed of the slowest DIMM, unless you overclock the slow DIMMs.

Which DIMM slots to use for RAM?

Which RAM Slots Should You Use? – The safest and most effective way to determine which RAM slots you should use is by checking your motherboard manual as it can be different for every motherboard. But, in general, the rule is as follows: If you have one RAM stick, you should use the slot furthest away from the CPU socket regardless of the number of RAM slots that your motherboard has. If you have two RAM sticks, you should use the slot furthest away from the CPU socket and the slot one slot away from the CPU. If you have three RAM sticks, you should use the three slots furthest away from the CPU socket. If you have four RAM sticks and a four-slot motherboard, then you can just populate all four slots with all four RAM sticks. If you have more than four slots on your motherboard, then you either have a server motherboard or a very fancy high-end desktop / workstation motherboard. Image Credit: ASUS If you have a high-end motherboard, then you most likely have eight RAM slots on your motherboard, double what’s usually available on most motherboards. These boards might also support triple-channel (rare) or quad-channel memory support. Source: GIGABYTE It’ll most likely have a table like this showing how and where to install your RAM, and following it is your best bet to having a smooth experience. But, in general:

If you for some reason only have one RAM stick available, it can go anywhere. If you have two RAM sticks, they have four potential spots they can go in now compared to the two before. You should put the sticks in the slots furthest away from the CPU for maximum clearance. But make sure that both sticks are only one slot apart and everything should be alright. If you have three RAM sticks, just put them in the furthest slots right next to each other. If you have four RAM sticks, you can put them all next to each other or space them out for symmetry. If you have a motherboard that supports quad-channel memory, then it might be required for you to have the RAM sticks in a certain pattern. You have to consult your manual for this one. If you have five RAM sticks, it’s the same as four, just stick that extra stick somewhere in-between. If you have six RAM sticks, put three on each side for symmetry. If you have seven RAM sticks, it’s the same as five, just stick that extra stick in there somewhere. If you have eight RAM sticks, then just populate all slots.

All of that said, I really don’t recommend you use uneven RAM stick configurations (3, 5, 7). You’ll most likely be mixing and matching RAM for configurations like that, so the chance of running into issues increases because of it. You’ll also screw up the multi-channel configuration with an uneven number of RAM modules. Image Credit: ASUS In this case, I highly recommend that you look at your manual. What I’ve said above for motherboards with eight RAM slots could apply here, but it might just as well lead to instability as well—especially if you have odd numbers of RAM like three, five, seven.

Doubly so if you have a motherboard that supports dual CPUs,
In motherboards like this, each CPU controls half of the available RAM slots.
This means that if you only populate some of the slots, say, four RAM slots on the first CPU’s side, the second CPU won’t have any RAM of its own and will have to go through the first CPU to get any RAM for the tasks that it might be performing, which can lead to major slowdowns.

So it’s always best to consult the manual first. It’s hard to give info about motherboards like this because there are so many potentially different configurations.

Is DIMM a SSD?

SATADIMM is an Enterprise Solid State Drive (SSD) in a DIMM form factor.

What are the advantages of DIMM slots?

DIMM stands for Dual In-Line Memory Module, a type of computer memory that installs in the motherboard’s memory slots. While DIMM’s predecessor, SIMM (Single In-Line Memory Module), are 32-bit and must be installed in matched pairs to achieve 64-bit data paths, DIMMs are natively 64 bits.

This enables a single DIMM to transfer data twice as fast as a single SIMM. DIMM memory chips are dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the most common type of primary memory. Static RAM is more expensive and faster and creates the CPU’s cache memory layer. DRAM consists of a transistor and capacitor that create a memory cell, which represents a single bit.

The DIMM is installed on a motherboard and stores each data bit in separate memory cells. While earlier DIMM units held a paltry 512 MB of RAM, modern DIMM units like this Samsung DDR4 hold up to 64GB RAM.

What is 8 GB DIMM?

The 8GB DIMM RAM means it has a slot (or more) where you can plug a RAM module in. DIMM stands for Dual In-line Memory Module. That’s an industry standard.

Can I use DIMM RAM?

Can you Use DIMM RAM sticks in UDIMM Slots? – Yes, it is possible to insert DIMM RAM into UDIMM slots. Buffered memory has an additional register between the DRAM and memory controller, consuming less electrical load. So it works perfectly with unbuffered memory slots meant for UDIMM.

Is all RAM DIMM?

The Form Factors of RAM – For the most part, RAM comes in two sizes: DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module), which is found in desktops and servers, and SO-DIMM (Small Outline DIMM), which is found in laptops and other small form factor computers. Though the two RAM form factors use the same technology and functionally work exactly the same way, you cannot mix them. You can’t just jam a DIMM stick into a SO-DIMM slot, and vice versa (the pins and slots don’t line up!). When buying RAM, the first thing to figure out is its form factor. Nothing else matters if the stick won’t fit!

How do I know if my RAM is DIMM?

Check all memory details – The above commands help you to determine the most useful information about the RAM installed on your computer. However, there is another command you can use to query all the available details at the same time. To view all the memory details on Windows 10, then use these steps:

Open Start,
Type Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to list every memory detail possible and press Enter : wmic memorychip list full

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Confirm the available information for each memory module installed on the device.
(Optional) Type the following command to view only the specific details and press Enter : wmic memorychip get devicelocator, manufacturer, partnumber, serialnumber, capacity, speed, memorytype, formfactor

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Confirm the memory information.

Once you complete the steps, you will have many details about the memory modules installed on your Windows 10 device. While you can use Command Prompt to query many details about the RAM specifications on your computer, some information may not be available depending on the system’s hardware.

Can you mix DIMM and DDR4?

Can You Mix Different RAM Brands? – In short, the answer to this question is: yes, No matter the brand, speed, and size of the RAM, theoretically you can mix and match RAM in your system; though it may prove to be problematic. Also, depending on the setup & workload, you may not even notice a difference in performance.

The only RAM characteristic that will certainly cause incompatibility between RAM modules is the memory type.
Different generation RAM sticks – like DDR3 vs DDR4 – will not work together.
That being said, there are many additional factors that must be taken into account to ensure satisfactory results – some of which can be inherently luck-dependent.

This is also why it’s generally ill-advised to attempt to build such a setup – but it is possible.

Is DDR4 faster than DDR3?

DDR4 speed is faster than DDR3. DDR3 maximum memory size is 16 GB. DDR4 has no maximum limit or capability. The clock speed of DDR3 varies from 400 MHz to 1066 MHz.

Can I use 4GB and 8GB RAM together?

Yes, you can use 8GB RAM with 4GB RAM.

Can I put RAM in all slots?

Can You Put Ram In Any Slot? – Technically, yes, you can install RAM in any one of the four slots available on your motherboard. As long as you’ve correctly plugged in the RAM and the slot is not defective, the computer will recognize the installed module(s).

However, doing so means the RAM is not working to its full potential, especially if you’ve installed multiple modules. This setup was not always possible in older computers, and the computer would not boot if the user plugged RAM into the wrong slot. The same thing can happen with today’s computers when you try to use incompatible RAM.

Therefore, it’s important to always refer to your motherboard’s documentation to know what RAM types and speeds are compatible.

Which DIMM slot to use first?

Installing Computer Memory – iFixit Installing memory modules is straightforward. Most recent motherboards automatically detect installed memory modules regardless of the slot they occupy, but it is good practice to install modules in the lowest numbered slots first.

For example, if a single-channel memory motherboard has four memory slots, they will be numbered 0 to 3 (or 1 to 4).
Fill slot 0 (or 1) first, then the other slots sequentially as you add modules.
If you are installing memory in a dual-channel memory motherboard, install memory modules in pairs, filling the lowest numbered slots first.

For example, if the motherboard has two slots each for channel A and channel B, numbered 0 and 1, fill the slots for channel A slot 0 and channel B slot 0 first. Some motherboards require higher-capacity modules to be installed in lower-numbered slots.

For example, if you are installing two 256 MB DIMMs in a dual-channel motherboard that has four DIMM sockets, with 128 MB DIMMs already installed in the 0 slots for channel A and channel B, you may have to move those 128 MB DIMMs to the 1 slots for channel A and channel B and install the new 256 MB DIMMs in the 0 slots for both channels.

That rule is not invariable, though. A few motherboards require smaller modules to be installed in the lower banks. Some motherboards don’t care which module you install in which bank. Best practice is to check the manual before installing memory. If no documentation is available, experiment by moving modules around.

If some or all of the memory is not recognized during the boot-time memory check or in CMOS Setup, power down the system, rearrange the modules, and restart the system. If all memory is recognized, you can safely assume that you have the modules installed correctly. To install a DIMM, locate a free memory slot and pivot the ejector arms on each side of the socket as far as possible toward the horizontal.

The contact edge of the DIMM module is keyed with notches that correspond to protuberances in the DIMM socket. Align the notches and slide the DIMM straight down into the socket. Position your thumbs on top of the DIMM at each end and press down firmly, as shown in Figure 6-5,

Figure 6-5: Align the memory module and press straight down until it seats DON’T CRACK UP Some motherboards particularly cheap ones are thin and very flexible.
The pressure required to seat a DIMM may flex the motherboard enough to crack it.
When you install a DIMM in a motherboard that’s already in the case, pay close attention to how much pressure you’re applying.

If the motherboard appears to be flexing too much, remove the motherboard from the case before installing the DIMM. Yes, that takes a lot more time, but it’s better than destroying the motherboard. The DIMM slides (sometimes snaps) into the socket, which automatically pivots the ejector arms toward the vertical.

If the ejector arms are not fully vertical, press them toward the DIMM until they lock into the vertical position, as shown in Figure 6-6, Note that some DIMM sockets have minor physical variations. If the DIMM does not fit easily into the socket, do not force it. Contact the vendor who supplied the DIMM for a replacement.

Figure 6-6: When the memory module is fully seated, the ejector arms pivot back to the vertical To remove a DIMM, pivot both ejector arms simultaneously toward the horizontal position. The DIMM simply pops out. DON’T FORGET THE CRIMM If you are installing Rambus RIMMs, also install a Continuity RIMM (CRIMM) in each unused memory slot.

Rambus systems malfunction unless all memory slots are occupied, either by a RIMM or a CRIMM. Most Rambus motherboards have enough CRIMMs bundled with the motherboard to populate all but one memory slot. If you run short of CRIMMs, you can buy them online. After you install the new memory modules and verify that all is as it should be, apply power to the system.

The memory self-test should increment up to the newly installed amount of memory. (If your system displays a logo splash screen rather than the BIOS boot screen, turn off the splash screen in BIOS Setup so that you can see the BIOS boot screen.) If it instead shows only the original amount of memory, the cause is almost always that you have not seated the new memory module completely.

Check the Chipset Setup portion of CMOS Setup to determine how memory is configured for the newly installed bank(s). Most recent chipsets and BIOSs automatically determine the correct size and configuration parameters for installed modules. But some chipsets, BIOSs, and memory modules do not implement SPD correctly. If this occurs, you may have to set the correct size manually, if indeed the module size you have installed is an available option.A limitation on maximum module size may be enforced by the chipset, the BIOS, or both. Before deciding you cannot use the larger module, check the motherboard manufacturer’s web site for a BIOS update. If the restriction on module size is enforced by the BIOS but not by the chipset, you may find that a later BIOS revision adds support for the larger module.If all else fails, the only alternative may be to return the memory module (you did make sure you had the right to return an incompatible module, didn’t you?) and obtain a compatible module.

: Installing Computer Memory – iFixit

Where is SO DIMM used?

Dual In line Memory Module ( DIMM ) : The DIMM slots were introduced to cater for multitasking in computing devices. It began to replace Single In Line Memory Module ( SIMM ) as it supported high data flow and gave more options to the end user. (DIMM slot) (SO-DIMM slot) As the requirement for RAM keeps on increasing day by day, DIMM slot will give an option to the end user to increase the RAM space by using the 2nd DIMM port.DIMM port supports 64 bit data flow in contrast to 32 bit data flow in SIMM port.

All Samsung notebooks are fitted with 2 DIMM ports for future enhancements. In notebooks, Small outline Dual Input Memory Module (SO-DIMM) slots are used since there is lack of space in smaller and compact devices. SO-DIMM slots takes half the space in comparison to DIMM slots, but they draw higher power than its bigger variant.

Please look at the representation above for reference.

What are two benefits of DIMM sparing?

SPARC M8 and SPARC M7 Servers Administration Guide DIMM sparing provides a mechanism on SPARC M8 and SPARC M7 servers to unconfigure a failed DIMM with minimal performance loss. This feature allows deferred maintenance for DIMMs that are faulted and thus reduces the need for downtime.

DIMM sparing is supported only on systems whose memory slots are fully-populated with DIMMs. If a DIMM is diagnosed to be faulty during boot time or run time, the memory dynamically switches from 16-way to 15-way interleave by remapping all of the physical addresses to the remaining 15 DIMMs. To enable this remapping, the platform firmware must initially reserve space for the contents of one DIMM.

Consequently, only 15 DIMMs worth of physical address space is made available to the system, even when 16 DIMMs are functioning. DIMM sparing is enabled on individual CPU nodes (that is, CMIOUs) and can tolerate one DIMM failure per CMIOU. On a fully loaded SPARC M8-8 or SPARC M7-8 server with two PDomains, up to 4 DIMMs can be faulted per PDomain for a total of 8 faulted DIMMs on the server.

For a SPARC M8-8 or SPARC M7-8 server with one PDomain, up to 8 DIMMs can be faulted, and for the SPARC M7-16 multihost server, up to 4 DIMMs can be faulted per DCU for a total of 16 faulted DIMMs on the server. These totals presume one DIMM per CMIOU is faulty. If a second DIMM fails in a single CMIOU, a service notification is issued and both DIMMs must then be replaced.

Note – DIMM sparing is enabled by default on fully populated CMIOUs. DIMM sparing is not enabled on half-populated CMIOUs. If the system has to unconfigure a DIMM, either at boot time or at run time, the associated fault is treated as a nonserviceable fault, so a service notification is not issued.