CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

faster, however, so don’t look for any system improvement.
Second, you can sometimes get away with putting one speed of DRAM in
one bank and another speed in another bank, as long as all the speeds are as
fast as or faster than the speed specified by the motherboard. Don’t bother
trying to put different-speed DRAM sticks in the same bank with a
motherboard that uses dual-channel DDR.
Installing DIMMs
Installing DRAM is so easy that it’s one of the very few jobs I recommend to
non-techie folks. First, attach an anti-static wrist strap or touch some bare
metal on the power supply to ground yourself and avoid ESD. Then swing
the side tabs on the RAM slots down from the upright position. Pick up a
stick of RAM—don’t touch those contacts—and line up the notch or notches
with the raised portion(s) of the DIMM socket (see Figure 4-32). A good hard
push down is usually all you need to ensure a solid connection. Make sure
that the DIMM snaps into position to show it is completely seated. Also,
notice that the one or two side tabs move in to reflect a tight connection.
Figure 4-32 Inserting a DIMM