Intro and setup
This method will work for all of the motherboard manufacturers such as Asus, Aorus, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, Elite Group, EVGA and all memory types: DDR3, DDR4, DDR5.
Depending on the RAM manufacturer and heatsink type there may be installation variations.
Products in this tutorial:
Motherboard – Aorus X570 Xtreme – clickable link
CPU Cooler – Noctua NH-D15 chromax.Black – clickable link
DDR4 Micron Ballistix – clickable link
DDR4 Micron Ballistix MAX – clickable link
DDR4 G.Skill Trident Z Royal – clickable link
Some of the links in our video descriptions are affiliate, which means at no extra cost to you, we will make a small commission if you click them and make a purchase. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases. These help us to create more content for you. Thank you for your support!
Rule 1: Use your motherboard manual to understand which slots and what RAM to use
Motherboards may have different layouts and RAM configurations, so depending how many modules and size you are going to use, the sequence and slots may differ. In every single case you’ll have to read the manual, there is no other one-fits-all solution. Use memory manufacturer and motherboard manufacturer websites to check the QVL lists and understand whether the memory module you are going to buy is fully supported and compatible with a given motherboard.
Rule 2: Open the locks, clean the slots, align the position
Before inserting make sure that RAM locks are open. Make sure that slots are clean and there is nothing blocking them. If your motherboard has been used for some time and has dust buildup, pay close attention to dedusting RAM slots. For this you can use air cans, compressors or something like a compucleaner/air duster – link.
Use correct RAM orientation by checking the module notch that has to be aligned with a corresponding protrusion on a motherboard RAM slot.
Rule 3: Do not insert by pressing on top of the radiator
This rule is the most important one and quite often is not followed. Pressing on the top of a RAM module is a way to disattach its heatsink. The heatsink is attached with thermal glue or paste, and by applying force, the disconnect is very likely.
If disconnect happens, it is almost impossible to put it back on without complete disassembly and repaste.
In many cases the disassembly won’t be possible if you don’t have liquid nitrogen LN2, since dry tearing the rest of the radiator without LN2 to further repaste will have a 50/50 percent chance of damaging the chips.
In most cases when users insert RAM by pressing the top of the radiator, it gets partially detached which is not really visible and may go unnoticed. The created air gaps and pockets interfere with cooling and deteriorate memory stability. THE HEATSINK HAS TO BE TOUCHING ALL OF THE CHIPS INSIDE, otherwise it acts like a heat insulator instead of heat spreader.
In short: 1) don’t apply force to the top of the radiator; 2) make sure all of the chips are touching the radiator from both sides.
Rule 4: Press onto the PCB corners while inserting the sticks
This method will work for most RAM models. Radiator takes most of the surface area, but you still have access to the RAM PCB (printed circuit board). Use PCB corners to apply pressure.
Avoid cutting your fingers since RAM PCB is quite sharp. Using folded paper or any other similar non conductive material/fabric is helpful. Don’t use any metallic or sharp tools, otherwise you are risking damaging the RAM or the mobo.
Use baby steps while inserting, don’t try to push all at once. Go step by step, rocking from left to right until both locks click closed (watch our video for the demonstration).
After the locks click they have to be in a fully closed position the way they were before inserting the RAM. If locks did not close completely, it means that the RAM is not fully inserted. In cases of some motherboard manufacturers there may be no audible click.
Warning: incorrect uneven skewed installation may short circuit and burn the motherboard, we’ve seen this happening in our lab. Make sure the module is evenly inserted and the locks are fully submerged in their slots.
Rule 5: If there is no access to the PCB, use maximum surface area of the radiator when pressing into it
Some RAM models like Ballistix MAX have radiators that cover all of the PCB, which makes it impossible to use the method described in rule #2.
If you happen to be a proud owner of such a module, you will have to apply pressure to the radiator.
This means that you have to grab the radiator very firmly and apply the pressure evenly across its surface from both sides, thus minimizing chances to detach it from chips while inserting. RGB strip should stay untouched.
Try to avoid skewing and pressing into single spots. Don’t insert it all at once, use small incremental steps rocking from left to right as described in rule #2.
Conclusions
RAM installation is not a straightforward plug-and-play process and may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. It is very important to follow the best practices described in this article and not to learn them by trial and error principle, since the cost of an error is quite high in this particular case.
Keep on practising and with couple of tries it will come easily.