So, now that the previous issue I had is fixed, at least for the time being, I went out and got some more RAM to improve my PC's performance. So a total of 16GB now up from 8GB. However, unlike most motherboards apparently, mine doesn't have color-coded RAM slots. They're all black. And unlike I had previously thought, My original 8GB was actually all on a single stick rather than two, but its inserted in the second RAM slot(Note: I didn't put the computer together originally, only bought the parts. And all the parts are three years old.). I've already installed the RAM using the first and third slot since that's how most motherboards work, but I've noticed a bit of a slowdown in my computers performance which is bugging me.

Since the slots aren't colored, and my computer is blue screening, I assume that they're in the right place(For reference, the slots go: A1, A2, B1, B2), from what I read online about another motherboard that is from the same manufacturer and in the same group as mine(I have an Asrock Z77 Extreme6, the board that provided me with this information was the Z77 Extreme4.). They said that the alternating slot rule should still apply despite the lack of colors and that putting the matching sticks in A1 and B1 should work. And it has. The computer is reading the new 8GB of RAM and still reading the old stick. I'm just noticing a slow down and trying to figure out what's causing it.

The two theories I have is that maybe, while they are working, they aren't in the correct spots and they're working independently of one another despite being a set. Or they aren't playing well with my old stick either due to its age or the fact that it's from a different manufacturer. My new sticks are GSkill Ripjaws X, while my old stick is a Crucial Ballistix. The guys down at Best Buy told me that the latter shouldn't be a problem so long as the sticks are in the right place, but again, the fact that the slots are all black is throwing me off and no amount of google searching is bringing me any closer to a solution. There are very few results for all black slots. Everything is for multi-colored slots.

So really the purpose of this is just to get opinions. Should I leave it as is since the performance drop is minor? Should I try swapping the sticks around to see what happens? Or should I just replace my old stick with another set of the newer ones?

My is color and it goes black, grey, black, grey

It could be many issues. It could even be the CPU, mobo, etc., is nearing the end of its life? Are you certain its the RAM?

For the RAM do you know if all the sticks have the same operating frequency and/or timing? If they don't then a lot of problems would occur. If you know that the frequencies and timings are the same in both brands it shouldn't be a problem. But if it varies then there should.

The placement of the RAM shouldn't be a big deal if it is actually booting, since when I didn't put mine in the right slots it never booted.

Color just helps show the user that a new slot is there. It does absolutely nothing with functionality.

I suggest downloading a users manual for your mobo that shows all the configurations supported.

>>3 If I had to think of something else other than the RAM, it'd be the CPU. I've been meaning to upgrade to an i7, but the only one I can upgrade to with my mobo has actually increased in price and is sold barely anywhere now.

A good suggestion to do would be to run a memtest on your RAM. It'll give ya an idea on which is a bad stick if there is any. If they all pass, then my next best guess would be the freq. of the ram is not the correct amount for your motherboard.

>>5 According to the mobo manufacturers website, my motherboard supports the specific RAM sticks I installed, which operate at the same frequency as the stick that came with the mobo.

Improving performance by adding more RAM is only useful if your applications take up that much RAM. RAM is primarily used for program Processor instructions loaded from the HDD/SSD to the RAM, then from RAM to the Processor. It must process one instruction per core, so the RAM is a priority list of instructions.

Your machine is likely running RAM that has a very slow cas latency compared to the former RAM. If I had to guess, I'd say, the 16GB is 10-12 cas latency, versus 7-9 cas latency. It could likely also be the difference in PC2/3 standard.

Consider this a lesson, bigger is not always better.

>>7 Looking at the cas latency of the new sticks, it's 9. Not sure what the other stick is since I can't remember exactly what stick it is. And after looking through Newegg, the two most likely candidates for what my older stick is(Which is still installed by the way. It's a single 8GB stick.) either run at 8 or 9 cas latency.

Either way, I'm thinking I'm going to replace that single stick next chance I get. And while I'm at it I might as well replace the mobo, power supply, and CPU. Unlike most people who can live with parts that are years old, I'm uncomfortable having aging parts. I may not upgrade every year, but three is my limit I think.

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