How To Repair RAM Slot On Motherboard | The Easy Step By Step Guide of 2021 — MotherboardMag

Before we learn How to repair RAM slot on motherboard, let’s understand a RAM slot and its importance in the computer. A RAM slot is a slot on your motherboard where you put your RAM (Random Access Memory) modules. The RAM is one of the most important components in determining your PC’s performance. It gives applications a place to store and access data on a short-term basis. Also, it stores the information that your computer is actively using so that it can be accessed quickly by your computer.

The RAM slot is one of the important parts of your motherboard. If it is faulty, it will not be able to detect your RAM modules. And if your motherboard has a single RAM slot, you won’t be able to use your entire computer until you repair it. Repairing a faulty RAM slot is easy, but you can damage your RAM slot forever if you don’t know how to do it in the right way. But don’t worry, in this article, I will teach you How to repair the RAM slot on the motherboard easily.

How to repair a RAM slot on the motherboard?

If your computer is not booting up or your computer is showing the wrong RAM size, then one of your computer’s RAM slots could be faulty. But before you troubleshoot the RAM slot, you should make sure that the problem is really with the slot and not with the module. Because in my experience, in almost 80% of cases, the RAM modules were faulty, and there were no issues with the slots.

So once you ensure that the problem is really with the RAM slot, you can follow these easy steps to repair a RAM slot on the motherboard.

1. Turn off your computer, unplug the power cable, and hit the power button just a few times to ensure that you have fully drained lingering power.
2. Open the front side cover of your computer’s case using a screwdriver so that you can access your motherboard.
3. Find the RAM module on the motherboard. Use both your hands to unlock it and pull it away. Be gentle yet fi. rm.
4. Check the RAM module for damage. Next, remove all the dust from the module. Clean the RAM slot using compressed air or a soft bristle brush.
5. Reseat the RAM module, replug the power cable and try to boot your computer.

After following these easy steps, your computer should boot up. However, if your computer is not booting after following these steps, then I suggest you follow the first four steps again and then, this time, place the RAM module in another RAM slot. If your computer boots up this time, that means the 1st slot is faulty and needs to be changed.

Can the RAM slot be replaced?

Yes, technically, it is possible to replace the RAM Slot of your motherboard. But you would need to find a new RAM slot (you can get it from a spare board provided it is compatible with your current board) and know how to solder the connections onto your motherboard. But, of course, if you have the skills required to repair it, you would not need to ask.

Some computer repair shops keep old motherboards laying around to cannibalize parts. It is only worth it to do if you happen to have the spare parts already laying around and the damage isn’t too deep into the motherboard.

The motherboards can have thousands of individual wiring and solder points, and if more than the easy-to-fix ones are damaged, it’s simply not worth the repair.

So if you already have spare parts and know-how to repair a RAM slot, replace it. Otherwise, if you are planning to have it replaced by a professional, it will cost you more. In that case, I would suggest you Replace Your Entire Motherboard.

How do I know if my RAM is faulty?

You can follow these three easy steps to troubleshoot your RAM module.

1. If the RAM is not working, make sure the first thing you do is reseat the RAM. Pop it out and push it back in.
2. The next thing to do is check your board and CPU to ensure that the RAM you are using is compatible.
3. The last thing to do would be to test it. If you have spare RAM modules, try testing them in that slot, or take the RAM module from that slot and test it in another computer.

After following these three easy steps, you will identify whether the RAM module is faulty or the RAM slot is faulty.

Frequently Asked Questions about RAM issue in computer

These are some frequently asked questions about RAM.

These are the most common factors responsible for damaging your RAM slot

1. Dust accumulation inside the RAM slot is the most common reason behind the faulty RAM slot.
2. Physical abuse such as trying to push the wrong size RAM into the wrong slot, pushing the RAM in the wrong way, using a physical device like the screwdriver in the slots, letting some metal touch the electrodes while the power is on, pushing in out removing the RAM from their slots while the power is on can also be responsible for damaging the RAM slot.
3. The wrong power sent to the motherboard, and a short circuit on the motherboard can also damage your RAM slot.

If all the RAM slots of your motherboard are functional, you can put the RAM module in any slot. However, if you refer as “any slot” to DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, or DDR4, the answer is No. This is because each type of DDR has a gap in a different position to only fit on its corresponding DDR slot.

If you have a single RAM stick on your computer, you can insert it in any slot. However, if you have two RAM sticks and are planning on running Dual Channel, you have to check your motherboard’s manual for the correct placement for Dual Channel to get maximum performance.

Yes, you can use two different brands of RAM on your PC. But you should make sure that they both are compatible with your PC. For example, if your motherboard supports DDR3, then both the RAM must be DDR3. Again, you can read our article to check What RAM Does Your Motherboard Support.

No, a computer can not run without RAM. When you power up your computer, the CPU will jump to the firmware (BIOS/UEFI). Next, the POST (Power On Self Test) step will run as part of that firmware and will detect that there is no RAM and, as a result, will send beeps to your speaker.

I hope this article has helped you repair the RAM slot on your motherboard, answer your questions about the RAM slot and RAM module, and provide all the details you were looking for. If you still have any questions regarding the RAM slot and RAM module, let me know in the comment section.

Kevin Henry

Originally published at https://motherboardmag.com on June 1, 2021.