Question Are dimms no longer held in with tabs on both ends???

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Yesterday, I finally got around to starting to add RAM & SSD to a MSI B450M Pro VDH Max motherboard that I'm using
as the basis for a new build. I noticed that there were only tabs on one side to lock the dimms in place! I've been putting
together PC's for nearly 30 years now, and this is the first time I've ever run across this.

Is this some sort of cost saving measure? I seriously almost broke the 'tabs' off of the other end, trying to get them to
pop out as normal before installing the memory! I wonder how many people may have ruined this board in a similar
situation? (or had to use JB weld on it, afterward)

 

[solidsnake1298]

I have a MSI X370 board, an Asus X470 board, and an Asrock B450 board. All 3 have the "bottom" tabs fixed. When I built the first one on the X370 board I was also confused. But I've come to prefer it since it is sort of like a guide or anchor when slotting in RAM.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

It's probably in part my fault for buying an 'open box' motherboard from Micro Center. It was missing the manual, but since I had experience, I assumed I knew what I was doing. I guess I should read the manual online before finishing....

 

[aigomorla]

Some boards do not have the bottom clamps.
Here is an example:

ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING | Motherboards | ROG United States

rog.asus.com

I do not think its required and a bit out dated to have clamps on both sides.
Memory sticks are not all within identical spec in gauge thickness.
So the chances of the ram stick being too thin and falling out without the bottom clamp is very tiny.

 

[kschendel]

I actually like the one-clamp system better. Fewer fiddly little pieces of plastic to break or come adrift, and it's not really any harder to pull a stick with one end started as opposed to both.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Weren't these originally metal, not plastic? I seem to recall that from the older motherboards....

I guess I can add this to a list of things I never thought would happen - like newspapers going away, or video rental places disappearing.

 

[John Carmack]

The last board I had which used operable latches on both ends of the DIMM socket was the Asus nForce2 socket A board from 20 years ago. Each board I've used since then which includes various OEM boards, budget Intel H61/81 boards, enthusiast Z boards, and mid-range AMD B450/B550 boards have all had one side fixed. They have been plastic clips on all of the boards I have ever used.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I used an open box AMD motherboard from Micro Center to build a new system just a year and a half ago, and it had the tabs on both ends of the dimm slot. Granted, I had only upgraded a couple of Intel systems for the last 6 or 7 years, but this month was the first I've run into where it didn't have the tabs on both ends.

 

[In2Photos]

I've built 3 systems in the last 14 months, a B550 MSI Tomahawk, a B650 Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX, and a B650 MSI Edge. All 3 have tabs on both ends.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I've built 3 systems in the last 14 months, a B550 MSI Tomahawk, a B650 Gigabyte Aorus Elite AX, and a B650 MSI Edge. All 3 have tabs on both ends.

Curious - then it sounds like some current ones do, and some don't. I wonder how the manufacturer decides?

 

[igor_kavinski]

Could be something about micro ATX and ATX. Maybe ATX mobos have it on both ends.

 

[Shmee]

I believe I have seen this on some board going pretty far back. I think my Asus X99 Deluxe only has one locking tab per DIMM slot. It may be partly a motherboard marketing thing from back then, to make RAM install easier (supposedly).

 

[seasodaweb]

Congrats on starting your new build, that's super exciting! I can definitely understand your frustration with the unusual tabs on your MSI B450M Pro VDH Max motherboard. It's definitely not a common feature, but it sounds like it's just a design choice made by MSI. I'm not sure if it's a cost-saving measure or not, but it's good to know that you were able to figure it out and install your RAM and SSD successfully. I can imagine that it must have been nerve-wracking trying to get those tabs to pop out on the other end, but I'm glad you were able to avoid breaking anything! And you make a good point about other people potentially having similar issues, so hopefully your experience can help others avoid any mishaps.

 

[Meghan54]

I believe I have seen this on some board going pretty far back. I think my Asus X99 Deluxe only has one locking tab per DIMM slot. It may be partly a motherboard marketing thing from back then, to make RAM install easier (supposedly).

The design is or has become fairly common. Asus’ ROG line used the one-sided clip for years. Well over a decade or so. Was odd when I first encountered them, now seems odd when I don’t

 

[BoomerD]

The design is or has become fairly common. Asus’ ROG line used the one-sided clip for years. Well over a decade or so. Was odd when I first encountered them, now seems odd when I don’t

The ASRock Z390 board I had was this way as well.