Upgrading RAM

Adding more memory is one of the most common upgrades. This page covers the basics for a Renderboxes workstation. For model-specific details (number of slots, maximum capacity, supported speed), see your model’s page.

Before you buy new memory

Not all DDR5 is the same

Renderboxes workstations use two different kinds of DDR5 memory depending on the model:

• Photon and Electron use standard DDR5 UDIMM (unbuffered, non-ECC) — the same kind you’d put in a consumer desktop.
• Atom, Atom Rack, Nano Pro, and Molecule Air use DDR5 ECC RDIMM (registered with error correction) — this is server-class memory and is not interchangeable with UDIMM.

Buying the wrong type is the single most common RAM upgrade mistake. Check your model’s page before ordering.

Before you buy:

• Check your model’s maximum capacity. See the specifications on your model’s overview page. Installing more than the maximum won’t work.
• Match the type. DDR5 UDIMM for Photon/Electron, DDR5 ECC RDIMM for everything else.
• Match the speed. Mixing speeds causes the whole memory set to run at the lowest speed — sometimes at unsupported combinations.
• Consider kits. Matched kits (2-stick, 4-stick) from a single manufacturer are much more reliable than mixing individual sticks.

When in doubt, ask servicedesk@renderboxes.com with your serial number — we can tell you exactly what’s compatible.

Before you start

Power off completely

Never work on a powered machine. Before opening the chassis:

1. Shut down the workstation completely (not sleep, not hibernate).
2. Switch off every PSU at the rear rocker — your model may have 1, 2, or 3 PSUs; all of them need to be off.
3. Unplug every mains cable from the workstation.
4. Press and hold the power button for 5 seconds to discharge residual current.
5. Wait at least 60 seconds before opening the chassis.

• Ground yourself. Touch an unpainted metal part of the chassis (or wear an anti-static wrist strap clipped to one) to discharge static before handling memory. DDR5 modules are ESD-sensitive.
• Clean surface. Work on a clean, flat, non-conductive surface.

Installing a DIMM

1. Open the chassis. Remove the side panel per your model’s instructions. Heavy models should be laid on their side on a stable bench — Atom, Nano Pro, and Molecule Air are two-person lifts for moving.

2. Locate the DIMM slots. On AM5 / TR5 workstations the DIMM slots are on the motherboard next to the CPU socket, arranged in a row. On dual-socket Molecule Air, there are two banks of DIMM slots — one per CPU.

3. Check the slot population order. Refer to the motherboard manual (Renderboxes support can tell you which board is in your machine). On most multi-slot boards, you populate in pairs or quads to get the right memory channel configuration. Filling slots in the wrong order can result in reduced bandwidth or a machine that won’t POST.

4. Release the retention clips on either end of the slot by pressing them outwards.

5. Align the DIMM with the slot. DDR5 is keyed — there’s a notch on the bottom of the stick that matches a bump in the slot. It only goes in one way. If it’s not going in, don’t force it — flip it round.

6. Press the DIMM straight down with even pressure on both ends until the retention clips snap back into the locked position. The clips should close on their own as the DIMM seats — if one doesn’t, the stick isn’t fully seated. Press again.

7. Repeat for any additional sticks you’re installing.

8. Visually check all slots — installed or empty should look tidy and the retention clips should be either fully open (empty) or fully closed (occupied).

Reassemble and boot

1. Reinstall the side panel.
2. Reconnect all power cables and switch the PSU rocker(s) back on.
3. Power on.

On the first boot after a memory change, the motherboard performs a memory training pass. This can take significantly longer than a normal boot — 1–3 minutes is normal, 5 minutes is not unheard of on high-capacity ECC configurations. Don’t force shutdown.

When Windows boots, confirm the new memory is visible:

• Press Win + Pause or open Settings → System → About
• Look for “Installed RAM” — it should reflect the new total

If it doesn’t work

If the machine won’t POST after a memory upgrade:

1. Power off and unplug everything (all PSUs).
2. Reseat the new DIMMs — press firmly until the clips fully latch.
3. Try the old configuration first — remove the new sticks and confirm the machine still boots with the original memory. This isolates whether the problem is the new memory or the installation.
4. Check compatibility — is the new memory the right type (UDIMM vs RDIMM), the right speed, and within your model’s maximum?

If you’re stuck, open a support ticket with your serial number, the part number of the memory you bought, and a description of what’s happening. Memory compatibility issues are common and we can often identify the problem immediately.