Types of RAM in a Computer. Which one are you using?
RAM Stands for Random Access Memory. It is one of the Most Important Computer Components. RAM is a Primary Storage Memory. It is named Random Access Memory because the Processor can access the data in random order.
When you run a program, the CPU stores all the program data & instructions in the RAM. But, when you close the program, the data is deleted. Because RAM is a temporary memory. It is also called Volatile Memory.
On the other hand, Hard Disk stores the data permanently, even when you switch off the computer. Having more space on Hard Disk lets you store more data. But, having more RAM will let you run multiple apps at the same time.
You can insert more than one RAM Stick into a PC. Usually, a motherboard has 2, 4, or 8 slots for RAM.
RAM was introduced in 1940 but had a storage capacity of 1 bit. Later we got 128 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, etc. These days, we should at least have 2 GB RAM in our modern computers. The highest capacity of RAM is 128 GB.
RAM can be divided into types that are DRAM (Dynamic RAM) & SRAM (Static RAM). They keep improving the RAM with the latest Generations. There are DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, and so on.
RAM can also be classified by its usage. The ECC Memory prevents data leakage and prevents your computer from crashing unexpectedly. The ECC RAM Sticks are very expensive and are mostly used in large organizations.
Laptop RAMs work the same as Regular Desktop RAMs. However, the size of the Laptop RAM is more compact. The Gaming RAMs have more transfer speeds and have lights on the case.
Generations of RAM:
The DDR RAM had large chips on both sides. DDR1-SDRAM is better than the SDR-SDRAM in terms of speed and power saving. The DDR1 RAM used 2.5 V, and the Maximum speed is 3200 MBPS.
The next generation DDR2 RAMs had smaller chips on both sides of the stick. The DDR2 RAM used 1.8 V, and the Transfer speed is between 3200 MBPS to 6400 MBPS. Moreover, It has a 4-bit pre-fetch, while DDR1 had only 2-bit.
DDR3 RAMs have even smaller chips on both sides and are much faster than the previous version. The DDR3 RAM uses only 1.5 V with a Transfer speed of 6400 MBPS to 17000 MBPS. It has an 8-bit pre-fetch.
The chips were further reduced in size in DDR4 and placed only on one side of the RAM stick. The DDR3 RAM uses only 1.2 V, and the Bandwidth is 12800 to 25600 MBPS. The bit pre-fetch is the same as DDR3 RAM.
Finally, the newly released DDR5 RAM Sticks are the fastest and consume very little power.
Every Generation of RAM has a Notch in different locations. Therefore, you can only place the RAM that is supported by your Motherboard. You cannot place DDR4 RAM in an old Motherboard that has a DDR3 slot.
How to Check the Type of RAM? You will find it labeled on the RAM Stick along with its capacity. You can also install a Third-Party App like CPU-Z to see more details about your RAM.
Some of the best RAM Manufacturer are: Corsair GSkill Kingston Micron Samsung Crucial ADATA Patriot Transcend TeamGroup
Notes: You cannot run a PC without RAM. The latest generations of RAM are faster, better, and more expensive than the previous ones. If you plan to use multiple RAM Sticks, all of them must be of the same type, generation, brand, and speed.
Read this article on our website All Tech Queries for complete knowledge on RAM