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Random Access Memory

What is RAM?

Random Access Memory or RAM is used as a type of storage in computers. The memory located on the RAM can be accessed at any time, hence the name Random Access Memory. Because RAM is quick and consistent, it is used as the main memory for loading, displaying and manipulating data, meaning that it is used to run all the programs you run on the computer.

Dynamic RAM is a type of ram that needs to be refreshed constantly. Because of this constant refreshing, it makes this type of RAM slower.

Primary RAM is used as the main storage of memory for quick access for the computer's processor. Pretty much anything that you can do on a computer, meaning every program you run and every file you access must be copied from a mass storage, like the hard drive, to the main memory, also known as the primary RAM. The more primary RAM you have, the more programs you can run successfully at once.

Double data rate or DDR RAM is a more modern type of RAM, which achieves a greater bandwith than single data rate RAM which came before DDR, meaning it runs faster. DDR pretty much doubles the speed of the system. DDR 2 RAM moves even faster, double the speed of DDR. An improvement over DDR 2 is the DDR 3 RAM which is of course faster. DDR 2 and DDR 3 both have higher latency, which means there are more pauses for loading data

RAM Requirements

Operating systems like OS-X, Windows XP or Linux only need about 256MB of RAM to run, but heavier operating systems, like Vista need 1GB of RAM to run. If you are running a lot of programs at any one time or playing a lot of graphic-heavy games, you might need double that.

Handling RAM

You have to be extremely careful when handling RAM, because often if it is touched in the wrong place it will continue to function, but only part of it will function, depending on what is damaged. Damage like this cannot be seen with the naked eye, but only with specialized software.

There is an idea called the "memory wall" which is the large difference that appeared between the speed of the processor and the speed of memory outside of the processor. From 1986 to 2000, processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) speed has improved 55% annually, with other memory only improving 10% annually. It was expected that there would be a bottleneck, meaning the speed of the whole system would be limited by one thing, the memory outside the processor, like RAM. Processor speed improvements have slowed within the last few years making this less of a problem.