No one deserves so much his place in the history of computing as Robert Heath Dennard. In an era where data was stored on punch cards, he envisioned a world with smaller RAM. But do you know how important his invention, RAM, is to the functioning of a computer?
RAM is your computer's short-term memory, which helps
programs run smoothly. Read on as we talk about your computer memory and how to
upgrade it.
What is computer RAM?
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is a form of
temporary memory used by computers, almost like short-term memory in the human
body. It is continuously overwritten and updated, unlike the hard drive or SSD,
where files are kept in permanent copies.
This has several advantages. It is swift, allowing
your computer to perform and recover essential functions. However, it can only
store temporary data when it is turned on.
It is essential to have this memory in a computer because
it allows you to use several functions simultaneously. Since each program
needs its own memory, having more RAM will run simultaneously and
smoothly.
What is Ram doing?
Imagine that you have turned on your computer. You have an
Internet browser open, and you type a set of words. When you change programs,
memory is used in different ways.
RAM remembers what you wrote in the word packet and keeps
track of where you are in the browser. The more features you have, the more RAM
you need to remember where everything was and what it's for.
Ram Laptop & Desktop
Due to space limitations on laptops and notebooks, they use
different RAM for desktop computers. The physical object is much smaller and
uses a different pin configuration than the connector. It is known as a Small
Outline Dual Inline Memory Module.
You will see that they are about half the size of their
desktop counterparts, called DIMMs. This means that you cannot interchange your
laptop and desktop memory, and you need to be careful when purchasing the right
one.
Volatile memory vs. non-volatile memory
The memory can be of the volatile or non-volatile type.
Memory that loses its contents when power is removed is volatile. That
is why you lose everything that is not saved when a program crashes or your
system reboots.
Non-volatile memory is the opposite. This will keep your
data even in the event of a power outage. This is sometimes abbreviated as
NVRAM.
Memory and storage
Although technically, your RAM and your hard drive are
memory, they both work very differently. When you have a computer, the amount of memory will always be greater than the RAM. Therefore, they are often easier to
understand if you refer to RAM as memory and memory itself as storage.mo significant
For example, it may have 1 GB of memory and 16 GB of RAM.
The 1GB is used for storage to keep permanent files on your computer. 16GB is
short-term memory used to run programs.
Speed and latency
Latency is the time it takes for a program or command to
respond. It's connected to RAM because the less RAM you have, the more latency
you can experience. If you can understand the relationship between latency and
RAM, it can help you understand your need to upgrade.
Should I upgrade my RAM?
RAM will increase the speed and performance of your
computer. This is especially useful if you multitask or need a lot of memory.
Graphic designers or gamers may require them to run high-performance programs.
Fortunately, the upgrade is easy to do, and the cost of RAM
has become cheaper. If you don't want to do it yourself, speak to a computer
memory expert for service.