What is RAM and what Types of RAM? Do you know what RAM is and what its full name is? I am sure you have some knowledge of RAM.
This is because, whenever you go to a mobile shop or a friend of yours needs to buy a new phone, the first question you should ask is how much RAM it has. You ask because you know that if it is higher, the performance of this phone will be excellent.
Have you ever wondered how this RAM works? Otherwise, it doesn’t matter because this post will teach you about RAM and its various types. Along with this, you will be able to learn about its features. So, without further ado, learn how much RAM your computer has.
What is RAM?
It provides a virtual space for the computer system to manage data and solve problems. It functions similarly to a school blackboard, where we can make notes, words, numbers, and drawings.
When the board is full, delete the unnecessary items and start writing again. The larger the blackboard, the more information can be written on it. RAM works in the same way, with many apps available depending on capacity.
This is a critical component of any mobile or computer system. This is a type of computer data storage device. RAM is also referred to as primary memory. Other names for it include volatile memory, main memory, and physical memory.
RAM stores the data that we are currently working on in the computer. However, until we save the data in secondary storage, it is not permanently stored.
If the power goes out while you’re working, all of your data is lost. To accomplish this, we must save the working file to a hard disc or pen drive.
To run the design software, more RAM is required. You’ve probably heard of video mixing software, which is used to combine wedding and party videos, or Solid Works, Catia, and Maya 3D, which is used for drawing and home design work; 6GB – 8GB RAM is required.
Getting less than that could take 10 hours for 1 hour of work. By the way, in the system used at home, only 1GB – 4GB of RAM is used because it is enough for normal use. Let us understand it through an example.
Example :
Assume you’re working in Microsoft Word or Excel and you’ve written 1000 words in it.
Now, my question for you is, where are the 1000 words you’ve written so far being saved because you haven’t saved that file to your hard disc drive yet?
Yes, it is stored in Random Access Memory, but only for as long as the computer or mobile device is powered on or you do not close that file.
If the power goes out in the middle of your work, all of your data will be lost, and your efforts will be in vain.
As a result, if you use a desktop computer, you should definitely use a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supplier).
This will continue to power your computer system for a while, allowing you to save your work in the hard disc drive permanently.
Full form of RAM
When we open and use multiple applications on our phone or computer at the same time, you may have noticed that the phone becomes slow.
This is because the primary memory of the phone or computer is used. When you close the application, some space is freed up and the phone resumes normal operation.
This means you must have realized that if you want to use multiple apps at the same time, you need more RAM.
Types of RAM
RAM comes in a variety of sizes. It is divided into sections based on its capacity, namely capacity, and speed.
Its capacity is measured in megabytes (MB) and gigabytes (GB), and its speed is measured in megahertz (GHz). When we need to change or upgrade the RAM in our computer, the motherboard must also be compatible.
If we want to use the RAM used today in an old computer system, we must replace both the motherboard and the processor.
We cannot use the RAM from the laptop on the desktop, and the RAM from the desktop cannot be installed on the laptop.
In a computer system, we cannot use any kind of RAM at all. The Random Access Memory used from generation to generation depends on the motherboard.
Let us now know how many types of RAM are there.
There are mainly 2 types of Random Access Memory.
- Static RAM (SRAM)
- Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
What is Static RAM (SRAM)?
It is one of the computer’s two basic memory types. It requires continuous electric power to function.
Static RAM does not require “refreshing” to remember the data stored in it, hence the name.
Static memory is a volatile memory because it loses all of its data when the power is turned off.
Advantages of Static RAM
- It consumes less energy.
- Dynamic memory works much faster.
Disadvantages of Static RAM
- Memory capacity is functional,
- But manufacturing costs are high.
Characteristics of Static RAM
- It has a long lifespan.
- Drives very fast.
- It is not necessary to refresh it.
- Cache for the CPU.
- It is used in video cards as a digital-to-analog converter.
What is Dynamic RAM (DRAM)?
This is the polar opposite of static memory. It is also referred to as DRAM. It must be refreshed on a regular basis in order for it to remember the data.
The capacitors in Dynamic Memory that store data continue to slowly discharge power. When the energy is depleted, the data is depleted as well. It is called Dynamic RAM because it is constantly active and changing.
Because all data is lost when the power is turned off, dynamic memory is also volatile memory.
Advantages of Dynamic RAM
- Manufacturing costs are lower.
- Memory capacity is excellent.
Disadvantages of DRAM
- Electricity is more expensive.
- It moves at a slower pace.
Characteristics of Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
- It has a short lifespan.
- The speed is slow.
- It must be refreshed on a regular basis.
- System memory and video graphics memory both use it.
- Dynamic is less expensive than Static.
Working Process of RAM
Now, we won’t get too technical and will instead explain how RAM works in layman’s terms.
When you turn off your phone or computer, the RAM stops working and becomes completely free.
At the time, the apps and software we had were stored in the phone’s memory, hard disc, or memory card.
However, when we turn on the computer, the operating system is the first thing that is loaded. We only open other software or apps after that.
It can now handle as many software and apps as the capacity of Random Access Memory allows, and if the capacity is exceeded, it will display a message such as System memory is full or Physical memory is full.
Then we must shut down some software or apps. As soon as it is turned off, the system resumes normal operation.
Characteristics of RAM – Features of RAM
You’ve learned a lot about main memory so far, and now you’ll learn about some of its characteristics.
- RAM is always much smaller in size than a hard disc or another storage device.
- Despite its smaller size, it is quite expensive.
- It is also known as volatile memory because it only remembers data while the power is still on.
- It is also known as primary memory because it is where all software runs. Apps and software are simply stored in secondary storage, but they require only primary memory to function.
- The greater the capacity of the primary memory, the greater the system’s ability to function. And the timing of any software’s operation is determined by its capacity.
How much is a computer’s RAM?
In general, there is no set amount of RAM that should be installed in a computer. Many factors influence a computer’s RAM.
The computer is configured based on what work you want to do on it and what type of task is available.
In most home-run computers, 4 to 6 GB of RAM is used. However, when it comes to professional work, RAM larger than 8GB is used.
Significance of Graphic Designing 16 to 20 GVK Ram is employed.
In short
You can make the right decision the next time you buy a phone or a computer. You’ll know exactly what kind of phone to get and how much RAM it should have.
Friends, you must have realized by now. What exactly is RAM? You’ve also learned about the characteristics of computer and mobile RAM, as well as the various types. You now understand what RAM is and how much RAM a computer has.
