RAM ( Random-Access Memory) is an internal hardware for temporary storage of computers, smartphones , Smart TVs , game consoles, and other electronic devices. It is considered the main memory of a device, used to store data being processed .
It is a volatile read-write memory , that is, it is temporary and allows the recording and reading of data for immediate use. Everything that is running, such as the internet browser or an application, depends on it to function quickly and efficiently.
Without RAM, information would have to be retrieved directly from the hard drive (HD) or SSD, which would make the process 20 to 100 times slower.
How RAM works
RAM works like this: when we need to open a previously saved document, for example, the device searches for the information on the hard drive, where it is stored. The data is copied to RAM and allows the content to be accessed quickly if the document is closed and opened again.
When you turn off your computer, this data disappears from RAM and is archived in long-term storage spaces, such as the HD and SSD.
The analogy of a desk and a cabinet is often used to explain how RAM works. The cabinet would be the HD, where we store our documents, applications and programs.
The desk would be the RAM memory. When we are working, we leave all the necessary material spread out on the table, in order to speed up and facilitate our work. The table fulfills a similar function to the RAM memory. At the end of the day, we put the material back in the cabinet (hard drive).
Types of RAM
There are two basic types of RAM: SRAM and DRAM.
SRAM ( Static Random Access Memory ) is a type of RAM that stores data statically and with a constant energy flow. It is usually faster and consumes less energy than DRAM. On the other hand, its storage capacity is smaller and, because it has a more complex structure, it is more expensive to produce.
DRAM ( Dynamic Random Access Memory ) is the RAM with the highest storage capacity, and therefore needs to be constantly updated. Because it is cheaper to produce, it has become the most common type of RAM in electronic devices. There are three types of DRAM:
- DDR ( Double Data Rate ) or “Double Transfer Rate”. It is the most common type of RAM used in today’s electronic devices.
- GDDR ( Graphics Double Data Rate ) or “Graphics Double Transfer Rate”. It is the graphics memory specific to video cards.
- SDRAM ( Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory ). A predecessor of DDR, they were widely used in older computers, such as the first versions of the Pentium, for example. For this reason, they are difficult to find today.
What is the ideal RAM size?
The answer depends on your user profile. If you often run programs that require a lot of memory or multitask, you’ll probably need more RAM.
Continuing with the table analogy: there are small tables and large tables. And the same goes for RAM. There are less elaborate computer games that require 1 GB of RAM or even less. A game with this minimum requirement will run on practically any PC.
But if you want to edit a video or play the latest and most sophisticated games, then 16 GB of RAM is a good idea, as you will need more temporary storage space to perform such heavy tasks.
One thing that happens a lot in our daily lives, when we are engaged in several tasks at the same time, is leaving several tabs open in the internet browser. Twenty tabs open in your browser can compromise your RAM by more than 2 GB.
Therefore, it is possible to say that RAM is directly related to the speed of your machine. The more RAM it has, the faster it will perform its tasks. On the other hand, too little RAM, or RAM full of junk and unnecessary programs, can mean low performance.
