Hello, a friend on Internet Guruji. So, Internet Guruji Comes with a new topic. That is one of the most important part of a computer. So let’s start to talk about primary Memory or temporary Storage. Which called RAM.
What is RAM?
RAM full form for Random Access Memory. It is a Primary Memory and also temporary. RAM is a volatile memory. which means its a temporary storage in which data can not be store permanently. RAM is store on the motherboard in modules that are called DIMMs?
So this is why a computer with more RAM performs faster than a computer with less RAM. RAM requires constant electrical power to store Data and if the power is turned off then the data is erased.
Types of RAM
RAM also comes in different types such as
1. Dynamic RAM or DRAM
2. SDRAM or Synchronous DRAM
Dynamic RAM or DRAM
DRAM is a memory that contains Capacitors. A capacitor is like a small bucket that stores electricity, and it’s in these capacitors that hold a bit of information such as a 0 or 1. That’s how computer read data which is 1s or 0s and because DRAM has capacitors they have to be refreshed with electricity constantly. Because capacitors do not hold a charge for a very long time. They constantly leak and this refreshing.
Where we get the name Dynamic?
The capacitors have to be dynamically refreshed often otherwise they will forget the information that they’re holding another type of memory is called SDRAM.
SDRAM or Synchronous DRAM
SDRAM is an acronym for Synchronous DRAM. This type of memory is used today in RAM’s DIMMs. SDRAM also has capacitors like DRAM but the difference between SDRAM and DRAM is basically speed the older DRAM technology operates Asynchronously with the system clock which basically means that it runs slower than the system clock. Because it’s signals are not coordinated with it but SDRAM runs in sync with the system clock. Why it is faster than DRAM all the signals are tied to the system clock for a better-controlled timing. SDRAM is also rated at different speeds, but before we talk about the speed of RAM.
DIMM
friend DIMM is an acronym for Dual Inline Memory Module a DIMM is a Dual Inline Module because it has two independent rows of these pins on each side. A DIMM Memory module has either 168, 184, 240, or 288 pins. DIMM is installed on the motherboard in the memory slot.
A motherboard can have a various number of memory slots the average Motherboard will have between 2 and 4 of them.
So as stated before RAM is stored on the motherboard in modules that are called DIMMs and these DIMMs come in different memory sizes today. They range anywhere from 128 MB to 32 GB per DIMM.
We need to define some things first now the term 64 or 32-bit data path. Which refers to the number of bits of data. That is transferred at a time or in one clock cycle. More bits are transferred in one clock cycle. Then the faster the computer will be now DIMM has a 64-bit data path. This means that they can transfer 64 bits of Data at a time now prior to DIMMs there was an older RAM module called a SIMM.
SIMM
“SIMM is an acronym for Single Inline Memory Modules that have a 32-bit data path which means they can transfer data at 32-bit at a time”. So that’s why DIMMs are faster than SIMMs because they can transfer twice the amount of data per clock cycle. Because DIMMs transfers 64 bits of Data at a time compared to SIMMs. Which transfer 32-bits of Data at a time now a single bit or 1 bit of data is the smallest form of data that the computer reads.
DIMM is faster than SIMM.
PC-100 RAM
PC-100 the 100 equals a maximum speed at which it operates which is 100 Megahertz and Since SDRAM only comes in 64-bit modules. As we discussed earlier, it has an 8-Byte wide bus. The total bandwidth of the PC-100 you multiply 100 Megahertz x 8 bytes. Which equals 800 MBps. So the total Bandwidth of PC-100 equals 800 MBps. So, in other words, PC-100 RAM can transfer data at a maximum rate of 800 MBps.
PC-133 RAM
PC-133 has the Total Bandwidth for PC 133 equals 1066 MBps now technically 133 times 8 actually equals 1064 But 1066 is accurate because the actual clock speed is 130. There are 133 times 8 is equal to 1064 and rounded off to 1066. Another type of memory called DRAM.
RIMM (RDRAM)
The RIMM stands for Rambus Inline Memory Module. RIMM has 184 pins and looks similar to DIMMs With the exception. The bottom notches are located in the center of the module.
In 1999 RIMMs was a breakthrough in the speed of memory. It has quickly fallen. The advancement of technology in DIMMs. When our dream debuted in 1999. It ran at 800Mhz. Which was considerably faster than SDRAM. SDRAM ran at 133 Mhz at that time. It was a lot faster than SDRAM. RDRAM only had a 2 byte-wide bus compared to SDRAM which had an 8-byte wide bus.
So, if you multiply the speed of our RDRAM which was 800 MHz Times the bus width which was 2 bytes. So, you would get a total bandwidth of 1600 MBps. Technology increased and processor and bus speeds have gotten faster a new RAM Technology was developed. Which keep up with the faster speed of computers. This newer Technology called DDR.
DDR
DDR stands for Double Data Rate and that’s basically, what DDR Does it?
sends double the amount of Data in each clock cycle Compared to
non-DDR non-DDR or single Data Rate RAM Uses only the rising edge of the clock signal to transfer data But DDR. Uses both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal to send Data which gives DDR. The ability to send twice the amount.
DDR2 RAM
DDR2 is faster than DDR because it allows for higher bus speeds and effectively sends twice the amount of data than DDR and it also uses less power than DDR.
A DDR2 DIMM has 240 pins and DDR has 184 pins. But with a small difference for example a DDR2 DIMM could be labeled DDR2-800 PC2-6400 and the difference is the 2 right after the DDR and the 2 right after the PC. So this is how you can identify DDR2 memory By using its label and right after DDR2 is DDR3.
DDR3 RAM
DDR3 is twice as fast as DDR2. It uses less power than DDR2. The Notches in the DIMMs are in different places. So that you can’t put a DDR3 DIMM in a DDR2 DIMM Slot. Motherboards made to support a certain type of memory. So that you can’t mix DDR 1, 2, 3, or 4 on the same Motherboard an example of DDR3 would be DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 And the fourth Generation of DDR. SDRAM is DDR4.
DDR4 RAM
DDR4 DIMMs have 288 pins and like its predecessors, it also uses less power than the previous generation of DDR. It also offers a higher range of speed than DDR3 such as DDR4-4266 PC4-34100. which has an incredible maximum Bandwidth of 34100 MBps.
ECC- Error Correcting Code
Memory data corruption cannot tolerate, Where?? Yes in servers. Servers remain up and running at all times. Some servers cannot afford to be offline for any reason such as servers that control financial data emergency medical Data or Government Data these servers cannot go down for any reason. That’s why some RAM modules have ECC which stands for error-correcting code and what ECC does? It detects, Is data correctly processing by the memory module or not. if yes then it makes a correction. If a RAM module has ECC by counting the number of Memory Chips on the module and a Standard Non-ECC RAM will have 8 memory chips But in an ECC memory module. It will have 9 memory chips. Most RAM modules today are non-ECC and this is because of the advanced and technology that has minimized memory errors and Has made non-ECC RAM more stable, but as stated before?
Most Servers contain the ECC memory module. Servers need to be up and running at all times and Using ECC memory is just an extra precaution to guard against any memory errors for you.
Conclude
Friend, I know it is not much deep but I shared most of the useful data. Now you Know. what is RAM? The types of RAM. I sharing some most useful data in the image which is very useful.
Thanks for Reading and Please share this information with your friends on Social media.
Images Credit By An-d – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
