The Fundamentals of Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is a core component of a computer system. Today you’ll learn what RAM is, how it’s used and provide some guidelines on getting the right amount for you.

What is RAM

Random Access Memory (or RAM) is a computer hardware component used to store and retrieve data temporary data for applications. RAM is used and released as needed. They’re also known as RAM sticks. There are multiple generations/versions of RAM sticks. Each generation has a unique connection side to identify itself. The RAMs connector socket also is shaped to indicate to users that it’s to be installed a specific direction as well. There are four key specifications of RAM that you should look out for that we’ll discuss later: latency, speed, size, version

RAM is Important

This is an integral part of any functioning computer system. All computer systems have software. The software will need space to quickly reference and store information such as instructions or values. RAM is storage, but volatile. Volatile storage simply means that the information on the RAM will disappear when the system is powered off. The only other type of storage is non-volatile, which is storage such as disks, SSDs and HDDs. The amount of RAM you have in your system dictates the speed and number of intense operations you can run at one time. Without good RAM, your computer will run sluggish, freeze or even crash.

Getting the Best Bang for your Buck

To get the most out of your system, you should definitely get a large amount of RAM. RAM is now measured in quantities of Gigabytes (GB). For most modern systems, I’d recommend 16GB of RAM. If you use Microsoft Windows systems, the minimum requirement is 1GB (for 32-bit systems) or 2GB (64-bit systems). You’ll want to get more than this, because any other applications you intend to use on your computer will need RAM too.

Simply browsing the internet to read an article may not be too intensive. Opening multiple tabs and streaming videos and playing games may be. If you’re doing all of this at the same time, this can be quite a load depending on the software used. If you don’t use enough RAM, your bound to have a terrible experience.

The other factor to consider in choosing RAM is the speed or frequency. This is measured in Gigahertz (GHz). The higher this number is, the better the experience will be. The speed dictates, how fast the RAM can send and save data. This helps with a snappier response with your computer when you interact with installed applications. There are also hidden background processes that will consume RAM space as well. The faster your RAM, the faster it can possibly use and release that space as needed.

An often neglected specification is the CAS latency. This is the time between reading the data on RAM and it becoming available for use. This is measured in nanoseconds (ns). You want a low number with this. The closest you can get to zero, the better. You may wonder “Why do I need low latency and a high frequency RAM stick, they sound the same?” Well, actually, the frequency speed and latency work together to help provide the fastest experience possible.

Guidelines for Purchasing RAM

RAM and computer parts in general are pretty expensive nowadays with the popularity in custom built PCs and servers. Here’s some guidelines to help in your RAM buying process.

1. Check your motherboard’s specs for for the maximum supported frequencies, generation, and number of sticks allowed.
2. Make sure you get the right generation (DDR4 vs DDR5 vs DDR3 etc).
3. Get trusted RAM brands. Some brands are more prone to failure than others.
4. If for a gaming PC, get 16GBs or more. Again, check your motherboard’s manual for max limits.
5. Don’t buy and install more RAM than your motherboard supports.
6. Make sure the gold pin connectors are not damaged or been exposed to static electricity. This renders them inoperable.
7. Get the CAS lowest latency you can afford for the generation and speed of RAM.
8. Be consistent with the kind of RAM you get. If you get two different speed RAM sticks, the system will be throttled to the speed of the weaker RAM.

Hopefully this review of what RAM is has helped you. You should have a better understanding of what to look for in RAM and how. Feel free to discuss below.

Cordell Kennerly