What Is RAM And Its Function In A Computer

What we need to know about RAM, why it is needed by the computer, even the computer will not work without it. Various types of RAM available in the market and its designation, please refer to the following article:

Random access memory (RAM) is a type of computer storage whose contents can be accessed in a fixed time regardless of where the data is in memory. This is the opposite of sequential memory devices, such as magnetic tapes, disks and drums, where the mechanical movement of the storage media forces the computer to access data sequentially.

First known in the 60s. It’s just that semiconductor memory is not yet popular because the price is very expensive. It was more common to use magnetic main memory.

Semiconductor companies like Intel debuted by producing RAM, more precisely the type of DRAM.

Usually RAM can be written and read, as opposed to ROM (read-only-memory), RAM is usually used for primary storage (main memory) in a computer to be used and change information actively, although some devices use several types of RAM to provide secondary storage term -long.

But there are also those who argue that ROM is another type of RAM, because of its true nature as well as Random Access like SRAM or DRAM. It’s just that the process of writing on ROM requires a special process that is not as easy and flexible as it is on SRAM or DRAM. In addition, some parts of the RAM memory space (main memory) of a system are mapped into one or two ROM chips.

Various RAM Type

SRAM or Static RAM

NV-RAM or Non-Volatile RAM

DRAM or Dynamic RAM

Fast Page Mode DRAM

EDO RAM or Extended Data Out DRAM

XDR DRAM

SDRAM or Synchronous DRAM

DDR SDRAM or Double Data Rate Synchronous DRAM now (2005) is starting to be replaced by DDR2

RDRAM or Rambus DRAM

There are 2 types of RAM that are generally known, Static RAM (SRAM), and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). In SRAM, little data is stored by a method known as the 6 transistor memory cell method. This type of RAM will be more expensive to produce, but is generally faster and requires less power than DRAM, and, in modern computers, is often used as memory cache on the CPU. DRAM stores a small amount of data using transistors and capacitors (a pair), which together cover a DRAM memory cell. The capacitors withstand high or low load / power (1.0, respectively), and the transistor acts as a switch that gives the circuit control to the chip to read the power status of the capacitor or replace it. Because this type of memory is relatively cheaper to produce than SRAM, DRAM is a form of RAM that is more often used on modern computers.

Both Static RAM and Dynamic RAM, are considered vulnerable, where the situation will be lost or reset when the system loses power. In contrast, ROM (in English: Read-Only Memory) stores data by permanently activating / deactivating selected transistors, so that the memory cannot be changed. Variations in ROM that can store data (such as EEPROM and Flash Memory) share data both in ROM and RAM, making data accessible without power and can be updated without the need for special tools. This semiconductor ROM includes USB flash drives, memory cards for cameras, portable devices, etc. ECC Memory (which can be either SRAM or DRAM) has a special circuit for detecting or correcting random errors (memory errors) in the stored data, using parity bits or error correction codes.

In general, the term RAM refers to solid-state memory devices (both SRAM and DRAM), and more specifically the main memory on most computers. In optical storage, the term DVD-RAM is a little wrong because, unlike CD-RW or DVD-RW, DVD-RAM does not need to be cleansed (erased) before reuse. But DVD-RAM behaves / works like a Hard-Disk Drive (HDD) even though it is slower.

RAM generally has 2 types based on its use on a PC or laptop / notebook, RAM type DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Module) and SODIMM (Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module). This type of RAM SODIMM is commonly used in devices that have a narrow space or space such as laptops or notebooks, small footprints, high-end printers and routers. While the type of DIMM RAM is commonly used on a computer or PC.

Now I hope you now have a better understanding of what is RAM type and function on a computer.