RAM (Random Access Memory): The Heart of Computer

We all are aware with the full form of the RAM that is Random Access Memory. Today we are going to see that what actually the RAM is and how it works in the computer system and why it is the most important part of the system.

RAM is basically a hardware component for the data storage but for a temporary time. Basically the programs that are needed to be executed, or the programs that are currently executed or the process are about to execute are loaded in the RAM in order to perform the faster execution of the process. The speed of the ram is very fast as compared to the normal hardware storage devices such as HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) or SSDs (Solid State Drives).

The most important thing is that the RAM is the Volatile memory. It means that it holds or stores the data till the power is supplied to the RAM, once the power is been cut off the data on the ram gets erased. When any program starts it execution, before execution the computer or the processor first sends the address of the program to the RAM. Then the Operating System loads the program from the Secondary Memory to the Primary Memory. After that the address is sent back to the processor again and after that the execution process of the program starts.

The Architecture of the RAM includes the components such as capacitor, transistors, invertors (mainly not gates), different ICs. These all components are clubbed in one single chip with technology named Transcell.

• The RAM is classified into two types:

1.      Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
2.      Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM)

• Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)

1. Static RAM are made up of transistor, invertors.
2. These RAM are not needed to be refreshed hundreds of times in a second. As the feedback is generated by the invertors which can be used to provide the input to the transistors.
3. Main purpose is to decrease the processing time, this is due to the faster speed of the RAM.
4. Due to its speed they are also used as cache.
5. They are very expensive and the power consumed is very high whereas they are very bulky.

• Dynamic Random Access Memory (D-RAM).

1. Dynamic RAM is made up of transistors, capacitors.
2. These RAM are needed to be refreshed hundreds of times in a second. As the capacitors has the property of getting discharge the input has to be fed again and again.
3. Main purpose is to decrease the processing cost.
4. Slower, Cheaper, easily available & require less power
5. Due to above advantages these are mostly used in today’s world in all normal computers.

• DRAM is further classified according to the various generations

1.        Fast Page Mode (FPM)
2.         Extended Data Output (EDO)
3.          Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM)
4.         Double Data Rate 1 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory  (DDR1 SDRAM)
5.          Double Data Rate 2 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory  (DDR2 SDRAM)
6.           Double Data Rate 3 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory  (DDR3 SDRAM )
7.            Double Data Rate 4 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory  (DDR4 SDRAM )

DDR SDRAM 4 is the best RAM available in the market till now. So I suggest you to prefer the DDR4 SDRAM every time while purchasing new PC.

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