Random access memory, or RAM, is a type of memory that is randomly accessible as opposed to sequential memory, which can only be accessed sequentially. Tapes and videocassettes use sequential memory in the form of electromagnetic tape. Random access memory is used in computers and is temporary in nature.
All the storage sites in this type of memory are equally accessible at the same time. There is another type of memory called ROM, or read only memory, that is also randomly accessible but can only be read and not changed whereas RAM can be changed.
There are two types of RAM, static RAM and dynamic RAM. Dynamic RAM is stored in a chip that has capacitors and transistors. These capacitors are like small vessels that act as storage spaces for temporary memory. Capacitors need to be refreshed constantly in order to check the inbuilt leak that these devices carry, hence the term dynamic RAM.
Static RAM uses completely different type of technology by using flip-flop switches instead of capacitors. This prevents any refreshment and thus increases the speed and efficiency of the computer. Usually, superior versions of dynamic RAM are used instead of static RAM because of its high price. These versions consist of FPM (fast page mode), ECC (error correcting code), EDO (extended data output), and SDRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM). ECC RAM is a special error-correcting RAM that is usually used in servers.
The speed of a RAM is calculated in nanoseconds, and the fewer the nanoseconds (ns), the faster the computer. Today, we use 50 ns computers as opposed to 180 and 150 ns that we used in the last decade. The speed of a computer depends upon the type of RAM that is installed in it. Efficiency and smoothness of a computer can be improved by constantly upgrading it with the latest type of chip available in the market.
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Different Types of RAM
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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RAM is the acronym for ‘random access memory’ and is usually calculated in megabytes. A RAM chip is a module that holds freshly accessed information so that the central processing unit can have access to it. It is faster than reading from the hard drive...
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Definition of RAM
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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RAM, or ‘random access memory,’ can be defined as a type of memory where the data is stored in a computer and can be accessed randomly in contrast to other electronic data that has to be accessed in a fixed order. A videocassette or tape...
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Cheap RAM
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The cheapest type of RAM is dynamic RAM because it uses traditional technology as opposed to static RAM, which is expensive and uses advanced methods to store and retrieve temporary information. Dynamic RAM has capacitors that act like vessels that store temporary information for the...
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Computer Memory Check
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The performance of any computer largely depends on the memory of the machine. The higher the memory capacity, the faster and more efficiently the machine will function. Computer memory is measured in terms of Random Access Memory, popularly abbreviated as RAM. In most Windows-based machines,...
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RAM Cards
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RAM cards, or random access memory cards, are an easy way to add extra memory to a computer, but there are a couple of things to consider in order to avoid any inconveniences. Although adding RAM cards will definitely augment the memory of a computer,...
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Flash Memory
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Flash memory is a kind of electronic memory chip. It is rewritable and does not need a continuous power supply. It is an Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only (EEPROM) and a Non-Volatile Read Write (NVRWM) kind of a memory. Flash memory is used in computers (BIOS chips),...
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Computer Speed Check
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As technology advances, speed is a critical factor determining the efficiency of a computer. Compared to the machines in market today, the first computers were slow and sluggish. Competition resulted in manufacturers churning out CPUs with twice and thrice the speed of an existing model...
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USB Flash Memory
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A flash memory is a solid-state, non-volatile electronic memory device. It is used in a wide range of electronic devices such as computers (BIOS chips), MP3 players, video game consoles (memory cards), USB flash drives, mobile phones, and digital cameras (memory chips, CompactFlash or SmartMedia)....
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How to Install RAM
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Installing a new RAM chip is a relatively easy procedure. The first step is to determine the type of RAM that a person needs, and whether the computer has sufficient slots to hold it. The new RAM should match the existing RAM’s conditions and arrangements....
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Data Recovery Experts
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Data recovery experts are basically experts involved in the process of data recovery. They are software professionals who are well acquainted with cases of data loss and they master all the software tools that are required to recover data from its affected sources. They are...