How Does Ram Work and What Does It Do

RAM or Random Access Memory is your system's short-term memory that can be read and changed in any order. It stores the information your computer is actively using so it can be accessed quickly. RAM is much faster than your typical storage solution whether it be a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD). A typical 7200 RPM HDD will deliver a read/write speed of 80-160MB/s, a typical SSD will deliver read/write speed of between 200 MB/s to 550 MB/s.
RAM is much, much, much faster than even a fast SSD, as DDR3 RAM can have read and write speeds of 6GB/s and faster (17GB/s), therefore more RAM allows you to have more applications and documents open.

Generations Of RAM

DDR - 1st Gen

DDR2 - 2nd Gen

DDR3 - 3rd Gen

DDR4 - 4th Gen

DDR5 (Expected launch this year)

Types Of RAM

Static RAM (SRAM)

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)

Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM)

Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4)

Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5)

Flash Memory

Static RAM (SRAM)

Time in Market - 1990s - Present

Products using SRAM: Digital Cameras, Routers, Printers, LCD Screens

SRAM requires a constant power flow in order to function, because of continuous power, SRAM doesn't need to be 'refreshed' to remember the data being stored. This is why SRAM is Static. However SRAM is a volatile memory, which means all the data will be lost once power is lost.

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

Time in Market - 1970s - Mid 1990s

Products using DRAM: Video Game Consoles, Networking Hardware

DRAM requires a periodic refresh of power in order to store data. The capacitor in DRAM gradually lose power. No Power = Data Lost. DRAM is also a volatile memory, which means all the data will be lost once power is lost.

Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)

Time in Market - 1933 - Present

Products that use SDRAM: Computer Memory, Video Game Console

SDRAM is a classification of DRAM that operates in sync with the CPU clock, which means that it waits for the clock signal before responding to data input. By contrast, DRAM is asynchronous, which means it responds immediately to data input. But the benefit of synchronous is that a CPU can process overlapping instructions in parallel, also known as pipelining - the ability to receive/read a new instruction before the previous instruction has been fully resolved/written.

Single Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDR SDRAM)

Time in Market - 1993 - Present

Products that use SDR SDRAM: Computer Memory, Video Game Console

SDR SDRAM is the expanded term for SDRAM.

DDR SDRAM is essentially the second-generation of SDR SDRAM

Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4)

Time in Market - 2000 - Present

Products that use SDRAM: Computer Memory

DDR SDRAM (AKA DDR) operates like SDRAM but twice as fast. DDR SDRAM is capable of processing 2 reads and 2 writes per clock cycle. Although similar in function, DDR SDRAM has physical difference (184 pins and a single notch on connecter) VS SDRAM (168 pins and 2 notches on the connector). DDR SDRAM also works at a lower voltage (2.5 V from 3.3 V), preventing backwards compatibility with SDRAM.

DDR2 is the second generation of DDR. While still doing the same work it can do them faster because of its higher clock speeds. Standard (not Overclocked) DDR memory modules top out at 200 MHz, whereas standard DD2 memory modules top out at 533 MHz. DDR2 runs at a lower voltage (1.8 V) with more pins (240).

DDR3 is the third generation of DDR. While improving performance over DDR2 through more advanced signal processing (reliability), greater memory capacity, lower power consumption (1.5V), and higher standard clock speeds (up to 800 MHz). Although DDR3 share the same numbers of pins with DDR2 (240), all other aspects prevent backwards compatibility.

DDR4 is the fourth generation of DDR. While improving performance over DDR3 through more advanced signal processing (reliability), even greater memory capacity, even lower power consumption (1.2 V), and higher standard clock speeds (up to 1600 MHz). DDR4 uses a 288-pin configuration, which prevents backwards compatibility.

Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM (GDDR SDRAM, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5, GDDR6)

Time in Market - 2003 - present

Products using GDDR SDRAM: Video Graphics Card, some Tablets

GDDR SDRAM is a type of DDR that is specifically designed for video graphics rendering, typically in conjunction with a dedicated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) on a video card. Modern Games are known to push the GPU to its maximum, often requiring high specs with the best video card with it (especially if using 720, 1080p or higher resolution displays). Like DDR has its own evolutionary line that is improving performance and lower power consumption: GDDR, GDDR2, GDDR3, GDDR4, GDDR5 and GDDR6.

Flash Memory

Time in Market: 1984 - Present

Products using Flash Memory: Digital Cameras, Smartphones, Tablets, Handheld Gaming Systems, etc.

Flash Memory is a type of non-volatile storage medium that retains all data after power has been cut off. Despite the name, flash memory is closer to SSDs than to RAM.