RAM (Memory)
RAM, also known as your computer’s memory, is an acronym for random access memory. It is the temporary memory that can be used by your computer to work with at any one point in time. RAM is measured in Gigabytes- meaning a stick with 8 GBs of RAM can store approximately 8 billion bytes of information while it is loaded. Turning off the application or computer will delete any information on it.
There are two main types of RAM: DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The two are different in how they process the data. SRAM is both faster and more expensive. Generally, however, most computers use DRAM because the cost/benefit of using SRAM is not good enough to warrant its use for most people’s needs.
The size of your computer’s RAM is the amount of memory your CPU can work with while processing information. Sticking with the above example of 8 GBs of RAM, a computer with these specs would be able to open and process multiple programs just fine until the information required to process all those programs hits close to the 8 GB threshold. At this point, the computer’s processing begins to lag. Your computer processes more than just the programs you have open at the time. In many situations, there are other programs that operate in the background that take up memory. This prevents you from fully taking advantage of your RAM in the tasks you are working on.
As programs and games get more complicated, the amount of information your computer needs to process becomes larger and larger, and as a result it processes programs slower and slower. While limiting the number of programs you are working on is a good way to make sure the one program or game you are working on runs smoothly, it is inevitable you will need to constantly update your RAM every three to four years.
As a final note, it is important not to confuse RAM with Storage, or the amount of information your computer can hold. Since RAM is often referred to as Memory, it is easy to make this mistake. Just remember, RAM is the temporary workspace your computer has for processing programs at any one point in time, while Storage is the total amount of information your computer can save.
When you choose how much RAM to get for your computer, keep in mind the type of games or programs you want to use. Many of these will include specifications as to the minimum amount of RAM your computer will need. It is important to remember the number represents the bare minimum; for the best playing experience you will want to have more RAM. In any case, RAM is easy to upgrade later on if you experience your programs or games need more memory.
There are two main types of RAM: DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The two are different in how they process the data. SRAM is both faster and more expensive. Generally, however, most computers use DRAM because the cost/benefit of using SRAM is not good enough to warrant its use for most people’s needs.
The size of your computer’s RAM is the amount of memory your CPU can work with while processing information. Sticking with the above example of 8 GBs of RAM, a computer with these specs would be able to open and process multiple programs just fine until the information required to process all those programs hits close to the 8 GB threshold. At this point, the computer’s processing begins to lag. Your computer processes more than just the programs you have open at the time. In many situations, there are other programs that operate in the background that take up memory. This prevents you from fully taking advantage of your RAM in the tasks you are working on.
As programs and games get more complicated, the amount of information your computer needs to process becomes larger and larger, and as a result it processes programs slower and slower. While limiting the number of programs you are working on is a good way to make sure the one program or game you are working on runs smoothly, it is inevitable you will need to constantly update your RAM every three to four years.
As a final note, it is important not to confuse RAM with Storage, or the amount of information your computer can hold. Since RAM is often referred to as Memory, it is easy to make this mistake. Just remember, RAM is the temporary workspace your computer has for processing programs at any one point in time, while Storage is the total amount of information your computer can save.
When you choose how much RAM to get for your computer, keep in mind the type of games or programs you want to use. Many of these will include specifications as to the minimum amount of RAM your computer will need. It is important to remember the number represents the bare minimum; for the best playing experience you will want to have more RAM. In any case, RAM is easy to upgrade later on if you experience your programs or games need more memory.