RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It’s short-term memory, without this part of your computer, none of your programs, files, Netflix, games will work. It is the working space of the computer. In this article, I’ll talk about 5 things you need to know about RAM.
A Form of computer memory
RAM is one kind of computer memory that can be read and changed in any order. But generally, it is used to store working data and machine code or machine language.
It allows data items to be read or written almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory.
Temporary Storage
RAM is temporary storage. When you turn your PC off, it goes away. You may question, “ if it goes away, then what’s the use of it?”
RAM is very fast, which makes it best for things the computer is actively working on. To make it more straightforward, suppose right now you need a book on your table to read something temporarily; it is RAM on your computer. When you finish reading the book, you keep it on your bookshelf or to its place where it belongs. It is called a hard disk on your computer.
Multiplexing and Demultiplexing
RAM contains Multiplexing and Demultiplexing circuitry. Multiplexing is a data selector, a device that selects between several analogs or digital input signals and delivers the selected input to a single output line. On the other hand, Demultiplexing reverses the process of Multiplexing. These two are used to connect the data lines to the addressed storage for reading or writing the entry—the same address access more than one bit of storage. Sometimes, RAM devices often have multiple data lines known as “8bit” or “16-bit,” and so on.
A RAM is 20 to 100 times faster than a hard disk. But it depends on the specific hardware type and task. And because of it quickness, it is used to process information immediately. Let’s assume you want to finish a specific task, your computer operating systems load data from the hard disk into RAM to process it. When you are done, your computer saves the work into long-term storage.
Leaky bucket
There are two main types of RAM. Dynamic RAM and Static RAM.
A common form of computer memory is dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), in which a transistor and a capacitor is paired, to create a memory cell, which is a single bit of data.
Now, the capacitor in a dynamic RAM cell is like a leaky bucket. It needs to be refreshed periodically, or else it will discharge to zero. And for this “Refresh operation” reason dynamic RAM gets its name.
It has to be dynamically refreshed all the time, or it forgets what it is holding (like an older man). But the downside of this refreshing is that it takes time and slows down the memory.
On the other hand, Static Ram is an entirely different technology. It is a form of flip-flop that holds each bit of memory.
A flip-flop for a memory cell takes four or six transistors along with some wiring. The good thing about Static RAM is it never needs to be refreshed, and this makes Static memory much faster than dynamic RAM.
Static RAM is fast but expensive, and Dynamic RAM is less costly but slow. So Static RAM is used to create the CPU’s speed-sensitive cache, while Dynamic forms the larger system RAM space.
So there you go, 5 things you need to know about RAM; if you want us to write more about RAM, comment down below.
Written by Tasnimul Hasan Ebon