#Random access memory how to#

For game consoles, it can also reference system memory, but in either case, it has to do with memory reserved exclusively for the GPU. Although once a stand-alone piece of technology, VRAM is currently used to denote dedicated memory on the graphics card. Each generation also has physical changes, so they are not interchangeable.Īnother common term, especially in the video game space, is VRAM (video RAM). The numbers denote RAM’s generation, with each successive generation offering faster speeds through greater bandwidth - a higher megahertz (MHz) rating. The most common type of RAM sold today is DDR4, though older systems may use DDR3 or even DDR2. The terminology doesn’t matter beyond technicalities, but it’s useful to know that the terms are relatively interchangeable colloquially.

“RAM” or “memory” typically refers to dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or more accurately for modern systems, synchronous dynamic random access memory ( SDRAM). RAM is a bit of a catch-all term, like “memory,” and covers a few different types. Bill Roberson/Digital Trends Different types of RAM Unlike RAM, they hold information when the device powers off. That makes it perfect for handling the multitude of high-speed tasks that your device throws at it each day.īut it’s also why storage systems like hard drives and SSDs are required. It’s a “volatile” technology, meaning that once it loses power, it forgets everything. RAM doesn’t remember everything forever, however. Because it has a hard-wired connection to the device, there’s no real latency in cabling or connection. As fast as storage is compared to drives of years gone by, they’re still far slower than RAM.ĭata that resides in RAM is readable from any capable component at almost the same speed. RAM prevents the CPU from digging through the device’s slower storage - like a hard drive or even a solid-state drive (SSD) - every time you request a new browser tab or load a new enemy to shoot. It temporarily stores (remembers) everything currently running on a device, like all OS-specific services and any web browser, image editor, or game you’re playing.

RAM is essentially a device’s short-term memory.

#Random access memory how to#

If this is all semantics and you need to know how to install some RAM or want to find out how much RAM you need, we have guides for that, too. Accessing data in RAM is insanely fast, unlike hard drives that are slower but provide long-term storage. Fitbit Versa 3īut what is RAM exactly? In a nutshell, it’s a high-speed component that temporarily stores all the information a device needs both right now and imminently.