[RAM AS A STORAGE DEVICE]

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It is also called "direct access memory".
Random access means that each individual byte in entire memory can be access directly. RAM is
used to store data and instructions temporarily. A program must be loaded into RAM before
execution. RAM is volatile memory. It means that its
contents are lost when the power is turned off. RAM is
read/write memory. CPU can read data from RAM and
write data to RAM. It is used to store data and
instruction while it is being executed. RAM is also called
main memory or primary storage.
RAM plays very important role in the processing speed of a computer. A bigger RAM size
provides larger amount of space for processing. So the processing speed is increased. The
amount of data that can be stored in RAM is measured in bytes. Most desktop computers
typically have 2 GB to 4 GM of RAM. It also allows the addition of more memory if needed.
Types of RAM
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. It is used in most of the computers. It is the
least expensive kind of RAM. It requires an electric current to maintain its electrical state. The
electrical charge of DRAM decreases with time that may result in loss of DATA. DRAM is recharged
or refreshed again and again to maintain its data. The processor cannot access the data of DRAM
when it is being refreshed. That is why it is slow.
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)
SRAM stands for Static Random Access Memory. It can store data without any need of frequent
recharging. CPU does not need to wait to access data from SRAM during processing. That is why
it is faster than DRAM. It utilizes less power than DRAM. SRAM is more expensive as compared to
DRAM. It is normally used to build a very fast memory known as cache memory.
MRAM (Magneto resistive Random Access Memory)
MRAM stands for Magneto resistive Random Access Memory. It stores data using magnetic
charges instead of electrical charges. MRAM uses far less power than other RAM technologies so
it is ideal for portable devices. It also has greater storage capacity. It has faster access time than
RAM. It retains its contents when the power is removed from computer. Different between SRAM
and DRAM
SRAM It is faster than DRAM. It is more expensive as compared to DRAM. It does not need to be
power refreshed. It utilizes less power. It holds data indefinitely as long as the computer is
turned on. It is more complex and less compact. DRAM It is slower than SRAM. It is less
expensive. It has to be refreshed after each read operation. It utilizes more power. It holds data
dynamically not indefinitely. It is less complex and more compact MRAM (Magneto resistive
Random Access Memory)
MRAM stands for Magneto resistive Random Access Memory. It stores data using magnetic
charges instead of electrical charges. MRAM uses far less power than other RAM technologies so
it is ideal for portable devices. It also has greater storage capacity. It has faster access time than
RAM. It retains its contents when the power is removed from computer. Different between SRAM
and DRAM
SRAM

DRAM
It is faster than DRAM.
It is more expensive as compared to
DRAM.
It does not need to be power
refreshed.
It utilizes less power.
It holds data indefinitely as long as the
computer is turned on.
It is more complex and less compact.

It is slower than SRAM.

It is less expensive.
It has to be refreshed after each read
operation.
It utilizes more power.
It holds data dynamically not
indefinitely.
It is less complex and more compact

PCMCIA Memory Card: Another self-contained DRAM module for notebooks, cards of this type
are not proprietary and should work with any notebook computer whose system bus matches the
memory card's configuration.
CMOS RAM: CMOS RAM is a term for the small amount of memory used by your computer and
some other devices to remember things like hard disk settings -

VRAM: VideoRAM, also known as multiport dynamic random access memory (MPDRAM), is a
type of RAM used specifically for video adapters or 3-D accelerators. The "multiport" part comes
from the fact that VRAM normally has two independent access ports instead of one, allowing the
CPU and graphics processor to access the RAM simultaneously. VRAM is located on the graphics
card and comes in a variety of formats, many of which are proprietary
Types of DRAM
RDRAM: Rambus dynamic random access memory is a radical departure from the previous
DRAM architecture. Designed by Rambus, RDRAM uses a Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM),
which is similar in size and pin configuration to a standard DIMM. What makes RDRAM so
different is its use of a special high-speed data bus called the Rambus channel. RDRAM memory
chips work in parallel to achieve a data rate of 800 MHz, or 1,600 MBps. Since they operate at
such high speeds, they generate much more heat than other types of chips. To help dissipate the
excess heat Rambus chips are fitted with a heat spreader, which looks like a long thin wafer. Just
like there are smaller versions of DIMMs, there are also SO-RIMMs, designed for notebook
computers.
SDRAM: Synchronous dynamic random access memory takes advantage of the burst mode
concept to greatly improve performance. It does this by staying on the row containing the
requested bit and moving rapidly through the columns, reading each bit as it goes. The idea is
that most of the time the data needed by the CPU will be in sequence. SDRAM is about five
percent faster than EDO RAM and is the most common form in desktops today. Maximum transfer
rate to L2 cache is approximately 528 MBps.
DDR SDRAM stands for Double Data Rate Synchronous Random Access Memory

Double Data Rate means that it can

fetch data on of the clock, unlike the
previous versions of RAM which only
fetched on one clock edge The
original DDR RAM was, very simply,
exactly like the old SD RAM but with
the speed at which it could transfer
data doubled by transferring on both
clock edges

DDR2 RAM added a 2x clock

multiplier to the module, which meant
the bus clock running at the same
speed as DDR RAM would be doubled,
thus multiplying transfer speeds by 2
for the same bus speed

DDR3 RAM replaces the 2x clock multiplier with a x clock multiplier, thus running at times
the memory transfer rate for the same bus speed as the original DDR RAM

Additionally, DDR2 is capable of running at a lower voltage than DDR, and DDR3 is again capable
of running at a lower voltage than DDR2