How different are present-day RAM devices from a regular hard drive

1. How different are present-day RAM devices from a regular hard drive? Modern-day RAM devices are extremely costly considering the integrated circuit system it uses for compiling information. To simply put it, the cost of per unit storage with RAM is higher than other handy devices like hard drives. But the speedier access to data with RAM makes them worth it even with such pricey tags. Any computer manufacturing firm would use a specific amount of RAM in its computer for speedy access and along with it inserts a larger amount of nonrandom permanent storage devices like a hard disk drive. So, check out your laptop specification and you will observe that it includes between 2-8 GB of RAM. But more than a hundred GB of hard disk storage capacity is maintained in an average computer system. Types of Random Access Memory (RAM) Primarily you will find two types of Random Access Memory and those are Static RAM aka SRAM and Dynamic RAM or DRAM. Let’s move into them one by one – ● Dynamic RAM (DRAM) DRAM is the type of RAM mainly used for computers’ core memory. DRAM memory cell is composed of three main units and those are: ● a capacitor built within the integrated circuit. ● A transistor and ● Within the capacitor, you will find the stored data bit. The electric capacitor tends to leak and either has a charged or empty DRAM cell without any charges. Therefore, every few milliseconds, DRAM frequently refreshes the electronic charges to sustain the leaks of the capacitor. Ultimately, the transistor acts as a gate and decides if the value of the capacitor is readable or not. So, these types of RAM are volatile and should be refreshed frequently with the help of voltage, or else the information stored in it will get removed. ● Static RAM (SRAM) Unlike DRAM which has a capacitor for each of its cells, the Static RAM works with multiple transistors precisely 4 to 6 for every memory cell. Essentially SRAM is used for cache. The longevity of the data stored in SRAM is directly dependent on how long the

2. power is supplied to the computer system. It does not have the capability like DRAM to refresh regularly for sustaining data. The added advantage of SRAM is its fast speed which makes it more costly in the market as compared to DRAM. DRAM vs SRAM: a tabular comparison So, before proceeding further, let’s have a tabular comparison of both DRAM and SRAM in terms of their available features- Dynamic RAM (DRAM) Static RAM (SRAM) Due to its higher accessing time, it’s slower than SRAM. SRAM can access data at a faster pace. Less costly as compared to SRAM. Expensive than DRAM. Since the information is stored in its capacitor therefore it can work with a reduced power supply. To retain information SRAM would require a constant supply of power. It comprises a small internal integrated circuit system along with its one-bit memory cell. It consists of a complex internal circuit system. Following the above point, it has a lesser storage capacity than the DRAM physical memory chip. With DRAM you can expect a larger storage capacity. Higher packaging density. Low packaging density. Therefore, among the two types of RAM, it’s the DRAM, used as the most reliable and pocket-friendly volatile memory for any computer system. Other types of DRAM As you already have noted, DRAM is one of the two types of RAM. So, now you may find that within the category of DRAM there are some varieties. Let’s have a look at them.

3. 1. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) SDRAM is different from any of the traditional built DRAM because it’s a semiconductor memory that enables it to run faster for any computing technology. The SDRAM external pin interface works in coordination with the CPU clock signals. Therefore, the SDRAM chips only get ready to operate when the CPU enables them. The seed of data transfer in a normal SDRAM takes place up to 132 -134 MHz. 2. Rambus Dram (RDRAM) The name of the Rambus DRAM is after its manufacturing company called Rambus, working in the market since the late 1990s. The composition of RDRAM includes a RAM, a bus path linking RAM to microprocessors and computer systems, and a RAM controller. The following subcategory of RAM is used to store info for any graphic cards or video game devices. A typical RDRAM takes 1 GHz speeds in data transferring. 3. Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) To put it simply DDR SDRAM is a type of volatile memory that has the capacity of double the bandwidth of a single data rate Synchronous DRAM. They do so by maintaining the same clock frequency with a method called double pumping. When you apply the double pumping method then your data would get transferred by falling and rising the edges of the clock signals. However, the clock signal frequency stays unchanged. With time the DDR SDRAM model was followed by DDR2 SDRAM then DDR3 SDRAM and now we have the DDR4 SDRAM generation. All of these models follow the double pumping means for the data transfer. And each succeeding generation, the performance of the data transfer gets faster. Any new RAM stick in the market usually installs DDR4 chips for your computer. 4. Asynchronous DRAM. (ADRAM) With an ADRAM the memory device timing is kept under check based on a specialized memory controller circuit. This memory circuit sends the required control signals for time control. And as a result, the CPU usually takes note of the delay while responding to the memory. 5. Cache DRAM (CDRAM) CDRAM is a mixed type of DRAM memory that works with an on-chip cache SRAM memory. The cache memory makes it a high-speed buffer for the functioning of the

4. main DRAM. Initially developed by Mitsubishi a typical CDRAM comprises a smaller SRAM cache. How much RAM do you need? The amount of RAM you should look for depends on how dependent you are on your computer. For those who use their computer only for minor document editing, working on spreadsheets, or internet browsing, a computer of up to 8 GB RAM would suffice. But for Gamers who are daily running heavy memory programs then they at least would need 16 GB RAM for operating their computer smoothly. Checking your RAM is also easy. For Windows: go to the start menu > system information > tap on the result for opening it. From there find the installed Physical memory (RAM) section. Comparing RAM, ROM, and General storage. RAM, as you know, is the computer’s short-term memory storage, unlike general memory where information is stored in massive quantities. Unlike them, ROM or Read Only Memory consists of some unique information for turning the computer on. From is situated at the motherboard of your computer and instructs your computer how to function. When you first turn your computer on, then the first thing your computer does is access the ROM. Without the ROM, you won’t be able to own anything else. As you know how RAM works, therefore you know RAM data is constantly changing. Unlike the RAM of your computer, you can’t change the ROM and for this reason, it’s called – Read Only. The speed of RAM is generally higher than ROM. Other than that, ROM data is not easily accessible by the CPU unless the same data is stored in RAM. RAM also differs from nonvolatile SSDs or System Storage Data as the latter type of data doesn’t get lost when power loses. Every time you save a file then you are copying the inputted data from your RAM to the hard disk drive so that it doesn’t get lost. RAM: Where is the future directing us! Now that you are clear about what is Random Access Memory, how RAM works, and its types, let’s end by looking at the broader picture. With the accessibility of ReRAM (Resistive RAM) technologies, we can expect a nonvolatile storage system that would be based on an even higher switching speed than any other nonvolatile storage. At present, 3D X Point techs like Intel Optane are constantly working to bridge the gap between any

5. DRAM and NAND flash memory. So, with time we can expect the advancement of technologies will erase any distance between RAM and storage systems.