\nThis is what we\u2019re going to explain here. In this piece, we\u2019re going to go over these questions and more that you might have about RAM. Knowing this could be make-or-break when choosing your next device. This could help you understand what\u2019s running your computer, gaming console, phone, or other device. So, let\u2019s dive in.
\nWhat is RAM?
\nSo, let\u2019s start off with what this term means. RAM is an acronym meaning Random Access Memory. Just like your computer\u2019s storage device (hard drive, SSD, SD card, flash drive, etc.), RAM stores data in the form of binary code. However, it serves a different purpose than storage.
\nPhoto by Umberto on Unsplash
\nWhat\u2019s it used for?
\nStorage is perfect for storing data to be held for extended periods of time. When you install a program on your computer, (let\u2019s say a paint program) you\u2019re going to be using it multiple times over an extended period of time. That program and its files are saved to the storage.
\nHowever, RAM is all about the here and now. Let\u2019s say you want to paint using the program. Well, what\u2019s happening? You\u2019re picking colors, drawing lines, adjusting the UI, changing settings, fixing mistakes, picking tools; you\u2019re making quick changes in real-time. The issue is that you can\u2019t access and make changes to your storage that quickly. You need a form of memory that can be changed and affected at a moment\u2019s notice.
\nThis is where RAM comes in. As per its name, it can be accessed randomly. When you open the program, that program is loaded into the RAM so that everything you do will be reflected in real-time. Everything you do in the program affects what\u2019s loaded into the RAM. This doesn\u2019t only apply to programs; many of the basic functions that keep your device\u2019s operating system running are loaded into RAM. If you didn\u2019t have RAM, your device wouldn\u2019t be able to run.
\nWhy more RAM is better
\nLet\u2019s use an analogy; think of your device as a house. You store a lot of furniture, appliances, devices, and other items in the living room. This is where you live, so you can readily access these items at a moment\u2019s notice, and you NEED to. Now, think of the basement as the storage.; you\u2019re keeping items down there for long periods of time, and you don\u2019t need to access them at a moment\u2019s notice.
\nWhen you use programs on your computer, you\u2019re loading data onto your RAM. Imagine this as placing more items inside your living room. The more programs you load up, the more RAM you use. So, imagine loading more items into your living room.
\nPhoto by Aryan Dhiman on Unsplash
\nSpace
\nEventually, you\u2019re going to run out of space. When you run out of RAM, your device will start closing programs you had running before to make room for the programs you\u2019re loading in now. This is similar to taking the older items and placing them outside to make room for new furniture.
\nSo, as you can imagine, having more RAM is just like having a larger living room. The more you have, the more programs you can have running without needing to close.
\nWhere does the basement come into play? Well, some devices will actually use some of the storage as backup RAM. A device could have 8GB of RAM and actually borrow several gigabytes from the storage.
\nCircling back to our house analogy, when the living room gets full, instead of chucking the items on the lawn, you\u2019ll place some of the furniture in the basement to access later. Not every device does this, but it can really help.
\nWhat does the \u201cDDR\u201d stand for?
\nWhen you see that a new device comes out, you\u2019ll sometimes see the term \u201cDDR\u201d. For example, you\u2019ll see \u201c16GB of DDR5 RAM\u201d. But, what does that mean? Why do companies want you to get hyped about higher DDR numbers?
\nFirst, a quick lesson in clock speed
\nWhen you\u2019re looking at a CPU\u2019s specs, you\u2019ll typically see its clock speed, a number measured in hertz (Hz), kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz), or gigahertz (GHz). That\u2019s its clock speed. It\u2019s the number of pulses a CPU gives off every second. We won\u2019t dig too deeply into that, as that\u2019s not relevant to the article (here\u2019s an informative video). When each pulse happens, also called a clock cycle, the CPU sends out one or several instructions.
\nPhoto by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
\nClock cycles are divided into upbeats and downbeats. Each cycle starts on an upbeat, and the halfway point between each pulse is a downbeat. It\u2019s analogous to clapping hands. When your hands make contact, it\u2019s an upbeat and when your hands are furthest apart, it\u2019s a downbeat.
\nWith that out of the way, let\u2019s talk about DDR
\nDDR, or Double Data Rate, RAM was invented in 2000, and it took off after just a couple of years. Before, computers used SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory). Both of these terms deal with how and when the RAM sends data to the CPU.
\nThis is where the above lesson comes into relevance. SDRAM was perfectly synced with the CPU; the RAM chip would only send data to the CPU once every clock cycle.
\nEnter DDR
\nHowever, DDR RAM (Dual Data Rate) broke that mold. Not only would it send data on the upbeat, but it\u2019d also send data on the downbeat. This doubled the speed of the RAM, making the rate you can access it much faster.
\nAs time went on, there were new generations of DDR RAM to come out. Each generation increased the speed of the RAM. DDR2 doubled the speed of DDR, DDR3 doubled the speed of DDR2, and so on.
\nPhoto by Liam Briese on Unsplash
\nNot only did future generations of DDR RAM increase the speed, but they also decreased the power consumption. While they\u2019re small, the chips in your device consume a lot of energy. Every time the RAM sends data to the CPU, it uses a little bit of energy. One cycle doesn\u2019t consume a lot of energy, but remember, cycles happen millions and billions of times every second. That doesn\u2019t matter as much if your device is plugged in, but it can be a factor if your device is on battery.
\nDDR 1 RAM has an operating voltage of about 2.6V and DDR5 RAM has an operating voltage of 1.1V. That\u2019s about a 56% reduction in power consumption.
\nWhat about LPDDR RAM?
\nLPDDR (Low-Power Dual Data Rate) RAM is designed for mobile devices like phones and tablets. While it has \u201cDDR\u201d in its name, the technology has actually evolved independently from DDR technology. In fact, it\u2019s actually closer to SDRAM in that it syncs with the CPU. It\u2019s meant to consume less energy than DDR RAM, as it\u2019s in devices that are battery-powered.
\nTo wrap things up
\nThat was a rundown of the memory that\u2019s probably powering the device you\u2019re reading this article on. Hopefully, you now have a deeper understanding. RAM technology will improve as time goes on, and you\u2019re now equipped to know what\u2019s coming next.The post What is RAM and why is it important? appeared first on Android Headlines.
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![](\"https:\/\/plus.maciejpiasecki.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/RAM-chip-jpg.jpg\")
\nSource: ndroidheadlines.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"