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RAM

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Random-access memory

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


"RAM" redirects here. For other uses, see RAM (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Random Access Memories or Random-access machine.

Example of writable volatile random-access memory:


Synchronous dynamic RAM modules, primarily used as main memory in personal computers,
workstations, and servers.
Computer memory and data storage types
General

Volatile

RAM
Historical
Non-volatile
ROM
NVRAM
Early-stage NVRAM
Analog recording
Optical
In development
Historical
 v
 t
 e

A 64 bit memory chip die, the SP95 Phase 2 buffer memory

produced at IBM mid-1960s, versus memory core iron rings


8GB DDR3 RAM stick with a white heatsink

Random-access memory (RAM; /ræm/) is a form of electronic computer memory that can be
read and changed in any order, typically used to store working data and machine code.[1][2] A
random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount
of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory, in contrast with other
direct-access data storage media (such as hard disks and magnetic tape), where the time required
to read and write data items varies significantly depending on their physical locations on the
recording medium, due to mechanical limitations such as media rotation speeds and arm
movement.

In today's technology, random-access memory takes the form of integrated circuit (IC) chips
with MOS (metal–oxide–semiconductor) memory cells. RAM is normally associated with
volatile types of memory where stored information is lost if power is removed. The two main
types of volatile random-access semiconductor memory are static random-access memory
(SRAM) and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).

Non-volatile RAM has also been developed[3] and other types of non-volatile memories allow
random access for read operations, but either do not allow write operations or have other kinds of
limitations. These include most types of ROM and NOR flash memory.
The use of semiconductor RAM dates back to 1965 when IBM introduced the monolithic
(single-chip) 16-bit SP95 SRAM chip for their System/360 Model 95 computer, and Toshiba
used bipolar DRAM memory cells for its 180-bit Toscal BC-1411 electronic calculator, both
based on bipolar transistors. While it offered higher speeds than magnetic-core memory, bipolar
DRAM could not compete with the lower price of the then-dominant magnetic-core memory. [4]
In 1966, Dr. Robert Dennard invented modern DRAM architecture in which there's a single
MOS transistor per capacitor.[5] The first commercial DRAM IC chip, the 1K Intel 1103, was
introduced in October 1970. Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) was
reintroduced with the Samsung KM48SL2000 chip in 1992.

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