Understanding RAM and DRA Computer Memory Types

What is internal memory and how is it different from external memory?

Computer memory is generally classified as either internal or external memory.

Internal memory, also called "main or primary memory" refers to memory that stores small
amounts of data that can be accessed quickly while the computer is running.
External memory, also called "secondary memory" refers to a storage device that can retain or
store data persistently. They could be embedded or removable storage devices. Examples include
hard disk or solid state drives, USB flash drives, and compact discs.
What are the types of internal memory?

There are two kinds of internal memory: ROM and RAM.

ROM stands for read-only memory. It is non-volatile, which means it can retain data even
without power. It is used mainly to start or boot up a computer.
RAM, which stands for random-access memory, which temporarily stores data while the central
processing unit (CPU) is executing other tasks. With more RAM on the computer, the less the
CPU has to read data from the external or secondary memory (storage device), allowing the
computer to run faster. RAM is fast but it is volatile, which means it will not retain data if there
is no power. It is therefore important to save data to the storage device before the system is
turned off.
What are the types of RAM?

There are two main types of RAM: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static RAM (SRAM).
DRAM (pronounced DEE-RAM), is widely used as a computer’s main memory. Each DRAM
memory cell is made up of a transistor and a capacitor within an integrated circuit, and a data bit
is stored in the capacitor. Since transistors always leak a small amount, the capacitors will slowly
discharge, causing information stored in it to drain; hence, DRAM has to be refreshed (given a
new electronic charge) every few milliseconds to retain data.
SRAM (pronounced ES-RAM) is made up of four to six transistors. It keeps data in the memory
as long as power is supplied to the system unlike DRAM, which has to be refreshed periodically.

1
As such, SRAM is faster but also more expensive, making DRAM the more prevalent memory in
computer systems.
What are the common types of DRAM?
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) “synchronizes” the memory speed with CPU clock speed so
that the memory controller knows the exact clock cycle when the requested data will be ready.
This allows the CPU to perform more instructions at a given time. Typical SDRAM transfers
data at speeds up to 133 MHz
Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) takes its name after the company that made it, Rambus. It was
popular in the early 2000s and was mainly used for video game devices and graphics cards, with
transfer speeds up to 1 GHz.
Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) is a type of synchronous memory that nearly
doubles the bandwidth of a single data rate (SDR) SDRAM running at the same clock frequency
by employing a method called "double pumping," which allows transfer of data on both the
rising and falling edges of the clock signal without any increase in clock frequency.
DDR1 SDRAM has been succeeded by DDR2, DDR3, and most recently, DDR4 SDRAM.
Although operating on the same principles, the modules are not backward compatible. Each
generation delivers higher transfer rates and faster performance. The latest DDR4 modules, for
example, feature fast transfer rates at 2133/2400/2666and even 3200 MT/s

Figure 1. Types of computer memory

2
What are the types of DRAM packages?
Single In-Line Memory Module (SIMM)

SIMM modules were widely used from the late 1980s to 1990s, and are now obsolete. They
typically had 32-bit data bus and were available in two physical types 30 and 72 pin.
Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM)

Current memory modules come in DIMMs. "Dual in-line" refers to pins on both sides of the
modules. A DIMM originally had a 168-pin connector supporting 64-bit data bus, which is twice
the data width of SIMMs. The wider bus means that more data can pass through a DIMM,
translating to faster overall performance. Latest DIMMs based on fourth-generation double data
rate (DDR4) SDRAM have 288-pin connectors for increased data throughput.
What are the common types of DIMM?
There are several DIMM architectures. Different platforms can accommodate different memory
types so it is best to check which modules are supported on the motherboard. Here are the most
common standard DIMMs, with a typical length of 133.35 mm and height of 30 mm.

3
Table 1. Common types of DIMMs.
Aside from standard-size DIMMs, are there small form factor DIMMs for space-
constrained systems?
Small outline DIMMs (SO-DIMMs) are the smaller alternatives to DIMMs. While the standard
DDR4 DIMM is about 133.35 mm in length, SO-DIMMs are just about half the size of regular
DIMMs at 69.6 mm long, making them ideal for ultra-portable devices. Both commonly have a
height of 30 mm but may be available in very low profile (VLP) format at 20.3 mm tall or ultra-
low profile (ULP) at 17.8 to 18.2 mm. Another type of small form factor DIMM is the Mini-
RDIMM, which has a length of only 82 mm compared with 133 mm of regular RDIMMs.
ATP (All Test Pro) DRAM Products
ATP offers industrial memory modules in different architectures, capacities and form
factors. ATP DRAM modules are commonly used in industrial PCs and embedded systems.
Resistant against vibration, shock, dust and other challenging conditions, ATP DRAM modules
perform well even under the most demanding workloads and applications, as well as in different
operating environments.
Committed to product longevity, ATP also continues to offer legacy DRAM modules in select
form factors under its license agreement with Micron Technology, Inc. For information on ATP's
legacy SDRAM products, visit Legacy SDRAM.
To ensure high reliability, ATP conducts thorough testing and validation from IC level up to
module and product levels using Automatic Testing Equipment (ATE) for various electrical
parameters such as marginal voltage, signal frequency, clock, command timing and data timing
under continuous thermal cycles. Test during Burn-In (TDBI) employs a special mini thermal

4
chamber where modules are subjected to low and elevated thermal tests to screen out defective
components and minimize IC infant mortality, thus ensuring higher production quality and
reducing actual field failures.
The table below shows DDR4 DRAM products.

Table 3. Comparison of DDR4/DDR3/DDR2/DDR dimensions. Double Data Rate

5
 Types of RAM

RAM is volatile memory, which means that it cannot retain data once the power is turned off. Its
advantage is the high access speed. RAM types are as shown like the following picture:

RAM is mainly divided into two types: DRAM (Dynamic RAM) and SRAM (Static RAM).
SRAM: It relies on static flip-flops to store data. Therefore, the information stored in SRAM can
be retained for a long time without power failure and no additional circuit refresh is required.
DRAM: It uses capacitors to store information (charge), but any capacitor has leakage (charge
loss), so the stored information will be lost. To solve this problem, DRAM needs to read and
rewrite (so-called refresh) the DRAM at regular intervals (2ms).
Comparing SRAM and DRAM, their differences are as follows:
SRAM: It requires about six transistors for a memory cell, which makes it high-cost, small
capacity, and high-speed. Therefore, it is often used as the primary cache or secondary cache of
the CPU.
DRAM: It requires about one transistor and one capacitor for a memory cell, which makes it
low-cost and large-capacity, but it needs to be refreshed and the speed is slower than SRAM.
Therefore, it is often used as the main memory of the computer.
The main memory mainly uses DRAM. DRAM is mainly divided into FPM, EDO, ADRAM,
SDRAM, RDRAM, CDRAM, and DDR SDRAM.
 FPM (Fast Page Mode): It is an earlier type of PC memory and has been deprecated. When
reading data, it needs to wait for the first bit of data to be read before starting to read the next

6
 data. In addition, data is transmitted every 3 clock pulse cycles. Its max transfer rate is around
176 Mbps.
 EDO DRAM (Extended Data Output DRAM): It has been deprecated, too. It does not wait for
the completion of the processing of the first bit before continuing to the next one. In addition,
data is transmitted every 2 clock pulse cycles.
 ADRAM (Asynchronous DRAM): Earlier DRAMs are mainly ADRAMs. In ADRAMs, the
system clock does not coordinate or synchronize memory access. Therefore, there is delay in the
response of the memory.
 SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM): To solve the problem of ADRAM, SDRAM comes out. In
SDRAMs, the system clock coordinates or synchronizes memory access. Therefore, the CPU
knows the timing or the exact cycle number of the available data of the RAM, the input bus, and
the output bus, which improves the read and write speed of the memory.
 DDR SDRAM (Double-Data-Rate SDRAM): DDR SDRAM is based on SDRAM. SDRAM
transmits data only once in a clock cycle and it usually transmits data in the rising period of the
clock. As for DDR SDRAM, it transmits data twice in a clock cycle and it can transmit data once
in the rising and falling periods of the clock, respectively.
 RDRAM (Rambus DRAM): Unlike DDR and SDRAM, it uses a serial data transfer mode. This
mode makes requires manufacturers to change manufacturing process and, to produce RDRAM,
manufacturers must pay a certain patent fee. Therefore, it has high-cost. That is also, why it is
not so popular among users.
 CDRAM (Cached DRAM): This memory is a special type DRAM memory with an on-chip
cache memory (SRAM) that acts as a high-speed buffer for the main DRAM.