RAM ( Random Access Memory)

What is RAM?

 RAM is our working memory storage. All the

data, which the PC uses and works with during
operation, are stored here. Data are stored on
drives, typically the hard drive. However, for
the CPU to work with those data, they must be
read into the working memory storage, which
is made up of RAM chips. To examine RAM, we
need to look at the following:
Historical review
 Back in the 80's, PC's were equipped with RAM in
quantities of 64 KB, 256 KB, 512 KB and finally 1 MB.
Think of a home computer like Commodore 64. It had 64
KB RAM, and it worked fine. Around 1990, advanced
operating systems, like Windows, appeared on the
market, That started the RAM race..
 The PC needed more and more RAM. That worked fine
with the 386 processor, which could address larger
amount of RAM. The first Windows operated PC's could
address 2 MB RAM, but 4 MB soon became the standard.
The race has continued through the 90's, as RAM prices
have dropped dramatically
 The type of RAM doesn't matter nearly as much as how
much of it you've got, but using plain old SDRAM
memory today will slow you down. There are three main
types of RAM: SDRAM, DDR and Rambus DRAM
Types of random access memory
There are generally two broad categories of
random access memory:
 DRAM memories (Dynamic Random Access
Module), which are inexpensive. They are used
essentially for the computer's main memory
 SRAM memories (Static Random Access
Module), which are fast and costly. SRAM
memories are used in particular for the
processor's cache memory
Different RAM Types and its
uses

 SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)

Almost all systems used to ship with 3.3 volt, 168-pin
SDRAM DIMMs. SDRAM is not an extension of older EDO
DRAM but a new type of DRAM altogether. SDRAM
started out running at 66 MHz, while older fast page
mode DRAM and EDO max out at 50 MHz. SDRAM is able
to scale to 133 MHz (PC133) officially, and unofficially up
to 180MHz or higher. As processors get faster, new
generations of memory such as DDR and RDRAM are
required to get proper performance.
DDR (Double Data Rate RAM)

 DDR basically doubles the rate of data transfer of

standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and
down tick of a clock cycle. DDR memory operating at
333MHz actually operates at 166MHz * 2 (aka PC333 /
PC2700) or 133MHz*2 (PC266 / PC2100). DDR is a 2.5
volt technology that uses 184 pins in its DIMMs. It is
incompatible with SDRAM physically, but uses a similar
parallel bus, making it easier to implement than RDRAM,
which is a different technology.
 n

e
Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) v
e
r
 Despite it's higher price, Intel has given RDRAM it's
y
blessing for the consumer market, and it will be the sole
choice of memory for Intel's Pentium 4. RDRAM is a
c
serial memory technology that arrived in three flavors,
PC600, PC700, and PC800. lPC800 RDRAM has double
the maximum throughput ofo old PC100 SDRAM, but a
c with multiple channels,
higher latency. RDRAM designs
k
such as those in Pentium 4 motherboards, are currently
at the top of the heap in memory throughput, especially
c
when paired with PC1066 RDRAM memory.
y
c
l
e
,
DIMMs vs. RIMMs
 DRAM comes in two major form factors: DIMMs and
RIMMS.
 DIMMs are 64-bit components, but if used in a
motherboard with a dual-channel configuration (like
with an Nvidia nForce chipset) you must pair them to
get maximum performance. So far there aren't many
DDR chipset that use dual-channels. Typically, if you
want to add 512 MB of DIMM memory to your machine,
you just pop in a 512 MB DIMM if you've got an available
slot. DIMMs for SDRAM and DDR are different, and not
physically compatible. SDRAM DIMMs have 168-pins and
run at 3.3 volts, while DDR DIMMs have 184-pins and
run at 2.5 volts. RIMMs use only a 16-bit interface but
run at higher speeds than DDR. To get maximum
performance, Intel RDRAM chipsets require the use of
RIMMs in pairs over a dual-channel 32-bit interface. You
have to plan more when upgrading and purchasing
RDRAM.
 SDRAM speed is measured in megahertz (MHz). Speed markings on the
memory chips may still specific nanoseconds, but in this case in represents
the number of nanoseconds between clock cycles. To add to the confusion
the markings on the chips don't match the Mhz value. Here is a conversion
chart.To calculate bytes per second you need to know the Bus Width and Bus
Speed of your PC. The first thing to remember is 8-bits = 1 byte. If you have a
64-bit bus, than 8 bytes of information can be transferred at one time. (64 / 8
bits = 8 bytes)
 If your bus speed is 100Mhz (100 million clock cycles per second) and the bus
width is 1 byte wide, the speed is 100 MB's per second. With a 64-bit width,
the speed is 800 MBs per second (64 / 8 * 100,000,000)
 Rambus modules are measured in megabytes per second. Rambus modules
are either 400 or 300Mhz. Because they send two pieces of information every
clock cycle, you get 800 or 600Mhz. They have a 16-bit bus width or 2 bytes
(16/8). The 400Mhz module speed is 1600MB a second or 1.6GB a second.
(400,000,000 * 2) * 2. The 300Mhz module provides 1.2GBs a second.
 Memory Speed
SDRAM initially shipped at a speed of 66MHz. As
memory buses got faster, it was pumped up to
100MHz, and then 133MHz.
 The speed grades are referred to as PC66
(unofficially), PC100 and PC133 SDRAM respectively.
Some manufacturers are shipping a PC150 speed
grade.
 However, this is an unofficial speed rating, and of little
use unless you plan to overclock your system.
 DDR comes in PC1600, PC2100, PC2700 and PC3200
DIMMs. A PC1600 DIMM is made up of PC200 DDR
chips, while a PC2100 DIMM is made up of PC266
chips. PC2700 uses PC333 DDR chips and PC3200 uses
PC400 chips that haven't gained widespread support.
Go for PC2700 DDR. It is about the cost of PC2100
memory and will give you better performance.
 RDRAM comes in PC600, PC700, PC800 and PC1066
speeds. Go for PC1066 RDRAM if you can find it. If you
can't, PC800 RDRAM is widely available.
Understanding Cache
 Cache Memory is fast memory that serves as a buffer between the
processor and main memory. The cache holds data that was recently
used by the processor and saves a trip all the way back to slower main
memory. The memory structure of PCs is often thought of as just main
memory, but it's really a five or six level structure:
 The first two levels of memory are contained in the processor itself,
consisting of the processor's small internal memory, or registers, and L1
cache, which is the first level of cache, usually contained in the processor.
 The third level of memory is the L2 cache, usually contained on the
motherboard. However, the Celeron chip from Intel actually contains 128K
of L2 cache within the form factor of the chip. More and more chip makers
are planning to put this cache on board the processor itself. The benefit is
that it will then run at the same speed as the processor, and cost less to
put on the chip than to set up a bus and logic externally from the
processor.
 The fourth level, is being referred to as L3 cache. This cache used to be the L2
cache on the motherboard, but now that some processors include L1 and L2 cache
on the chip, it becomes L3 cache. Usually, it runs slower than the processor, but
faster than main memory.
 The fifth level (or fourth if you have no "L3 cache") of memory is the main memory
itself.
 The sixth level is a piece of the hard disk used by the Operating System, usually
called virtual memory. Most operating systems use this when they run out of main
memory, but some use it in other ways as well
 This six-tiered structure is designed to efficiently speed data to the processor when
it needs it, and also to allow the operating system to function when levels of main
memory are low. You might ask, "Why is all this necessary?" The answer is cost. If
there were one type of super-fast, super-cheap memory, it could theoretically satisfy
the needs of this entire memory architecture. This will probably never happen since
you don't need very much cache memory to drastically improve performance, and
there will always be a faster, more expensive alternative to the current form of main
memory. .
Memory Redundancy
 One important aspect to consider in memory is what level of redundancy
you want. There are a few different levels of redundancy available in
memory. Depending on your motherboard, it may support all or some of
these types of memory:
 The cheapest and most prevalent level of redundancy is non-parity
memory. When you have non-parity memory in your machine and it
encounters a memory error, the operating system will have no way of
knowing and will most likely crash, but could corrupt data as well with no
way of telling the OS. This is the most common type of memory, and
unless specified, that's what you're getting. It works fine for most
applications, but I wouldn't run life support systems on it.
 The second level of redundancy is parity memory (also called true parity).
Parity memory has extra chips that act as parity chips. Thus, the chip will
be able to detect when a memory error has occurred and signal the
operating system. You'll probably still crash, but at least you'll know why.
 The third level of redundancy is ECC (Error
Checking and Correcting). This requires even more
logic and is usually more expensive. Not only does it
detect memory errors, but it also corrects 1-bit ECC
errors. If you have a 2-bit error, you will still have
some problems. Some motherboards enable you to
have ECC memory.
Older memory types
 Fast Page Mode DRAM
Fast Page Mode DRAM is plain old DRAM as we once
knew it. The problem with standard DRAM was that it
maxes out at about 50 MHz.
 EDO DRAM
EDO DRAM gave people up to 5% system
performance increase over DRAM. EDO DRAM is like
FPM DRAM with some cache built into the chip. Like
FPM DRAM, EDO DRAM maxes out at about 50 MHz.
Early on, some system makers claimed that if you
used EDO DRAM you didn't need L2 cache in your
computer to get decent performance. They were
wrong. It turns out that EDO DRAM works along with
L2 cache to make things even faster, but if you lose
the L2 cache, you lose a lot of speed.