So, let's get ready for the dissection, roll out the stretcher and go to the anatomical theater. It's time to study all the details of each cell that makes up modern memory and learn how it works.
What is RAM?
Random access memory - also known as RAM (Random Access Memory), RAM (random access memory), memory, RAM - a volatile part of the computer memory system in which executable machine code (programs), as well as input, output and intermediate codes are stored during computer operation data processed by the processor. Physically, the RAM module is embodied in the form of these strips, which are inserted into a special connector on the motherboard. So, in principle, I answered the first two questions. Although no, this definition makes little sense to the average person. But now we will analyze everything in detail. So. There are several types of memory in a computer: non-volatile and volatile or temporary. Non-volatile memory is any memory device that can store data whether it is powered or not. In a computer, this is the hard drive. You can save a file on it, unplug your computer, and the next time you turn it on again, everything will remain in place. Volatile memory is computer memory that requires constant power to store information. This is what RAM is in a computer. Which means that if you turn off the power supply (turn off the computer), all the information stored in it will disappear. That is, every time you turn on your computer, its RAM is empty. I think this is understandable. The next part of the definition answers our next question.
Purpose
What does RAM do? RAM or RAM (Random Access Memory) is a volatile and relatively fast PC memory that has random access. It carries out various types of operations for exchanging information between devices. RAM is volatile. If you turn off the power, the data contained in it will be erased. RAM stores streams of information that the processor needs to process. Devices contact RAM through the system bus and exchange with it through the cache. Random access RAM means that the memory accesses the desired block directly when needed.
At the same time, the access speed does not change. RAM is different from volatile RAM; it rarely fails. If it is damaged, it affects the entire system and negatively affects the operation of some PC devices. RAM comes as a separate module or block of a device or chip. If modern gadgets did not use the element in question, then all operations would be slow. What does adding RAM do? It allows you to reduce information processing time, and applications will work and launch twice as fast.
Peculiarities
Modern laptop and computer users know what RAM does. It is responsible for performance - how quickly the received command will be executed and processed by the PC. To determine the frequency of a specific module, you can simply look at the sticker, which contains numbers and letters, for example: DDR3 – 1600 PC3 – 12800 CL9 ECC REG.
In addition, you can use special programs that allow you to determine the characteristics of RAM. What does this code mean?
- DDR3 is a generation of RAM and is the most common type.
- 1600 is the operating frequency of the memory, which is measured in MHz.
- PC3 – 12800 – a parameter indicating the throughput, that is, the amount of information processed in 1 second.
- C19 – information about RAM timing, measured in milliseconds. The lower the number, the better.
- ECC – memory has parity control. The module has a special controller that corrects errors that occur during operation.
Therefore, if you want to increase RAM, then take these parameters into account, otherwise there is a high risk of incompatibility between the device and RAM.
PCB version DIMM
Let's look at the following illustration.
It shows the circuit boards used to make DIMMs. It's easy to see that they are different. These differences are usually called a revision (version) of the printed circuit board.
Revision “A0” was created for modules with a frequency of 2,133 MHz. Now it is used mainly for budget DIMMs with far from record operating frequencies. This is the worst board design for high frequency DIMMs. For operating frequencies of the order of 4,600 MHz, it is generally not applicable. In addition, overclocking modules on “A0” to 4,000 MHz and higher is very problematic.
Revision A1. This design is often used by OEM manufacturers as a universal design, allowing them to produce both “regular” memory and those with ECC support. Overclocking capabilities are higher than those of revision “A0” boards.
Revision “A2” is, in fact, a reference board design for DDR4 memory modules with a frequency of 2666 MHz. True, no one prohibits the use of a similar board layout for modules with any frequency, even for the youngest ones with an operating frequency of 2,133 MHz. This is the best option for running RAM at high frequencies and for overclocking.
It differs from revisions “A0” and “A1” primarily in the location of the DRAM chips. They are soldered in groups of 4 closer to the edges of the module, as well as closer to the connector contacts, thereby leaving the middle part of the board free. This improves electrical signal performance, reduces interference, and ultimately improves performance.
Revision “A2” also had one more pleasant bonus. In our age of dominance of LEDs wherever they can be placed, the 2nd revision of the board with its free middle part and the location of the chips closer to the bottom edge of the module leaves a lot of space for organizing the backlight.
It must be said that the designs of printed circuit boards presented in the illustration above are not dogma at all, and no one forbids making their own changes to them. In the end, to place the LEDs you have to do this anyway.
In particular, in the Corsair Dominator series of modules with backlighting, the “A2” PCB is larger in size, LEDs are placed at the top, and insulating conductors are located between them and the memory chips.
As far as I know, GEIL only uses "A2" PCBs in their DDR4 backlit models. And, for example, the Crucial MTA8ATF1G64AZ memory module exists on both revision “A1” and “A2” boards.
What is RAM needed for?
A fair question would be: why in a computer, in addition to the hard drive, on which data is stored regardless of whether power is supplied to it or not, does a computer need an additional, unreliable thing like RAM? The fact is that in comparison with the speed of the central processor, the speed of reading and writing to the hard drive is very low. And if the processor worked directly with it, the computer's performance would be very low. RAM, on the other hand, is much faster than a hard drive. If you do not take into account various caches, then RAM will be the fastest element in a computer device, after the central processor. Thus, RAM is needed to increase the performance of a computer, due to the fact that it allows the latter to receive the necessary data faster.
Why is RAM needed in games?
RAM strips
To fully enjoy games, you need “fast” RAM. Its speed level determines the update speed, measured in megahertz. The faster and larger the RAM, the more processes can run simultaneously, and the smoother modern games will run.
If the device does not have enough RAM for a comfortable game, then all its parameters will not fit in the RAM. Of course, the game will load, but its performance will leave much to be desired. The user will encounter lags, slowdowns, slow reactions - all this is the result of a lack of RAM.
Note! After increasing the amount of RAM, game processes will begin to be processed more quickly and efficiently, and the application itself will respond with lightning speed to the gamer’s commands.
Temperature, lag, energy dependence and generally “on the fingers”
Relatively speaking, to put it very simply, RAM is many small cells that store data and each bit of this data is stored by a charge (or lack thereof) on a tiny capacitor in a microcircuit (as discussed above in the text).
This memory is volatile, which is why during sleep mode (hibernation of the computer), the contents of the memory are written to the hard drive and loaded back upon awakening. When the computer is turned off, the memory is empty.
The paging file, which is a “continuation” of this memory, logically stores data on the hard drive, which, in general, is unsafe.
Information in cells is “lost” over time, and the higher the temperature, the faster this happens.
To avoid losing saved data, it must be refreshed regularly to restore the charge (if any) to its original level. This update process involves reading each bit and then writing it back. This does not happen entirely, but in blocks. During this "refresh" process, the memory is occupied and cannot perform normal operations such as writing or storing bits. In general, this update causes the memory to slow down every 7.8 µs.
How does it all work?
When you start the computer, all the necessary data: the operating system kernel, drivers, various services and startup programs are loaded from the hard drive into RAM and from there the CPU takes them for processing. The processor also returns the results of its work to RAM and not to the hard drive. Every program, every window of any program you open on your computer is in RAM. The central processor works with it. And only when you save some of the results of your work, they are written to the hard drive. To help you understand better, let's look at a simple example of creating a text document in Word. When you click on the program launch shortcut, all the files necessary for its operation are loaded into RAM and after that the editor window appears on the computer monitor. When you start writing text, it is also in RAM; you simply won’t find it on your hard drive. In order for the result of your work to be saved on it, you must save it by clicking the button of the same name in Word. Everyone has had it at least once when you were writing, writing some text and suddenly closed the program or the computer turned off, and after turning it on again, your text disappeared. Precisely because the RAM was reset to zero, and you never bothered to save your creativity. I think now you already understand what RAM is, why it is needed and how it works. Now let's move on to more practical things. Namely, we will consider the types of RAM and its main characteristics.
Types (types) of RAM
0 Nowadays, RAM can be of two types: static (SRAM) and dynamic (DRAM). Static RAM is faster than dynamic RAM due to its production technology, but at the same time more expensive. This type is often used as processor cache memory. For mass production of RAM modules, DRAM technology is used. And there are several types of such memory. Those that can now be found: - DDR SDRAM - synchronous dynamic memory with random access and double data transfer rate (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) of the first generation; - DDR2 SDRAM - second generation of DDR SDRAM; - DDR3 SDRAM - third generation of DDR SDRAM; — DDR4 SDRAM — fourth generation of DDR SDRAM; As you might guess, DDR SDRAM is the oldest type of RAM, which is now very difficult to find. DDR4 is the newest. Today the most common is DDR3. These types of memory differ in performance and appearance. To prevent you from accidentally inserting a stick with one type of RAM into a slot intended for another type, there is a special key (cut) on the stick, and a protrusion in the connector on the motherboard in the same place. And it is different for each type of memory. In addition, using this key you will not be able to insert the RAM module backwards.
What is the difference between DDR and DDR2, DDR3 and DDR4
The number of channels connecting the core with the output buffer, the effective frequency, and therefore the memory bandwidth. As for the data bus width (bit width), in most modern memory modules it is 8 bytes (64 bits).
Let's say we have a DDR2-800 memory module. How to calculate its throughput? Very simple. What is 800? This is the effective memory frequency in megahertz. We multiply it by 8 bytes and get 6400 MB/s.
And one last thing. We already know what bandwidth is, but what is the amount of RAM and does it depend on its bandwidth? There is no direct relationship between these two characteristics. The amount of RAM depends on the number of storage elements. And the more such cells, the more data the memory can store without overwriting it and using a page file.
Scalpel. Clamp Electron microscope.
We don't have all the tools that electronics engineers use to study their semiconductor creations, so we can't just take apart a DRAM chip and show you its innards. However, the guys from TechInsights have such equipment, who took this picture of the chip surface:
If you thought it looked like agricultural fields connected by paths, then you are not so far from the truth! Only instead of corn or wheat, DRAM fields are primarily made up of two electronic components:
- A switch represented by a MOSFET (MOSFET)
- A storage device that is a groove capacitor.
Together they form a so-called memory cell, each of which contains 1 bit of data. A very rough diagram of the cell is shown below (with apologies to electronics experts!):
The blue and green lines indicate the connections that supply voltage to the MOSFET and capacitor.
They are used to read and write data into a cell, and the vertical (bit) line is always fired first. A groove capacitor is essentially used as a vessel to fill with electrical charge - its empty/full state gives us 1 data bit: 0 is empty, 1 is full. Despite the efforts made by engineers, capacitors are not able to store this charge forever and over time it flows away.
This means that each memory cell must be constantly updated 15-30 times per second, although this process itself is quite fast: it takes only a few nanoseconds to update a set of cells. Unfortunately, a DRAM chip has many cells, and while they are being updated, they cannot be read or written to.
Several cells are connected to each line:
Strictly speaking, this diagram is not ideal because there are two bit lines for each column of cells - if we depicted everything, the diagram would become too illegible.
A complete row of memory cells is called a page, and its length depends on the type and configuration of the DRAM. The longer the page, the more bits it contains, but also the more electrical power is needed to operate it; Short pages consume less power but also contain less data.
However, there is another important factor to consider. When reading and writing a DRAM chip, the first step in the process is to activate the entire page. A string of bits (consisting of zeros and ones) is stored in a row buffer, which is essentially a collection of sense amplifiers and latches rather than additional memory. The corresponding column is then activated to retrieve data from this buffer.
If the page is too small, then rows need to be activated more often to keep up with data requests; and vice versa - a large page provides more data, so it can be activated less often. And even though a long string requires more power and can potentially be less stable, it is better to aim for the longest pages possible.
If we put a set of pages together, we get one bank of DRAM memory. As with pages, the size and arrangement of rows and columns of cells play an important role in the amount of data stored, memory speed, power consumption, and so on.
For example, a schema might consist of 4,096 rows and 4,096 columns, with the total capacity of one bank being 16,777,216 bits or 2 megabytes. But not all DRAM chips have square banks because long pages are better than short ones. For example, a design with 16,384 rows and 1,024 columns would give us the same 2 megabytes of memory, but each page would contain four times as much memory as a square design.
All pages in the bank are connected to a row addressing system (the same applies to columns) and they are controlled by control signals and addresses for each row/column. The more rows and columns there are in a bank, the more bits must be used in the address.
A 4,096 x 4,096 bank requires 12 bits for each addressing system, and a 16,384 x 1,024 bank would require 14 bits for row addresses and 10 bits for column addresses. It is worth noting that both systems have a total size of 24 bits.
If a DRAM chip could only provide access to one page at a time, this would not be particularly convenient, so they pack multiple banks of memory cells. Depending on the overall size, the chip may have 4, 8, or even 16 banks—8 banks are most commonly used.
All these banks have common command, address and data buses, which simplifies the structure of the memory system. While one bank is busy working with one team, other banks can continue their operations.
The entire chip, containing all the banks and buses, is packaged in a protective shell and soldered to the board. It contains electrical conductors that supply power for DRAM operation and command, address, and data signals.
The photo above shows a DRAM chip (sometimes called a module) made by Samsung. Other leading manufacturers include Toshiba, Micron, SK Hynix and Nanya. Samsung is the largest manufacturer, with approximately 40% of the global memory market.
Each DRAM manufacturer uses its own system for encoding memory characteristics; The photo shows a 1 gigabit chip containing 8 banks of 128 megabits, arranged in 16,384 rows and 8,192 columns.
Laptop RAM
Many modern netbooks, laptops and tablets use DDR RAM with the SODIMM form factor. The difference between these modules and others is their appearance. Each generation of RAM has its own characteristics. They are related to the technological process. So, the module for a laptop has a different number of contacts, unlike the first generation DDR. Some laptop users may encounter an unpleasant problem: the OS slows down and works erratically. This happens if several applications are downloaded at the same time. Then you will need to clear the RAM.
What can the user do? Close all applications, restart the device. In addition, you can use programs that clear RAM. All of these methods have pros and cons. If they do not solve the problem, you should contact a service center for help.
How much RAM to use
The amount of memory that can be installed in a computer depends on the motherboard. The amount of memory is limited both physically by the number of slots for its installation, and, to a greater extent, by software limitations of a specific motherboard or installed computer operating system.
In general, 2 GB is enough to browse the Internet and work in office programs; if you play modern games or are going to actively edit photos, videos, or use other memory-intensive programs, then the amount of installed memory should be increased to at least 4 GB.
Please note that Windows operating systems currently come in two flavors: 32-bit (x32) and 64-bit (x64). The maximum volume available to the operating system in 32-bit versions, depending on various combinations of components, is approximately 2.8 to 3.2 GB, that is, even if you install 4 GB in your computer, the system will see a maximum of 3.2 GB. The reason for this limitation appeared at the dawn of the emergence of operating systems, when no one even in their wildest dreams would have thought about such amounts of memory. There are ways to allow a 32-bit system to work with 4 GB of memory, but these are all “crutches” and do not work on all configurations.
Also, Windows 7 Starter has only a 32-bit version and is limited to a maximum amount of RAM of 2 GB.
64-bit versions of the operating system do not experience such problems, for example Windows 7 Home Basic supports up to 8 GB, and Home Premium supports up to 16 GB. If suddenly this is not enough for you, you are welcome to use the Professional, Corporate or Maximum versions, where you can install up to 192 GB of memory, most importantly, the motherboard, where you put all this wealth, do not forget to find it and so that you have enough money.
Higher in rank
Memory companies take multiple DRAM chips and install them on a single board called a DIMM.
Although the D stands for dual, that doesn't mean it has two sets of chips. By double we mean the number of electrical contacts at the bottom of the board; that is, both sides of the board are used to work with modules. The DIMMs themselves have different sizes and numbers of chips:
The photo above shows a standard desktop DIMM, and below it is the so-called SO-DIMM (small outline, “small profile DIMM”). The small module is designed for small form factor PCs such as laptops and compact desktops. Due to the small space, the number of chips used decreases, the memory speed changes, and so on.
There are three main reasons for using multiple memory chips per DIMM:
- This increases the amount of available storage
- Only one bank can be accessed at any time, so having the others running in the background improves performance.
- The address bus in the processor that processes memory is wider than the DRAM bus.
The latter is very important because most DRAM chips only use an 8-bit data bus.
However, CPUs and GPUs differ from them in this respect: for example, the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X CPU has two built-in 64-bit controllers, and the Radeon RX 5700 XT has eight 32-bit controllers built in. That is, each DIMM that is installed in a Ryzen computer will require eight DRAM modules (8 chips x 8 bits = 64 bits). You might think that the 5700 XT graphics card would have 32 memory chips, but it only has 8. So what does that give us?
Memory chips designed for graphics cards have more banks, usually 16 or 32, because 3D rendering requires simultaneous access to a large amount of data.
One Rank and Two Rank
The set of memory modules that "populate" the data bus of a memory controller is called a rank, and although more than one rank can be connected to a controller, it can only receive data from one rank at a time (because the ranks share the same data bus). This is not a problem because while one rank is busy responding to a command passed to it, another rank can be given a new set of commands.
DIMM cards can have multiple ranks and this is especially useful when you need a huge amount of memory, but there are few RAM slots on the motherboard.
So-called dual- or quad-rank designs can potentially provide greater performance than single-rank designs, but increasing the number of ranks quickly increases the load on the electrical system. Most desktop PCs can only handle one or two ranks per controller. If the system needs more ranks, then it is better to use a buffered DIMM: such boards have an additional chip that eases the load on the system by storing commands and data for several cycles before passing them on.
Many Nanya memory modules and one buffer chip - classic server RAM
But not all ranks are 64 bits in size - DIMMs used in servers and workstations are often 72 bits in size, that is, they have an additional DRAM module. This additional chip does not provide any increase in capacity or performance; it is used for error checking and correcting (ECC).
You remember that all processors need memory to work? With ECC RAM, the small device doing the work is given its own module.
The data bus in such memory is still only 64 bits wide, but the reliability of data storage is significantly increased. The use of buffers and ECC only slightly affects overall performance, but greatly increases the cost.
RAM - how to choose, characteristics
Let's look at the main characteristics of computer RAM, which you should definitely pay attention to if you want to choose a really good RAM.
RAM Type – Be sure to note, it can be DDR2, DDR3 or DDR4. Which one does your motherboard support?
Volume in GB - The more, the better. For current systems on the Windows 10 operating system, you should not take less than 8 GB. When buying an Android phone, it is better not to buy a model with a capacity of less than 3 GB, because... With new updates of this OS, its requests will become more.
Clock speed - The higher the frequency, the faster the RAM will run. Rely on what frequency the processor and motherboard support. If the frequency on the board is higher than theirs, nothing bad will happen, it will just work at a lower frequency.
Signal delay (Timings) - The delay of calls between the processor and RAM should be minimal.
Bit rate
DRAM performance is typically measured in the number of bits of data transferred per second.
Earlier in this article, we said that DDR4 used as system memory has chips with an 8-bit bus width, that is, each module can transfer up to 8 bits per clock cycle. That is, if the data transfer frequency is 3200 MT/s, then the peak result is 3200 x 8 = 25,600 Mbit per second or a little more than 3 GB/s. Since most DIMMs have 8 chips, you can potentially get 25 GB/s. For GDDR6 with 8 modules, this result would be 440 GB/s!
This value is usually called memory bandwidth; it is an important factor affecting RAM performance. However, this is a theoretical value because all operations within a DRAM chip do not occur simultaneously.
To understand this, let's take a look at the image shown below. This is a very simplified (and unrealistic) representation of what happens when data is requested from memory.
The first step is to activate the DRAM page that contains the required data. To do this, the memory is first told what rank is required, then the corresponding module, and then the specific bank.
The chip is given the location of the data page (the row address) and responds by sending the entire page. All of this takes time and, more importantly, it also takes time to fully activate the row to ensure that the bit row is completely locked before accessing it.
The corresponding column is then determined and a single bit of information is extracted. All types of DRAM transfer data in bursts, packing information into a single block, and a burst in modern memory is almost always 8 bits. That is, even if one bit is retrieved in one clock cycle, this data cannot be transmitted until 7 more bits are received from other banks.
And if the next required bit of data is on another page, then the currently open page must be closed before activating the next one (this process is called pre-charging). All this, of course, takes more time.
All these different periods between the time the command is sent and the required action is performed are called memory timings or delays. The lower the value, the higher the overall performance because we spend less time waiting for operations to complete.
Some of these delays have names familiar to computer fans:
| Timing name | Description | Typical value in DDR4 |
| tRCD | Row-to-Column Delay: number of cycles between activating a row and being able to select a column | 17 cycles |
| C.L. | CAS Latency: number of cycles between addressing a column and starting to transmit a data packet | 15 cycles |
| tRAS | Row Cycle Time: The smallest number of cycles a row must remain active before it can be pre-charging | 35 cycles |
| tRP | Row Precharge time: minimum number of cycles required between activations of different rows | 17 cycles |
There are many other timings and they all need to be carefully tuned so that the DRAM works stably and does not distort data, while having optimal performance. As you can see from the table, the diagram showing the loops in action should be much broader!
Although processes often have to wait while executing, commands can be queued and sent even if the memory is occupied by something else. This is why you see a lot of RAM modules where we need performance (CPU system memory and chips on graphics cards), and much less modules where they are not so important (in hard drives).
Memory timings are configurable - they are not hard-coded in the DRAM itself, because all commands come from the memory controller in the processor that uses this memory. Manufacturers test each chip they make, and those that meet certain speeds at a given set of timings are grouped together and installed in DIMMs. The timings are then stored in a small chip located on the board.
Even memory needs memory.
Red indicates ROM (read-only memory, ROM), which contains SPD information. The process of accessing and using this information is called serial presence detect (SPD). This is an industry standard that allows the motherboard BIOS to know what timings all processes should be set to.
Many motherboards allow users to change these timings themselves either to improve performance or improve platform stability, but many DRAM modules also support Intel's Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) standard. This is just additional information stored in the SPD memory that tells the BIOS: “I can handle these non-standard timings.” Therefore, instead of fiddling with the parameters on their own, the user can configure them with one click.
How to find out what RAM is in your computer
There are two ways to determine the type and characteristics of memory installed in your computer. You can see this data on a sticker affixed to the module itself, although you will probably have to remove it from the slot, otherwise you are unlikely to see anything. If the sticker with information is missing or is not readable, then the type of DDR memory can be determined by the number of contacts and the location of the key (notch) on the strip. Use the figure below for this.
Another way to find out comprehensive information about the characteristics and operating mode of RAM is to use some program that displays information about the system. We recommend using the free CPU-Z program, which shows the characteristics and operating mode of the memory.
The Memory tab displays the type of RAM installed in the computer, its size, operating mode and timings used. The SPD tab shows all the characteristics of a specific memory module installed in the selected slot.
Cooling radiators
If you open a catalog with memory modules existing on sale, then most, if not most of them will have radiators. What are they needed for?
If we ignore the fact that this is a very convenient thing for installing backlighting and generally improving the appearance of memory sticks, then the main purpose of these pieces of hardware is cooling. And if we are talking about high-frequency memory with low timings, especially intended for overclocking, then installing radiators makes sense.
At the same time, there are a considerable number of DIMMs on sale without any cooling at all. Does this mean that we are dealing with budget memory, which will work perfectly at standard frequencies, but is almost impossible to overclock?
In some cases, yes. Judging by the available information, for example, Patriot Memory Signature PSD48G320081 modules do without radiators and are not driven at all. True, their frequency is initially not the smallest, 3,200 MHz, but it is unlikely that they will be able to achieve more. Moreover, the revision of the printed circuit board is “A0”.
And it happens the other way around. For example, you can look at the reviews from happy owners of 8 GB Samsung M378A1K43BB2-CRC modules, who overclock them from the standard 2,400 MHz or 2,666 MHz to 3,200 MHz and higher. And without any radiators. Although this does not mean that there is no need to organize normal ventilation of the case.
Therefore, if initially we are talking about purchasing a high-speed memory module, and even with the prospect of serious overclocking to frequencies of about 4,000 MHz and higher, then a metal radiator will definitely not be superfluous.
If we are talking about standard frequencies in the region of 3,000 MHz, and you are not at all interested in overclocking and, especially, light shows in the case, then the lack of a radiator is by no means a reason to refuse to consider one or another DIMM model without additional cooling of memory chips.
RAM chip packaging
Above, I often called for looking at the number of chips soldered onto DIMMs and drawing some conclusions from this. It must be admitted that simply counting the number of memory chips does not always reflect the real capacity of a given module or its configuration.
Let me give you an example. Patriot Memory Signature modules PSD48G320081 and PSD416G240081 each have eight chips. Moreover, the volume of the first is 8 GB, and the second is 16 GB. The fact is that several memory crystals can be located inside the microcircuit housing.
It follows that the first glance at the module should be supported by data from the specifications in order to begin to draw conclusions about whether this DIMM is interesting for you to purchase.
How to install?
We have found out what RAM provides, now we will tell you how to install it in a computer or laptop:
- First, turn off the device and wait five minutes.
- Open the system unit.
- There must be free slots on the motherboard - install RAM there. Each board has its own DDR generation.
What are the benefits of increasing RAM? The computer will work faster, but you need to increase it carefully. First, find out what motherboard is installed on your device, also focus on the model and brand of the laptop. All this will make it clear how much RAM to add and whether it needs to be done. To increase memory, you must do the following:
- determine the model of the motherboard or laptop;
- decide on the amount of RAM and module;
- check compatibility with the motherboard;
- purchase a module.
Installing memory is easy. To do this, you need to know in general terms what a PC or laptop consists of and the functionality of all its parts.
Difference between RAM and ROM
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. Unlike RAM, ROM is used to record information that will be stored there permanently. For example, ROM is used in the following devices:
- Cell phones;
- Smartphones;
- Microcontrollers;
- BIOS ROM;
- Various consumer electronic devices.
In all the devices described above, the code for their operation is stored in ROM. ROM is non-volatile memory, so after turning off these devices, all information will be stored in it - which means this is the main difference between ROM and RAM.
How does it affect RAM in games?
If we take games into account, then there should be a lot of RAM. When the toy is loaded, all data about the location, map and other scenery goes from the HDD to the RAM, and then the video card converts the data and broadcasts it to the monitor screen. If there is not enough temporary memory, the game will simply slow down, or even freeze for a few seconds. Of course, all this will darken the impression of the game, which is why gaming machines are equipped with a large amount of RAM.
Effect of volume
The answer to the question: “What affects the amount of RAM?” - extremely simple. The amount of RAM directly affects the amount of information that the processor will process, and therefore increases the speed of completing all tasks in general.
Effect of frequency
RAM frequency is the speed at which the RAM exchanges files with the processor. And it’s already clear what the speed of RAM affects. Higher speed means faster information processing.
What does type affect?
Each subsequent generation of RAM differs in its characteristics: the frequency and volume increase and the voltage decreases, due to which the board heats up less.
The best RAM manufacturers
Today, the RAM market is home to 4 of the best manufacturers, whose products do not cause any complaints and meet user expectations:
- Corsair. The corporation's headquarters are located in America. Compared to other RAM manufacturers, the brand also creates many other devices and elements such as headphones, mice, keyboards and cooling systems. If we talk directly about memory modules, then over its many years of history, the company’s employees have been producing different types of strips. Now there is also a modern, powerful version of DDR4 available;
RAM manufacturer Corsair - G.Skill. This brand appeared on the world stage in 1989. The company was founded by ordinary enthusiastic developers. Now it produces a minimal amount of hardware - memory sells best. Engineers are engaged in the production of modern RAM standards, so the models are characterized by both a decent volume and high frequency. Many planks can be overclocked, which will definitely please a certain category of customers;
RAM manufacturer G.Skill - Kingston. Without exaggeration, the products of this American brand are considered the most popular. The reason for this popularity is the affordable price tag. RAM of this brand is almost always used by different laptop manufacturers;
RAM manufacturer Kingston - Mushkin. Another American brand whose employees produce power supplies and other types of computer equipment, but their RAM is in particular demand. The products are mainly intended for desktop PCs, but there are several models for laptops. The most common series is REDLINE, which supports overclocking and is therefore of interest to more experienced users.
RAM manufacturer Mushkin
Thus, RAM really is a key device in computers and laptops, on which the performance of the gadget and the ability to fully work with several resource-intensive programs at once directly depend. When choosing RAM, it is recommended to focus on products from popular brands - in this case, you will definitely be able to meet your expectations from the purchase.
B-die, C-die, E…
Those interested in the topic (I’m not talking about overclocking gurus) have probably seen mention of Samsung B-die DRAM chips more than once. And Micron, for example, has E-die... These are memory steppings that can significantly affect the operating speed and overclocking capabilities of a particular DIMM.
I have no intention of delving into the issue of RAM overclocking. And it won’t work, because this topic is inexhaustible, as confirmed by multi-page, sometimes hundreds and hundreds of pages, threads in thematic forums.
It is important to know that each DRAM chip manufacturer (not a memory module manufacturer, but a chip manufacturer) produces several versions of its chips. This is reflected in the stepping markings. So, for Samsung it is A-die, B-die, C-die and others. Micron chips are marked in approximately the same way.
Legendary among the “racers” are primarily B-dies from Samsung. The image above shows the structure of the 8GB DDR4 B-die chip K4A8G085WD-BCTD manufactured by Samsung. Modules with them are potentially the most pernicious. Potentially, because it is impossible to ensure exactly the same characteristics of chips in different batches.
You may well come across a module that will overclock, but will not reach the frequencies that a friend got on the same module and on a similar system. Just not very lucky with specific chips. Even in a set of two B-die modules, both will be good, but one will still be slightly good.
In 2022, it was planned to stop the production of B-die chips, but I won’t say whether this actually happened then, or happened later, or whether it is still being produced. In any case, if you are lucky enough to own modules on these chips, then good operating speed, low latency and overclocking potential are included in the price.
When overclocking, we are talking not only about the frequencies at which stable operation is achieved, but also about timings, because overclocking memory is not only and not so much a race for frequency, but a balance between it and delays.
Other brands are considered overclockers: E-die from Micron, Hynix C-die CJR. It is not possible to find out which modules contain which chips from the specifications. You need to focus on reviews, owner reviews and data provided by various utilities. For example, the Thaiphoon Burner utility provides detailed information about memory modules.
Insufficient RAM - what to do?
Sometimes users see a system message about insufficient RAM - this indicates a lack of RAM, due to which applications will not be able to work properly - freezes and slowdowns will begin. Beginner users mistakenly believe that they need to free up space on the HDD, but physical and virtual memory are different things, which you definitely need to know about. There are several options to solve this problem - cleaning, overclocking and installing a larger RAM slot.
Message about insufficient RAM
The simplest and most popular method is manual cleaning of RAM. To do this, you need to perform a number of actions:
- Go to the “Task Manager” section by pressing three buttons at once - Ctrl, Shift and Esc, and also open the menu from the process and sort all running applications by “CPU”, and then by “Memory”. Determine which of them load the system the most.
Launch "Task Manager" - Right-click on the required utility and cancel the task or “End process tree”.
Select “End process tree”
There is another way that involves doing the following:
- In the Open menu, type msconfig and click OK.
In the “Run” menu, type “msconfig” and click “OK” - Activate “Startup” and uncheck the boxes next to utilities that are used quite rarely, then save the changes and reboot the device.
We activate “Startup” and uncheck the boxes next to the utilities
. According to the third method, you can use the KCleaner program - it has long established itself as a powerful application for cleaning RAM, without disabling important system processes and services. For optimized work you will need:
- Download the latest version of the program and install.
Download the program and install - Launch it and click on the clean button.
Click on the “Clear” button - Wait for the operation to complete and then follow the instructions of the utility. The program has a number of additional functions. One of them is cleaning and rebooting.
The program has a number of additional functions
How to overclock RAM?
The easiest and most affordable way to overclock RAM, which does not require installing third-party applications, is available through the BIOS.
- Before overclocking the RAM in Bios, you need to press a key combination such as Ctrl+F1 to open a menu with advanced settings. Otherwise, you won’t be able to find the necessary RAM parameters.
In Bios, press Ctrl + F1 to open a menu with advanced settings - Now you should find the “MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)” section with the appropriate settings, in particular, “System Memory Multiplier”. Changing the frequency of this multiplier increases or decreases the clock frequency of the RAM.
We are looking for the section “MB Intelligent Tweaker (MIT)” - After determining the optimal frequency and voltage, you need to go to the main menu to go to the “Advanced Chipset Features” section. It is needed to select delay timings. To do this, change the “DRAM Timing Selectable” parameter in advance (previously it was “Auto”, now “Manual”) for manual configuration.
Go to the main menu to go to the “Advanced Chipset Features” section
Specifics of installing RAM
The process of connecting RAM will be discussed using a laptop as an example.
- Turn off the device completely and take care to unplug the power cord. If the battery is removed, it is better to remove it. After this, use a screwdriver to unscrew the screws from the cover. Memory access will now appear.
Remove the laptop cover and open access to the RAM - If there are several slots for RAM at once and each of them is occupied, then you need to remove the strips - to do this, bend special latches on the sides.
We bend the special latches on the sides and remove the RAM - New RAM is installed in the empty slots. This must be done at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.
We install a new operational strip in the empty slot at an angle of 45 degrees - You need to be careful when installing the modules so that the contacts are not damaged, and the modules themselves must be installed tightly enough. By pressing on the top edge, the RAM will be clamped with latches.
By pressing on the top edge, the RAM will be clamped with latches
All that remains is to put the cover back on, turn on the laptop and check the result!
