Types of RAM (Random Access Memory) : Information Technology
Types of RAM (Random Access Memory) : Information Technology
Information Technology
Typically RAM chips reside on memory modules. Four main types exist.
SIMMs
DIMMs SODIMMs RIMMs
SIMMs
Single Inline Memory Module Pins on opposite sides form a single set of contacts
DIMMs
Dual Inline Memory Module 168 Pins on opposite sides of the circuit board form separate connections
SODIMMs
Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module A much smaller form of memory Used in Notebook computers and Apple iMac desktops
RIMMs
001001000 9th bit is parity bit 0 Odd Parity Checking, parity bit is set
Error Control
High-end servers often have a form of error-checking known as error correction code (ECC).
Bits can be corrected after failure, however, if more than one bit is corrupted the entire byte of data is lost.
RAM Types
What are some different types of Random Access Memory ?
SDRAM Synchronous DRAM Synchronized to the system clock DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM) Transfer data twice for each clock cycle Rambus DRAM (RDRAM) Faster than SDRAM chips because they use pipelining techniques
Stores 1s and 0s on capacitors Must be recharged every millisecond, or every one thousandth of a second Many different types exist (previous slide)
First form of DRAM Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 176 megabytes per second.
EDO DRAM
EDO = Extended Data Out Resides on SIMMs Sends and receives data simultaneously Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 264 megabytes per second.
Synchronous DRAM
Resides on DIMMs Faster than previous DRAM because it is synchronized with the system clock Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 528 megabytes per second. Most common choice of Pentiums until recently
Resides on DIMMs Also known as SDRAM II Faster than SDRAM because it transfers data twice for each clock cycle Commonly used in PCs
RAMbus DRAM
Resides on RIMMs Uses a pipelining technique to increase speed RDRAM memory chips work in parallel to achieve a data rate of 800+ MHz.
DRDRAM
Direct Rambus DRAM by Rambus, Inc. Often called PC800 RAM (doubling the Pentium 4 chips 400 MHz bus speed) Like DDR SDRAM, it transfers data on the rising & falling edges of the clock cycle Uses 2 data channels to improve transfer rates
Static RAM
Often used for Cache Memory Very fast and reliable because these chips do not have to be recharged as often as DRAM chips hence the term static SRAM chips: more expensive than DRAM
Static RAM
Cache Memory (Static RAM) helps speed up the microprocessor. Cache Memory stores frequently used data and instructions.
Static RAM
Personal Computers have 2 and perhaps 3 types of cache memory: L1 (Level 1) Cache (8KB to 128KB) L2 (Level 2) Cache (64KB to 4MB) L2 Advanced Transfer Cache on current microprocessors (built on the chip)
Static RAM
L3 (Level 3) Cache is cache separate from the microprocessor chip and is on the motherboard. L3 Cache exists only on computers that use the L2 Advanced Transfer Cache.
Static RAM
A computer with L2 cache usually performs at speeds 10 to 40 percent faster than those without cache. Servers and workstations can have at least 2MB of L2 or L3 cache.
SGRAM is a variant of SDRAM SGRAM makes use of block-writes to increase video processing speeds. SGRAM is single-ported so the CPU cannot write to it at the same time the image is being refreshed. SGRAM is used in high-end graphics cards
What OS are you running ? What applications do you run? Computer animation and graphics? Several functions?
Virtual Memory
Virtual memory takes the place of RAM memory You should have a 2:1 ratio of RAM to Virtual Memory