Random-Access Memory

(RAM)
By: Jordan Cole

What is RAM?
Random-Access Memory (RAM) is a form of computer-data storage. A random-access memory device
allows data items to read and written in roughly the same amount of time regardless of the order in
which data items are accessed. In contrast, time varies significantly between RAM, hard disks, CDRW,and older drum memory.

How SMART is RAM today?

With 64-bit operating systems standard on todays computers, and RAM being dirt-cheap,
upping the memory levels on your PC is just a matter of choosing 8, 12, or 16. Typically in
todays models it is typical to find several memory slots filled with 4GB or 8GB memory
modules. with Notebook SO-DIMMs right now for under $50, and desktop memory modules now
averaging at $5 less than before, it is quite affordable and logical to upgrade your RAM while
it is still cheap to do so.
Some of the top RAM manufacturers currently are Corsair, Geil, Kingston, Mushkin, OCZ,
Patriot, PNY, Crucial, and G. Skill.
In todays age, 8-16GB of RAM is typically general when it comes to day-to-day computing.
Low-end gaming desktops will typically sport 16GB as it offers more flexibility in RAM usage.
High-end gaming computers can offer anything from 24GB to a whopping 64GB of RAM.
Compare those numbers to the 4GB of RAM which was the norm only a couple of years ago,
and that is a serious performance boost.

History of RAM
Early computers used relays, mechanical functions or delay lines for main memory functions.
Although, ultrasonic delay lines could only produce data in the order it was written. The first
pragmatic form of RAM was the william tube, created in 1947. It stored data as electrically charged
spots on the face of a cathode ray tube. Magnetic core memory was also created in 1947 and
became the mainstream form of RAM until it was displaced by solid-state memory in integrated
circuits, starting only in the 1970s. In 1968, Robert H. Dennard created dynamic random-access
memory (DRAM); this allowed for the replacement of a 4 or 6-transistor latch circuit by a single
transistor for each memory bit. This greatly increased memory density at the risk of volatility. Data
was stored in the tiny capacitance of each transistor, and had to be refreshed every few
milliseconds before the change could leak away.

Memory Lane of RAM

1940s: Transistors, which

became the core component in
modern day memory, operated
through a series of latches and
only stored 1-bit of memory.

1960s: The first forms of

SRAM and DRAM. DRAM was
popular for its memory size
advantage but couldnt
compare to SRAMs operational
speed. SRAM become the
popular model and is still in
use today.

1990s: Single data rate

RAM, which is virtually
obsolete in the
computer industry, was
one of the first memory
architectures to support
synchronous memory.
This was popular in the
90s but became
obsolete with the
release of Intels
Pentium III

2007-Present:The
DDR3 specifications
were finalized in
2007, and primarily
increased the clock
rates by reducing
the voltages. But,
the latencies also
increased with only
a 2-5% performance
gain from DDR2

Did the History of RAM have an impact on

my life?
Well, in a sense yes and no. Ive only been alive through
the eras of SDRAM, DDR Memory, DDR2, and DDR3. But,
the evolution of RAM and the technological advantages
have made a tremendous effect on my life, considering
Im living in the golden age of technology, and it basically
affects everything in my day-to-day life.

Types of RAM
The two main forms of RAM are Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). In SRAM, a bit of
data is stored using the state of a flip-flop. This form of RAM is more expensive to produce, but is
generally faster and requires less power than DRAM, and, in modern computers, is used as a cache
memory for the CPU. DRAM stores a bit of data using a transistor and capacitor pair, which
comprises of a memory cell.
Both SRAM and DRAM are considered volatile, as their state will be lost or reset when
power is removed from the system. By contrast, read-only memory (ROM) stores data by
permanently enabling or disabling selected transistors, so that the memory will remain unaltered.
Writeable variants of ROM (such as EEPROM and flash memory) shares properties of both ROM and
RAM, enabling data to persist without power and to be updated without requiring special
equipment. These persistent form of semiconductor ROM include USB flash drives, memory cards for
cameras, and a few others.

Memory Hierarchy
One can read and overwrite data in RAM. Many computer systems have a memory hierarchy
consisting of CPU Registers, on-die SRAM caches, external caches, DRAM, paging-systems and virtual
memory, or swap space on a hard-drive. This entire pool of memory could be considered as RAM
by many developers, even though the various subsystems can have very different access times,
violating the original concept behind the random-access term in RAM. Even within a hierarchy level
such as DRAM, the specific row, column, bank, rank, channel, or interleave organization of the
components tend to make the access time variable. The overall goal of using a memory hierarchy is
to obtain the highest possible average access performance while minimizing the total cost of the
memory system.
In many modern computers, almost all types of RAM come in easily upgradable forms of
memory modules or DRAM modules about the size of a few sticks of chewing gum. These memory
modules are easily interchangeable should one become damaged, corrupted, or when one is in need
of more storage disk space.

The Memory Hierarchy (Visual Version)

The best 3 RAM products that are

available today
1: Kingston HyperX 16GB 229.99
The Kingston HyperX Genesis 16GB Quad Channel is the
best DDR3 Memory for its price. Coming in at 2133mHz
when overclocked, and averaging at 107 fps while being
used with World In Conflict, the Kingston HyperX 16GB is
the best performance for the price.

3: The Ripjaws X Series 86.99

The G.Skill Ripjaws X Series is the third
best performance for the price, coming
in with 1600mHz and sizeable and easily
swappable modules, it is the best bang
for your buck in third place.

2: Corsair Vengeance 209.99

The Corsair Vengeance low
profile 16GB series is the
second most powerful DDR3
memory available. Coming in
a series of colorful modules
and with 1886mHz being its
premier running mode, it
averages roughly 96-104 fps

Future Predictions
In theory, a 64-bit operating system is able to support up to 16TB of
RAM. But, this hasnt actually been put into practice. Windows 7
Ultimate is able to support roughly 196GB of RAM. Technically, RAM
10 or 20 Years from now could be in the 50-100TB range if there were
extensive work and practice put into it.
In my opinion, I believe that RAM is very important for modern day
computers, with DDR3 and DDR4 being incredibly important when it
comes to performance and functionality. But I also believe that
humans will eventually develop a system for computers that will
require little-to-no hardware. But, I believe that is also quite some
time away. I believe that RAM will be essential for computers for at
minimum another 20-30 years.