Memory plays a crucial role in PC gaming and can make a huge difference to game load times and general system responsiveness. Choosing the right RAM can boost your frame rate by an astounding amount.
RAM comes in the form of soldered on sticks or removable modules called DIMMs that slot into a motherboard. The best RAM for gaming delivers high transfer speeds, minimal latency and a range of useful features like XMP profiles.
Random Access Memory
RAM offers lightning-fast data access, which is crucial when it comes to completing complex tasks like playing the latest games and streaming high definition videos. When you open a file in your computer, the operating system replicates it from long-term storage onto RAM for processing. It then identifies and executes the task to deliver your preferred experience.
Without sufficient RAM, your computer may have to rely on slower storage components like a hard drive or solid-state drive for the same functions. This reduces performance, as reading from these drives takes much longer than from RAM.
Think of RAM as a desk top that holds your most important papers, folders and projects. The more you put on it, the quicker and more efficiently you can work. RAM is temporary, however, as it gets wiped when you shut down your PC. For this reason, it’s best suited to the most essential applications.
Cache Memory
Cache memory holds data and instructions that are accessed frequently by the CPU. By acting as a buffer between RAM and the CPU, it speeds up computer performance.
When the CPU wants a piece of data, it checks in cache memory first to see if it’s there. If it is, the CPU can proceed at high speed. Otherwise, it needs to access main memory which is much slower. This is known as a cache miss.
There are many types of cache memory. The simplest is a virtually indexed direct-mapped cache. The virtual address is calculated with an adder, a portion of the address is used to index an SRAM that returns the data, and the tag bits are checked against the virtual address in order to determine whether it was a cache hit or a cache miss.
More complex caches are organized into sets and can be either set associative or two-way skewed associative. Each cache set has a different placement policy.
Video RAM
Video RAM, or VRAM, is a specialized form of dynamic memory that handles the graphical demands of programs like video games. It can help improve frame rates and renders, making for a smoother gaming experience.
It’s become a hot topic in the PC gaming community because of the growing appetite of modern GPUs for VRAM. Increasingly, even the most capacious banks of VRAM aren’t enough to handle the most demanding AAA titles at their highest settings.
All types of VRAM are special arrangements of dynamic memory, and act as a buffer between the processor and the monitor. When an image is sent to the display, it’s first read from some form of main system memory and then stored in the VRAM. This is done millions of times per second.
Buying Guide
RAM is a crucial PC component that can make the difference between frustrating lag and smooth performance. But, when shopping for RAM, there are a lot of specifications to consider.
For starters, the capacity of the RAM you buy should be based on your usage requirements. Generally speaking, 8GB will suffice for general web browsing and light gaming, while 16GB will be optimal for heavy gaming or professional applications like video editing and CAD.
Also, RAM’s frequency and latency are important to consider. These factors impact how fast RAM can perform and are affected by its compatibility with your motherboard and CPU. As such, it’s crucial to check your motherboard compatibility before purchasing any RAM. The wrong type of RAM may not work at all, and it could underperform if it does fit.