RAM is short-term memory that keeps information your processor needs close at hand. It works much faster than non-volatile storage, like the data stored on HDDs and SSDs.
This helps your computer open apps and files quickly. But there are a few factors that go into RAM performance that you should understand.
Memory Size
The memory size of a computer’s RAM is essential for its speed and functionality. When you open a new program on your computer, all of its data is stored in RAM for immediate access by the CPU (Central Processing Unit). If it had to search through its hard drive for each piece of information needed, your computer would move at a snail’s pace.
To determine how much RAM your computer needs, consider the amount of memory required by the programs you use and any gaming requirements. For example, 8GB of RAM will be fine for basic tasks such as internet browsing and word processing and will also allow you to play modern games at a good frames per second rate.
RAM comes in different capacities and speeds, with each generation of technology offering improvements over the previous. Each type of RAM has its own unique specifications that need to be taken into account when choosing the right product for your system.
Memory Type
The type of RAM in your computer is an important factor in determining its performance. Different generations of memory have key performance factors that are distinct from each other. It is best to use a system scan or a memory selector tool to find guaranteed compatible RAM for your motherboard.
RAM can be easily upgraded, allowing you to increase its capacity to improve your PC’s speed and performance. It is volatile, which means that data stored in RAM will be lost if the power is removed.
Static random-access memory (SRAM) is another type of RAM. It requires constant power, but the capacitors in SRAM don’t need to be refreshed like DRAM does. As a result, SRAM is more expensive and less efficient than DRAM. It is often used in high-speed cache memory, which resides close to the CPU chip to reduce the number of trips between main memory and the processor. Other types of cache include MROM, PROM and RIMMs.
Memory Speed
When you launch a program, it is loaded into RAM, where its data can be accessed quickly. The memory speed determines how fast the information can be moved in and out of RAM, and the faster the speed, the more responsive your computer will feel.
If your computer has to access information from long-term storage (a hard disk or solid state drive), it takes much longer than if the processor is able to access it directly in RAM. This is why the speed of a RAM module is measured in megahertz or MHz.
A memory speed specification also includes its data rate and latency. Data rate indicates how many bits can be transferred in a single cycle and latency refers to the number of CPU clock cycles it takes for a command to be processed. Lowering latency does not increase the data transfer rate but can significantly reduce the CPU’s wait time. This can be achieved with a software utility like AVG TuneUp, which optimizes your computer’s performance by eliminating junk files and unneeded background processes.
Memory Latency
Memory latency is a measure of how long it takes for your memory to respond to a read request from your CPU. It is sometimes called “CAS timings” and can vary between kits of RAM. Generally, lower latency is better, but there are also cases where the speed of your memory is more important than its latency.
When your computer’s working demands exceed the amount of RAM it has available, it must shift programs to the hard drive and then retrieve them again later. This is known as paging and it can slow down your system significantly.
Unlike RAM, magnetic disks have much larger storage capacities but are orders of magnitude slower than memory in terms of reading data from them. This is why RAM is a better choice for most applications that require fast reads and writes. For more help picking out a kit of pc ram that’s right for your system, be sure to check out our full PC Builder and our handy Memory Finder tool!