|  The system memory is the place where the computer holds current programs and data that are in use, and, because of the demands made by increasingly powerful software, system memory requirements have been accelerating at an alarming pace over the last few years. The result is that modern computers have significantly more memory than the first PCs of the early 1980s, and this has had an effect on development of the PC's architecture. Storing and retrieving data from a large block of memory is more time-consuming than from a small block.
With a large amount of memory, the difference in time between a register access and a memory access is very great, and this has resulted in extra layers of "cache" in the storage hierarchy. |
| When it comes to access speed, processors are currently outstripping memory chips by an ever-increasing margin. This means that processors are increasingly having to wait for data going in and out of main memory. One solution is to use "cache memory" between the main memory and the processor, and use clever electronics to ensure that the data the processor needs next is already in cache. | -
All programs, instructions, and data must be stored in system memory before the computer can use it. It will hold recently used programs, instructions, and data in memory if there is room. This provides quick access (much faster than hard drives) to information. The more memory you have, the more information you will have fast access to and the better your computer will perform. -
Memory is much like the short term memory in your brain. It holds your most recent information for quick access. Just as you want to accurately remember this information in your head, you want your computer's memory to have the correct information as well, or problems will obviously occur. Bad memory is one of the more common causes of computer crashes, and also the most difficult problem to diagnose. Because of this, making sure you get good RAM the first time around is very important. My Recommendations will help you get the fastest, highest quality RAM you can. -
There are many, many different types of memory for different tasks. The main ones today are DDR PCxx00 SDRAM DIMMs (this includes PC2700, PC3200, etc.) and Direct RDRAM RIMMs. |
