RAM memory is a fundamental component of any technological device, since it works as the main memory of the system, and serves to store already solved operations and instructions to which the processor of the equipment will be able to access to retrieve them when needed. In this way, the processor is prevented from having to repeat heavy tasks and the workload is optimized.
The results and instructions that RAM can store will depend not only on the total amount that we have installedbut also of the particularities of the program or application that we are using. In general, the more amount of RAM memory we have, the greater number of operations solved and instructions we can store in it, and the better the performance will be.
However, although the above is the general rule, we must bear in mind that even if we have a lot of RAM memory, this It will not be fully exploited if the program or application that we are using is not optimized for it.. Let’s see it with a simple example, think of Windows 11, an operating system that requires 4 GB of RAM to run, but actually requires 8 GB of RAM to run smoothly, and that works optimally in configurations of 16 GB of RAM. If we have 32 GB or more of RAM we will not notice any significant difference.
RAM it fills and empties depending on what we are doing with our team. Thus, when we run a game it is filled with key data and instructions from that game, and once we close it removes all that data and instructions automatically, leaving you free to face other tasks. It is, therefore, a type of memory that works in real time, automatically adjusting to what we do, and is also characterized by being volatilewhich means that when we turn off the equipment it is completely emptied.
RAM speed and capacity
The performance of this component is determined by its capacity and speed. Having a larger amount of RAM memory will not only allow us to have more applications, programs and web browser tabs open, but it will also determine what kind of applications can we run Y what things can we do That is why it is such an important component, because it not only affects performance, but it can also limit the possibilities of any device.
For example, if we have a very limited amount of RAM, it will have to be emptied and refilled with a certain frequency, totally or partially, to adapt to the demands of said application or program, which will end up affecting performance. in a negative way. If we do not have the amount of memory required by an application or program it is very likely that this will not workor do it with serious problems.
Speed is determined by the total bandwidth reached by the RAM memory, and this is affected by the working frequency and the width of the bus. Having faster RAM with a more limited bus can give you a much worse result than having slower memory with a larger bus. Currently, in consumer computers, the optimal value goes through a 128-bit bus, which we will achieve by installing two memory modules in alternate spaces on the motherboard to activate the dual channel.
Higher bandwidth allows communications between RAM memory and other components, such as the processor, faster and completed in less time. In some configurations this memory is also used by the graphics core, and in these cases the bandwidth has a huge impact on its performance, because the GPU will need to access heavier data and instructions.
RAM can be soldered to the board or in removable modules. The second option is the most used in the PC world, and allows us to update said component in a simple and safe way. Currently the most used types of memory are Double Data Rate, specifically in its DDR4 and DDR5 standards, and LPDDR4 and LPDDR5, focused on the portable sector and mobile devices.
