RAM(Random Access Memory) & It’s Types

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​RAM is made up of small memory chips that form a memory module. These modules are installed in the RAM slots on the motherboard of your computer.

 A RAM device makes it possible to access data in random order, which makes it very fast to find a specific piece of information. Certain other types of storage are not random-access. For example, a hard disk drive and a CD will read and write data in a predetermined order

RAM devices are used in computer systems as the main memory. RAM is considered volatile memory, which means that the stored information is lost when there is no power. So, RAM is used by the central processing unit (CPU) when a computer is running to store information that needs to be used very quickly, but it does not store any information permanently.

TYPES OF RAM:-

1.DRAM(Dynamic Random Access Memory)

2.SRAM(Static Random Access Memory)

1.DRAM


DRAM must be continually refreshed in order to maintain the data. This is done by placing the memory on a refresh circuit that rewrites the data several hundred times per second. DRAM is used for most system memory because it is cheap and small. All DRAMs are made up of memory cells which are composed of one capacitor and one transistor.

DRAM stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. The capacitor can be either charged or discharged; these two states are taken to represent the two values of a bit, conventionally called 0 and 1. Since even “nonconducting” transistors always leak a small amount, the capacitors will slowly discharge, and the information eventually fades unless the capacitor charge is refreshed periodically. 

Characteristics of the Dynamic RAM

  • It has short data lifetime
  • Need to be refreshed continuously
  • Slower as compared to SRAM
  • Used as RAM
  • Lesser in size
  • Less expensive
  • Less power consumption

2.SRAM


Stands for “Static Random Access Memory”.SRAM is a type of RAM that stores data using a static method, in which the data remains constant as long as electric power is supplied to the memory chip.This is different than DRAM (dynamic RAM), which stores data dynamically and constantly needs to refresh the data stored in the memory. Because SRAM stores data statically, it is faster and requires less power than DRAM.
SRAM is more expensive to manufacture than DRAM because it is built using a more complex structure. This complexity also limits the amount of data a single chip can store, meaning SRAM chips cannot hold as much data as DRAM chips. For this reason, DRAM is most often used as the main memory for personal computers. However, SRAM is commonly used in smaller applications, such as CPU cache memory and hard drive buffers. It is also used in other consumer electronics, from large appliances to small children’s toys.
Characteristic of the Static RAM

  • It has long life
  • There is no need to refresh
  • Faster
  • Used as cache memory
  • Large size
  • Expensive
  • High power consumption

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