In Depth: Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM) is only temporary storage ("volatile"). When power is removed, it loses anything stored in it. In contrast, hard drives could retain data. Memory was a much faster medium than that hard drives. The downside was that memory gets more expensive as you increase capacity. Future technical developments would help merge the two ideas: storage and speed, with solid-state hard drives (specifically NVMe and M.2).

Since memory is a much faster medium, developers can build more robust programs without being sluggish. If a program were to only read from the hard drive, it would make programs too slow to run consistently. So, at its most simplistic level, memory was meant for active use, while hard drives were meant for long-term storage.

But technology improved, and hard drives and memory have blended functionality but are currently separate. I expect that memory will go away and no longer be used. Today, memory does not exist in an individual component in mobile phones. Those devices use a combined part called a "system on a chip" that combines processing, memory, and graphics computation.

Memory is pretty simple in its makeup. The main parts to be aware of are the form factor and the latency. In terms of form factors, there are different types. The main two are DIMM and SO-DIMM. DIMM is standard in desktops, and SO-DIMM is common in laptops. Each of these types is not physically compatible. So when you buy them, you must ensure they are the correct form factor.

Latency is the speed at which the memory can respond and complete a task. The higher the latency, the slower it can function. Low-latency memory is essential for high-performance applications (such as video gaming). Pulling data in and out to be processed or stored is core to its purpose.

Another thing to be aware of is the technology that makes up memory. While you have multiple form factors, there are also different technologies, such as Static random-access memory (SRAM), Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM). There are others, but they are not as notable.

SDRAM is the latest and most common. When you hear "DDR5, DDR6," it means using SDRAM. DDR stands for Double Data Rate, which replaced the original form of SDRAM, called SDR or Single Data Rate. These DDR generations relate to their bandwidth capabilities. The ability to pump data faster using the same electrical frequency (1000 megabits per second, for example).

The newer generation (higher DDR number) usually means the memory's clock rate (electrical frequency) increases. A side effect to the succeeding generations will still be that DIMM and SDRAM memory sticks are incompatible. So they made physical notches in the stick to separate them. However, even with that, some are similar.

Welcome to computers, confusion and all. To bring this all full circle, memory is made of chips configured in a way that has a form factor, which tends not to be compatible with different form factors (DIMM vs. SO-DIMM). With succeeding technologies, memory has advanced over the years, currently SDRAM. There are advances in performance capabilities within SDRAM, labeled as DDR1 through DDR6.

Some use similar notches in the connectors; others do not. The clock rate, mixed with the advances in performance capabilities, has led to higher bandwidth, which is helpful for powerful applications or video games. And in some instances, as with mobile phones, memory does not exist as a separate chip but rather a blended "system-on-a-chip" design.

The main problem is insufficient memory for the programs being run. You will want to add more memory if the motherboard supports it. However, you must use the same style, generation, technology, form factor, etc. If you do not, it will most likely not function as expected (or at all).

Another lesser issue is that you have more memory than the rest of the computer benefits from. If you have a slow hard drive and a slow processor, having vast super-fast memory will not make much difference. Ensure that the other components are capable of handling that much memory.