Whether you’re building for gaming, content creation, or everyday productivity, the right RAM will help you get more done in less time. But with so much variety out there, how do you know what to buy?
RAM is the unsung hero that drives your PC’s speed. This guide will break down how it works and help you understand what’s the best pc ram for your build.
What is RAM?
RAM is temporary storage, a spot for data your computer needs to be working with right now. When you click on a link in your browser, for instance, capacitors and transistors in RAM’s circuit board turn on or off to translate the data into the webpage you see.
When you stop typing or clicking, the data gets wiped from your RAM and moves into longer-term storage (on your hard drive) until it’s needed again. The faster this process can happen, the better your computer will work.
If you’re experiencing lag while you’re working or playing, it might be time to upgrade your RAM. The easiest way to check is in Windows Task Manager. There, you’ll see a graph with color-coded dots representing the amount of available RAM. Green means you have enough, red means you need more. The higher the number, the better. You’ll also want to consider the clock speed, which measures how many times the memory is accessed during each system clock cycle.
How RAM Works
In order for your computer to perform calculations and other tasks as fast as possible, it needs a quick way to access data. That’s where RAM comes in. Disks, like your hard drive or solid-state drive, take longer to read and write information. RAM is much faster and can usually manage data in nanoseconds.
When you open a software program, the operating system moves the data that the program or application will need into RAM for immediate processing. The CPU can then work with that information at lightning-fast speeds.
The data stored in your RAM is volatile, meaning it will lose its content if the computer is shut down or restarted. This is different from a disk drive, which will maintain its contents even after a power outage. The more RAM your PC has, the faster it can typically operate and run demanding applications or video games. It also allows you to use multiple programs at once without affecting performance.
Types of RAM
There are a few different types of RAM. The most common type is DRAM (dynamic random access memory). DRAM uses a series of capacitors and transistors to store data in the form of a binary code. This is readable by the CPU, but the information in DRAM can be lost when the power is switched off.
DRAM is much less expensive to manufacture than SRAM, but it is slower when accessed and consumes more power. There is also ECC (error-correcting code) DRAM, which has an extra cell to detect and correct memory errors.
Graphics DDR RAM (GDDR) is a subset of DRAM that is used in video cards. It is able to send data at various points during the CPU clock cycle and improves the overall performance of your computer. It is important to know the kind of RAM that is compatible with your system before you buy it. Most of the big RAM makers (Crucial, Kingston, Corsair) offer product finders on their websites to help you choose compatible sticks.
Buying RAM
The process of buying RAM can be confusing for a first time buyer, especially as many computer components have a lot of technical specifications. The key is to make sure the RAM you buy matches your motherboard’s compatibility. The wrong kind of RAM will not work or could even cause your system to underperform.
You can look up your motherboard’s compatibility online via the manufacturer or RAM vendor’s website. It is also a good idea to use tools like Speccy, HWInfo or CPU-Z to determine your computer’s specific RAM requirements.
For gaming, you want to aim for a minimum of 16 GB of RAM for single DIMMs or up to 32 GB for two DIMM kits. Adding more RAM beyond your games’ requirements will not give you any performance gains. If you want to overclock your RAM, it will require higher clock speeds and possibly more voltage than standard consumer RAM. RAM modules have heat spreaders to help with cooling capabilities.