Memory
Updated: 04/26/2017 by Computer Hope
Computer memory is any physical device capable of storing information temporarily or permanently. For example, Random Access Memory (RAM), is a volatile memory that stores information on an integrated circuit used by the operating system, software, and hardware.
What does computer memory look like?
Below is an example picture of a 512 MB DIMM computer memory module. This memory module connects to the memory slot on a computer motherboard.
Volatile vs. non-volatile memory
Memory can be either volatile and non-volatile memory. Volatile memory is a memory that loses its contents when the computer or hardware device loses power. Computer RAM is an example of a volatile memory and is why if your computer freezes or reboots when working on a program, you lose anything that hasn't been saved. Non-volatile memory, sometimes abbreviated as NVRAM, is a memory that keeps its contents even if the power is lost. EPROM is an example of a non-volatile memory.
What happens to memory when the computer is turned off?
As mentioned above because memory (RAM) is a volatile memory when the computer loses power anything stored in RAM is lost. For example, as you are working on creating a document it is stored in RAM if it is not saved to a non-volatile memory (e.g. the hard drive) it would be lost if the computer lost power.
Memory is not disk storage
It is very common for new computer users to be confused by what parts in the computer are memory. Although both the hard drive and RAM are memory, it is more appropriate to refer to RAM as "memory" or "primary memory" and a hard drive as "storage" or "secondary storage."
When someone asks how much memory is in your computer, it is often between 1 GB and 16 GB of Random Access Memory (RAM) and several hundred gigabytes of even a terabyte of hard disk drive storage. In other words, you always have more hard drive space than RAM.
How is memory used
When a program such as your Internet browser is open, it is loaded from your hard drive and placed into RAM, which allows that program to communicate with the processor at higher speeds. Anything you save to your computer, such as a picture or video, is sent to your hard drive for storage.
Why is memory important or needed for a computer?
All of devices on a computer do not operate at the same speed and computer memory gives your computer a place to quickly access data. If the CPU had to wait for a secondary storage device like a hard disk drive the computer would be much slower.
Types of RAM
Some of the more common types of memory chips for computers are listed below.
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