RAM. That's it, just RAM...

     So this week, I'm moving on to the next major part of my little computer build. As it turns out, my parents and I have been discussing the likelihood of actually building this system. It's still leaning towards the "likely" side, but I think I'll have to keep using my virtually non-existent powers of persuasion to keep them on my side. Anyway, on to the long, tedious post! Yay!

This week's part is RAM. RAM generally looks like this:





However, most modern models have heat-spreaders like this:



 

 

 

 

 

Now for the wonderful history lesson: The original way to store information in computers was vacuum tubes. These tubes stored information for use at a later time. In 1945, the ENIAC, the first commercially used computer, used thousands of vacuum tubes to store its information. Later, in 1952, Jay Forrester from MIT invented "Core Memory". This is what you are hearing when you hear things like "dual-core processor". Finally, in 1969, Intel released their first product, the 3101 Schottky. This was also the first step in the direction of modern RAM.

Intel 3101 Schottky

 

     Like all other computer components, RAM runs on a "clock", or a certain rate at which it processes information. In RAM, the clock has two pulses that happen every cycle. There is a positive pulse of electricity, and a negative pulse of electricity. The first type of RAM that utilized this capability was SDR (Single Data Rate) RAM. It was only capable of sending data during the positive pulse of each cycle. However, it was quickly replaced by DDR (Double Data Rate) RAM, which was able to send data during both pulses of the cycle, which made it twice as fast. After this major step, RAM began to evolve. DDR2 RAM, the evolution of DDR RAM, had larger bandwidth, faster clock rates, and allowed for higher voltages. These improvements made DDR2 much faster than its predecessor. Today, we are at the third step in the evolution of RAM, DDR3. Finalized in 2007, the architecture and specifications for DDR3 RAM increased clock rates while, at the same time, reducing voltage. This allowed for faster speeds that took less power to reach, therefore creating a more eco-friendly computer.

     Finally, on to the concept of "clock speeds". As I stated earlier, RAM runs on a constant clock, which allows it to run at a certain speed. However, different RAM modules are designed to handle faster speeds. These data rates for RAM are measured in mega-transfers (or megahertz) per second. For example, the lowest common RAM standard is DDR3-1066. That means that it makes 1066 mega-transfers every second. The fastest, which was just introduced by Corsair last week, is clocked at 3000mHz.

As for my project build, I have chosen Mushkin's Silverline 4gb kit. It consists of two 2gb sticks that run at DDR3-1333 speeds (as my motherboard can't handle anything higher. Surely this RAM will be able to do anything I could possibly need it to. I feel that it's a great cheap, effective solution for my system!

So, toodles to all, and have a wonderful time doing whatever it is you do. :) 

Works Cited: http://wccftech.com/history-ram-trip-memory-lane/
                        http://www.cpu-zone.com/RAM_History.htm