What Is RAM and What Does It Do? [Guide]

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive guide to RAM, a crucial PC component affecting performance. It explains RAM's function as a fast, volatile storage for temporary data. The script traces RAM's evolution from SRAM and DRAM to DDR and GDDR types, emphasizing DDR4's dominance. It advises 16GB RAM for gaming, noting minimal performance gains from higher speeds or multi-channel configurations beyond this threshold. The video also discusses the benefits of multi-channel setups for cost, aesthetics, and redundancy.

Takeaways

• 💾 RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is crucial for PC performance as it temporarily stores data for quick access by the CPU and GPU.
• 🔌 RAM is a type of volatile memory, meaning data is lost once power is cut off, unlike HDDs or SSDs which are non-volatile.
• 🚀 RAM is significantly faster than HDDs or SSDs, making it ideal for short-term data storage that requires quick retrieval.
• 📈 The evolution of RAM includes SRAM, DRAM, SDRAM, and DDR SDRAM, with DDR4 being the current standard and DDR5 on the horizon.
• 🎮 For gaming PCs, 16GB of RAM is recommended for optimal performance and future-proofing.
• 💻 8GB of RAM can suffice for gaming if you're budget-conscious, but ensure no unnecessary background applications are running.
• 🌐 For basic PC use like browsing and multimedia, 4GB of RAM can be adequate.
• 🔄 RAM speed is measured in MHz, with DDR4 supporting speeds from 2133MHz to 5100MHz, but most commonly capped at 3600MHz.
• 🕹 RAM speed's impact on gaming performance is generally minimal, except in cases of high refresh rate monitors and triple-digit frame rates.
• 🛤️ Multi-channel RAM configurations (dual or quad) offer better performance than single-channel by increasing data transfer bandwidth.
• 💡 Installing RAM in multi-channel configurations can be cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing, and provides redundancy in case of RAM failure.

Q & A

What is RAM and what is its primary function?

RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it's used to store small amounts of data that the CPU and GPU need to access quickly for smooth computer operation.

How is RAM different from other storage devices like HDD or SSD?

RAM is much faster than HDD or SSD, but it's volatile, meaning data stored in RAM is lost when the power is cut off, unlike HDD or SSD which are non-volatile.

What types of RAM have been developed over the years?

Over the years, RAM has evolved from SRAM to DRAM, then to SDRAM, and finally to DDR SDRAM. The latest dominant type is DDR4, with DDR5 on the horizon.

What is the difference between DDR and GDDR RAM?

DDR RAM is used for system memory, while GDDR RAM is used for graphics cards. GDDR has developed more quickly and has higher bandwidth capabilities than DDR.

Why did HBM not replace GDDR as the dominant graphics RAM?

HBM offered higher bandwidth but its benefits are mostly seen in memory-intensive workstations, not in average consumer use. Its high manufacturing cost also limited its adoption.

How much RAM is recommended for a gaming PC?

16 gigabytes of RAM is recommended for a gaming PC as it offers enough capacity for current games and some future-proofing.

Can you run games with less than 16GB of RAM?

Yes, you can run games with 8GB of RAM, but you should avoid running unnecessary software in the background to ensure smooth performance.

What is the importance of RAM speed and how much does it affect gaming performance?

RAM speed is measured in megahertz, with higher speeds allowing for faster data transfer. However, the impact on gaming performance is usually negligible unless you're running games at very high frame rates on a high refresh rate monitor.

What is a RAM channel configuration and why is it important?

A RAM channel configuration refers to how many memory modules are installed. Multi-channel configurations provide better performance than single-channel because they allow for more data to be transferred simultaneously.

What are the benefits of using multi-channel RAM configurations?

Multi-channel configurations can offer better performance, lower cost due to cheaper individual modules, aesthetic appeal for those who show off their builds, and redundancy in case one RAM module fails.

How can I find more detailed information about specific RAM topics discussed in the script?

For more detailed information, you can check out individual videos on topics like memory channel configurations and the differences between HBM and GDDR, which are linked in the video description.

Outlines

00:00

💾 Understanding RAM

This section delves into the fundamental aspects of RAM, a critical PC component that significantly impacts performance in gaming and general use. It clarifies that RAM stands for Random Access Memory and serves as a temporary storage for data that the CPU and GPU need quick access to. Unlike HDDs or SSDs, RAM is volatile, meaning it loses data when power is cut. The video aims to consolidate all essential RAM knowledge into one resource. It traces RAM's evolution from its inception in the 1960s as SRAM to DRAM, then SDRAM, DDR SDRAM, and the current DDR4 standard. The section also touches on graphics RAM, comparing GDDR and HBM technologies, concluding that for most consumers, DDR4 and GDDR6 are the relevant RAM types. The focus then shifts to the importance of RAM volume, suggesting 16GB as a standard for gaming PCs, with lower amounts being viable for lighter usage.

05:01

🚀 RAM Specifications and Their Impact

This paragraph examines the significance of RAM speed, measured in megahertz, and how it affects gaming performance. It notes that while faster RAM can offer minor improvements, the difference is generally negligible for most users and only becomes significant with high refresh rate monitors and capable graphics cards. The video emphasizes that RAM volume is more critical than speed, especially until reaching 16GB. It also discusses RAM channel configurations, comparing single, dual, and quad-channel setups, and explains how multi-channel configurations can enhance performance by increasing data transfer bandwidth. The benefits of multi-channel memory include cost-effectiveness, aesthetic appeal for builders, and redundancy against RAM failure. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to explore more detailed content on specific RAM topics through linked videos and to engage with the channel for more informative content.

Keywords

💡RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory, a crucial PC component that temporarily stores data for quick access by the CPU and GPU. It is integral to a computer's performance, especially in gaming and multitasking. The video discusses RAM's role as a form of volatile memory, meaning it loses stored data when power is cut off, unlike HDDs or SSDs used for long-term storage. RAM's speed and capacity are highlighted as key factors affecting system performance.

💡Volatile Memory

Volatile Memory is a type of computer memory that retains its stored data only as long as power is supplied. In the context of the video, RAM is classified as volatile because it loses all data once the power is turned off. This is in contrast to non-volatile memory like HDDs and SSDs, which retain data even when the power is off.

💡DDR

DDR, or Double Data Rate SDRAM, refers to a family of memory modules used in computers and graphics. The video outlines the evolution of DDR from DDR to DDR4, which is currently the dominant type of system RAM. DDR5 is upcoming but will take time to replace DDR4. DDR is critical for system performance, and the video discusses its development and impact on gaming.

💡GDDR

GDDR stands for Graphics Double Data Rate, a type of memory specifically designed for graphics cards. The video explains how GDDR has evolved more quickly than DDR, with versions like GDDR6 being available. However, most users, including gamers, may not fully utilize the extra bandwidth GDDR offers, which is more beneficial in memory-intensive applications like workstations.

💡HBM

HBM, or High Bandwidth Memory, is a type of memory introduced by SK Hynix, offering higher bandwidth than GDDR. The video mentions HBM and HBM2, which provide significant benefits in workstations but are less relevant for average consumers due to their high cost and limited applicability in gaming systems.

💡Memory Speed

Memory Speed refers to the rate at which RAM can transfer data, measured in megahertz (MHz). The video indicates that while faster RAM can improve performance, especially in high refresh rate gaming scenarios, the impact on in-game performance is generally minimal. It suggests that for most users, the volume of RAM is more important than its speed.

💡Capacity

Capacity in the context of RAM refers to the amount of data it can store. The video suggests that 16 gigabytes is the recommended amount for gaming PCs, offering both performance and future-proofing. It also notes that 8 gigabytes can suffice for budget builds, while 4 gigabytes is adequate for basic tasks like browsing and media consumption.

💡Channels

Channels in RAM configurations refer to the number of memory slots or paths through which data can be accessed. The video explains that multi-channel configurations (like dual or quad channel) can provide better performance than single-channel setups by allowing more data to be transferred simultaneously, similar to multiple lanes on a road.

💡SGRAM

SGRAM, or Synchronous Graphics Random Access Memory, is a type of graphics memory that was introduced after SDRAM. While not as extensively covered as DDR or GDDR in the video, SGRAM represents an early step in the evolution of graphics memory, highlighting the progression to more advanced memory technologies.

💡Future-Proofing

Future-Proofing in the context of the video refers to the practice of selecting components that will remain relevant and performant over time. The recommendation of 16 gigabytes of RAM for gaming PCs is made with future-proofing in mind, as it is expected to handle current and future gaming requirements.

💡Refresh Rate

Refresh Rate in the video pertains to the number of times a display updates the image per second, measured in Hertz. It is mentioned in the context of high refresh rate monitors, where faster RAM could potentially provide a performance benefit by keeping up with the high frame rates these monitors can display.

Highlights

RAM is an essential PC component that directly impacts performance.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory and is used for quick data access by the CPU and GPU.

RAM is faster than HDD or SSD but is volatile and cannot be used for long-term storage.

RAM's history includes SRAM, DRAM, and the introduction of SDRAM in the early 1990s.

DDR SDRAM was first released by Samsung in June 1998.

DDR4, released in 2011, is the current dominant type of system RAM.

GDDR is the dominant type of graphics RAM, with GDDR6 being common in modern graphics cards.

HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) offers higher bandwidth than GDDR but is more expensive.

For gaming PCs, 16GB of RAM is recommended for optimal performance and future-proofing.

8GB of RAM is the minimum for gaming if you're budget-conscious.

For non-gaming use, such as browsing and multimedia, 4GB of RAM can be sufficient.

RAM speed is measured in megahertz, with DDR4 supporting speeds up to 5100MHz.

RAM speed has a minimal impact on in-game performance for most users.

Multi-channel memory configurations can provide better performance than single-channel.

Using multi-channel configurations can be more cost-effective and provide redundancy.

For most consumers, DDR4 and GDDR6 are the only relevant types of RAM.

The video provides a comprehensive overview of RAM without going into excessive detail on individual specs.

Transcripts

[Music]

ram

is one of the integral pc components

that you cannot do without

it's also one of the components that

have a direct impact on your pc's

performance

both in game and in general now we've

already talked about ram on this channel

a lot and we've pretty much covered all

there is to say about it

but unfortunately this information is

spread across multiple videos that have

their fair bit of overlap

that's why we'll be compiling everything

you need to know about

ram into this one video regardless of

whether you're interested in what

exactly ram is

how it came to be how many different

types there are or how much it affects

gaming performance

we've got you covered so without any

further ado

let's begin

we'll start with the basics asking a

most existential question

what is ram for starters ram is an

acronym that stands for random access

memory

it's used to store relatively small

amounts of data that the cpu and gpu

need to be able to access quickly so

that everything on your computer runs

smoothly

so in essence ram is a type of storage

like htd or ssd only it's way faster

than even ssd

however unlike hdds or ssds ram is a

type of volatile memory

what this means is that it can only

store data so long as it's powered

the moment the power supply is cut off

all the data stored in the ram

is lost that's why it can't be used for

long-term storage like hdds or ssds

despite being by far

the fastest type of storage on the

market so in essence

ram is a type of short-term memory that

is extremely fast and is therefore

used to store important data that other

components need to be able to fetch very

quickly

however there are different types of ram

used for different purposes

so let's take a look at how ram first

came to be and how it is developed since

then

like any other technology ram has gone

through many changes over the years

it was first conceived in the 1960s as

sram

or static random access memory then we

got

dram or dynamic random access memory

these two types of ram have been used

together all the way until the early

1990s

when synchronous dynamic random access

memory or sdram was released

and finally in june of 1998 samsung

released

the very first double date rate sdram

chip

or ddr sdram for short since then we've

gone through several iterations of ddr

ddr4 which is the latest and still the

dominant type of ram today was released

back in 2011.

we know that ddr5 is coming soon but

even when it does hit the market

it will take some time for it to

completely supplant ddr4

now that was it for system ram but we

have to rewind and see how

graphics ram has developed we don't have

to rewind all the way back to the 60s

though

synchronous graphic random access memory

or sgram

was released shortly after sdram and

samsung developed the first

gddr chips along ddr chips since then

gddr has developed more quickly and gone

through more iterations than ddr

some of you watching this video already

have graphics cards equipped with gddr6

memory

but while gddr is the dominant type of

graphics ram on the market

it isn't the only one in 2013 sk hanks

introduced a new type of graphics ram to

the world

hbm or high bandwidth memory then

in 2016 they released hbm2 needless to

say

hpm and hpm2 offered levels of bandwidth

that

far exceeded the capabilities of gddr

and they have found a home in some

graphics cards

however most users and this includes

gamers as well

simply aren't able to make use of the

extra bandwidth

it's only in workstations that run

memory intensive software that the

benefits of hbm can be truly seen

in which case they are significant so

due to the limited benefits and the

prohibited cost of manufacturing hbm

chips it never really posed a threat to

gddr and the two have been able to

coexist peacefully

for the average consumer this leaves us

with dddr4

and gddr6 as the only two relevant types

of ram at the moment

for the rest of the video when we say

ram we'll be referring to dddr4 system

ram

this is because the following segment is

about how much ram you need

what speed it should be and how many

channels it should use

with gddr6 there's no point in asking

these questions since you can't buy

gddr6 ram separately

it comes with your graphics card and

there's no way to upgrade it short of

buying a newer better graphics card

the first and most important question

when it comes to ram is the volume

everything else is secondary and as far

as volume is concerned how much you need

is dependent on what you need it for the

general consensus is that you should get

16 gigabytes of ram if you're building a

gaming pc

this is more than enough to run all the

latest games so it

offers a nice future proofing as well as

good performance

anything more than this is simply

excessive for gaming

however if you're pinching for pennies

you can still scrape by on

only 8 gigabytes of ram you need to make

sure you aren't running any unnecessary

software in the background while gaming

but

you can scrape by on the other hand if

you aren't a gamer and you primarily use

your pc for browsing and multimedia

content

then you can manage just fine even with

four gigabytes of ram

more ram is always better for

multitasking but if all your wants and

needs boil down to social media

youtube and so on you can get by on just

4 gigabytes of ram without any issues

when browsing for ram you'll constantly

be faced with another key spec

and that is the speed of the modules ram

speed is measured in hertz just like the

clock speeds of cpus and gpus

the higher the clock speed the higher

the data transfer rates and dddr4 memory

supports speeds of anywhere between 2133

megahertz

to 5100 megahertz that's a big range but

it's good to know that most gddr4 sticks

cap out at 3600 megahertz

so you can think of that as the upper

limit there's really no need to go

beyond that

as for how much ram speed affects

in-game performance the answer is

not much there's some difference when

using faster ram sure but

in most cases it's negligible and only

amounts to a handful of frames

the only time where the performance bump

becomes noticeable is when you're

running games on triple digit frame

rates with a high refresh rate monitor

but if you've got the cash to buy such a

monitor and a graphics card that can

pump out triple digit frame

rates then it's highly likely you'll

purchase a faster ram without worrying

about cost efficiency

but for those looking to save every

penny and purchase only the most cost

effective components

ram speed doesn't matter all that much

faster is better if you can afford it

but

volume trumps speed until you reach the

magic number that is 16 gigabytes

lastly we need to talk about ram channel

configurations

most motherboards have several memory

slots meaning you can install that many

ram modules

so if your motherboard has four ram

slots and you're looking to install 16

gigabytes of ram

you can go about it in three different

ways you can install a single 16

gigabyte stick

two eight gigabyte sticks or four four

gigabyte sticks

does this have any bearing on

performance it does

actually as a rule multi-channel memory

trumps single channel memory

to understand why this is the way it is

it's best to

imagine ram configurations as a road if

your road only has one lane

it can only accommodate so many vehicles

at any given time

but if it has two lanes well then the

traffic becomes much better

in this case the memory channels are the

leads and the data is the vehicles

the higher the bandwidth the faster the

data transfer in other words

more channels means better performance

now we should note that

gaming often couldn't make use of this

additional performance so don't expect

crazy fps spikes just because you've

installed two 8 gigabyte ram sticks

instead of a single 16 gigabyte stick

however there are other reasons why this

is still better

for starters the lower capacity sticks

are often cheaper

so you can save a buck or two by opting

for the multi-channel route

if you care about aesthetics having all

four ram slots filled out

definitely looks more impressive inside

a transparent case

and most importantly multi-channel

configurations act as a great

contingency against ram failure if one

stick dies you can just take it out and

still use your computer with just the

other ram stick

but if your one and only ram module dies

then

that's it no more computer time for you

until you get it replaced

so this has been a comprehensive

overview of all things ram

we've touched on everything in this

video but we didn't go into too much

detail on

any individual spec so if you're curious

to know more about ram

we still suggest checking out the videos

that cover each of these aspects

individually

for example the memory channel

configuration video explains the

difference between dual channel and quad

channel memory

which sounds super simple but has some

extra caveats

the hbm vs gddr video highlights all the

differences between these two types of

graphics ram

and so on the links to all of these

videos are in the description

in any case we hope you found this video

helpful you can let us know if you have

by dropping a like sharing it with

friends or leaving a comment

and if you want to see more videos like

this one make sure to subscribe to our

channel and click the bell icon to

enable notifications we upload a new

video

every week and this is the best way to

make sure you don't miss it

in the meantime may your games be fun

and your losses view

and as always we'll see you next time on

gamingscan