|
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
Known as RAM. This is the part of
the computer's memory that the user can add to and delete from.
More Detailed Definition:
Pronounced ramm, acronym for
random access memory, a type of computer memory that can be
accessed randomly; that is, any byte of memory can be accessed
without touching the preceding bytes. RAM is the most common type
of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers.
There are two basic types of RAM:
- dynamic RAM (DRAM)
- static RAM (SRAM)
The two types differ in the technology they use to hold data,
dynamic RAM being the more common type. Dynamic RAM needs to be
refreshed thousands of times per second. Static RAM does not need
to be refreshed, which makes it faster; but it is also more
expensive than dynamic RAM. Both types of RAM are volatile,
meaning that they lose their contents when the power is turned
off.
In common usage, the term RAM is synonymous with main memory, the
memory available to programs. For example, a computer with 8M RAM
has approximately 8 million bytes of memory that programs can use.
In contrast, ROM (read-only memory) refers to special memory used
to store programs that boot the computer and perform diagnostics.
Most personal computers have a small amount of ROM (a few thousand
bytes). In fact, both types of memory (ROM and RAM) allow random
access. To be precise, therefore, RAM should be referred to as
read/write RAM and ROM as read-only RAM.
|