Computers have become a ubiquitous and inescapable part of our day to day lives. We encounter them constantly throughout the day – at work, at play, at the grocery store, in our homes, at our favorite restaurants, in our schools, and everywhere in between. And because computers are so ubiquitous and inescapable, so too is computer memory. Without computer memory, then our computers will not work correctly. But do you know how computer memory actually works? If not, do not worry – you are not alone. There are many different types of computer memory, each with their own unique purposes and jobs to do, and many people really have n
You are likely already aware that computers use memory. Our cell phones, personal data assistants, video game consoles, televisions, VCRs, radios and more also have memory. And for each type of device out there, there is a certain type of memory that is used in it to get some of the tasks done. The following are just some of the more common types of computer memory that you may or may not have heard of:
- RAM
- ROM
- Dynamic RAM
- Static RAM
- Flash memory
- Memory Sticks
- Virtual Memory
- Video memory
- BIOS
- Cache
Each of those different types of computer memory serves a different function or performs a different sort of task. While the functions or tasks may be similar, they are often designed to work with different types of components. Though computer memory is a term that just technically means only any form of electronic storage you have available, it is most often used as a term for forms of storage that are temporary in nature. When it comes to your computer system, memory is a vital component that you cannot do without. And the more memory you have available and at your disposal, the better your computer system will run. It will be faster.
We all know that the central processing unit in a computer can be thought of as the “brain” of the computer. The CPU uses your computer system's memory to access information quickly, which then allows your computer to run faster. If your central processing unit had to go to the hard drive every time it needed a piece of information, your computer system would be extremely slow indeed. Your memory holds data and other information temporarily so that the CPU can access it as quickly as it possibly can. Most data that you use on your computer goes into memory first before hitting your hard drive for long term storage, or it is coming in from your keyboard or similar. The CPU will save the bits of data it needs in your memory, and then store a special set of instructions regarding that data in your computer system's registry.
Every time you load or open something on your computer, it is stored in your system's RAM so that the CPU can access it more quickly and more easily. When a program or application is then closed, all of the information that the central processing wrote to the RAM about that program or application is then deleted or purged in order to make room for any information that will need to be stored from the next program or application that you open.
Since your CPU is constantly reading information from your computer's memory and then writing new information to it while a program or application is in use, you can see why your computer's RAM or memory is so important. The more RAM you have available for use, the more information can be written – and the faster your computer system will be.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this series wherein we will learn more about the various types of computer memory out there, what they do, and what they are used for.
