| Computer memory, also known as RAM (random | | | | The Motherboard must be compatible with the type of |
| access memory) is the place in the computer where | | | | memory you want to use. Several Motherboard |
| the operating system stores information about | | | | companies produce Motherboards with SDRAM and |
| applications and data in current use so that they can | | | | DDR slots, which can NOT be used at the same time, |
| be quickly reached by the computers processor. | | | | but it is nice to have a choice of what you can use. |
| RAM is much faster to read from and write to than | | | | Each type of RAM also has various speeds at which |
| the other kinds of storage in a computer, the hard disk, | | | | it works, and the Motherboard must also support these |
| floppy disk, and CD-ROM. However, the data in RAM | | | | speeds. DDR for example currently comes in either |
| only stays there only as long as your computer is | | | | pc2100 , pc2700, & pc3200, while DDR2 comes in |
| running. When you turn the computer off, RAM loses | | | | pc3200, pc4200, pc5400, pc6400, & pc8000. |
| its data. When you turn your computer on again, your | | | | RAM also works at various megahertz, limited by the |
| operating system and other files are once again | | | | megahertz that the Front Side Bus on your |
| loaded into RAM, usually from your hard disk. There is | | | | motherboard works (the Front Side Bus, or FSB, is the |
| technology in the works to fix this problem, but that will | | | | channel on the motherboard used to transfer |
| take a while to reach the rest of us. | | | | information from the CPU to the RAM) so if you have |
| Computer memory can be compared to a persons | | | | RAM that works at 500 megahertz, and the FSB of |
| short-term memory, and the hard disk to the long-term | | | | your motherboard only runs at 333 megahertz, then |
| memory. The short-term memory focuses on work at | | | | 333 megahertz is the fastest your memory can run as |
| hand, but can only keep so many facts in view at one | | | | well. |
| time. Long term memory is much more abundant, and | | | | One very important note about computer memory, is |
| lasts much longer. | | | | you do not want to mix various speeds of memory, |
| Computers work much like this as well, RAM takes | | | | because the Motherboard will take the slowest speed |
| care of the current workload, and the hard drive | | | | and dummy all the rest of the fast memory to that |
| stores long term data. The faster these two can work, | | | | slower speed. Here's an example: |
| the faster your computer can calculate. | | | | You have three sticks of DDR computer memory in |
| There are three types of computer memory. | | | | your computer, 2 pc2700's, and 1 pc2100. The |
| SDRAM - The slowest, yet cheapest | | | | Motherboard slows down the 2 pc2700's to be the |
| DDR - Fast and efficient, and very cost effective | | | | speed of the pc2100, so that they're all working at the |
| DDR2 - The fastest available memory to date | | | | same speed. |
| RDRAM - Use to be the fastest and the most | | | | While this scenario works ok, it is not a good idea, |
| expensive, generally a pain since they have to be used | | | | because you have lost the value of the higher speed |
| in pairs | | | | RAM. |