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Whether it’s a laptop, desktop, phone, or game console, you’re basically looking at a computer, and there’s a lot of overlap in the technologies inside. RAM, or Random Access Memory, is one of those bits of tech you’ll find inside all of them. Since it’s so universal, it’s worth knowing just what it is and how it works.
What Is RAM Exactly?
TL;DR: RAM is how your computer stores current processes.
RAM is generally referred to as dynamic RAM. Active memory is filled with data your computer is actively working with, which usually comes from apps that are currently running or files you’re currently looking at. The more data your computer is using at once, the more RAM it will utilize.
If you run multiple programs at once or very demanding applications, you can use more memory than your computer has available to it, and this can lead to slowdowns and other issues. For most devices you’ll use, RAM is measured in Gigabytes (GB), often somewhere between 2GB and 64GB (or even 128GB on higher-end systems).
RAM can come in the form of memory modules soldered onto your system’s mainboard or removable modules called DIMMs that slot into a motherboard. Most compact devices, like laptops and mini PCs, go with the soldered-on route for the space savings it provides, but larger systems like bigger laptops and desktop computers go for the modular DIMMs, which allow for swapping and upgrading system RAM.
How RAM Works
There are pieces of the puzzle to consider how RAM fits into a system:
- Processor – data upload to your CPU
- Cache – fast memory built into the processor
- RAM (Random-access memory) – is usually used to store working data and machine code
- Storage – where stored data lives, even when device is powered down
Ultimately, data needs to get onto your CPU, or processor, to get processed. The system handles that data on different levels. Storage is where everything resides at all times, saved for the long term and remaining there even when your device is powered down. This would be your hard drives (HDD) and solid state drives (SSD). Files, programs, apps, and games are all saved in storage. (Also see: SSD vs HDD if you need an explainer).
When you go to use an app, game, or what have you, your system pulls the data out of storage and loads it into RAM. Memory is much faster than storage, so having data accessible here helps keep the system running quickly.
If you launch several different programs at once, they’ll all try to load into RAM. They might not all fit, though. Your system will occasionally have to bump things out of RAM. If you’re ever switching between a lot of programs and notice one takes a little longer to load back up, it may be because it has been bumped out of RAM and needs to be pulled back from storage or swap memory (a reserved area on storage to hold memory that spills over from RAM).
Now, RAM isn’t actually where the data gets processed. Ultimately, the data has moved into cache, which is a small pool (often just a few Megabytes) of very fast memory actually built into the processor itself.
Benefits of RAM
According to Dell, "Generally, the faster the RAM, the faster the processing speed. With faster RAM, you increase the speed at which memory transfers information to other components. Meaning, your fast processor now has an equally fast way of talking to the other components, making your computer much more efficient."
Types of RAM
You’ll find RAM in just about every device you use that has an operating system, including:
- iOS
- Android
- Windows
- Smart TV platforms
While it can come in a lot of different forms, you’ll often get a clue that you’re looking at some kind of RAM if you see “DDR” listed followed by a number that denotes the generation. You can find many computers using DDR3, DDR4, and now even DDR5 memory. Some thin-and-light laptops and smartphones use low-power or LPDDR# memory. Graphics cards have their own memory, too, with GDDR#.
How much RAM do you need?
If you're not doing anything especially demanding on your computer like playing games, video editing or using Google Chrome, you can get away with around 8GB of RAM. However, operating systems are using more and more of the stuff as time goes on, so our advice is to go with a healthy 16GB instead.
16GB is the sweet spot for PC gaming right now too, with many games starting to demand at least that amount. For heavier workloads like video editing or if you're just an enthusiast that wants the most powerful PC available, you can go up to 128GB on most modern motherboards – though that's likely to be overkill. For even the most demanding workloads, 64GB is probably the highest capacity you want to go while sticking to a budget.
For more information on selecting RAM for your system, check out our guide to the best RAM.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark.
