Memory (RAM) Tutorial

I got linked to an online publishing-house today, and I saw an article that I felt I should share with my readers. Find the original article here. The article title is General Rules for Memory Installation. After perusing the article, I had a pretty good laugh. For a 'tutorial', this article is neither a 'how-to', nor overly informative about any facet of RAM; selection, pricing, installation, debugging, or overclocking. So, I'll go out on a limb, and give a short primer on modern computer memory.

First, what IS RAM? RAM, short for Random Access Memory, is something akin to a worktable for your computer processor. Just like humans need space to spread out a project, a computer processor needs digital storage to spread out it's processes, or 'threads'. The larger the 'sticks' (i.e. 1Gb vs 512Mb) the larger the 'work surface', and the higher the 'clock speed' (say PC6400 vs PC2700), the more accessible the 'work surface' is.

When selecting RAM, it is most effective to purchase the largest amount, and highest clock speed, that your system will support. As a general rule, most 32-bit operating systems (Windows Vista back to Windows NT) will support no more than 4Gb of RAM, regardless of the maximum supported by the motherboard. 64-bit operating systems (Windows XP 64, Windows Vista 64, and the upcoming Windows 7) have no such restriction, as there is not currently a motherboard that will support RAM to the operating system's maximum capacity. So, to future-proof a new system, I personally recommend going all-out on RAM. It's inexpensive (as low as $30 for 2Gb), and with processors getting ever-faster, you don't want a bottleneck in the workspace you give your processor.

Another note on RAM selection, not related to quantity or speed, is RAM type. With PC components in a continual state of flux, RAM is often outclassed before it even hits the shelves. For example, there are, right now, a minimum of 3 different, currently supported, 'cutting-edge' types of RAM. Those being DDR, DDR2, and DDR3. Once you factor in ALL the different possibilities (i.e. single vs dual-channel, clock-speed, SIMM, DIMM, SODIMM, graphics-enabled, etc) it can REALLY make your head hurt.

My best recommendation is to make a plan to a goal, and buy what you need (or can afford) to attain that goal. For example, I'm planning a new system to play current-generation games, as well as doing CAD and web design. So, I'm choosing an AMD Phenom 3-core processor, a compatible motherboard, and 4-8Gb of the fastest RAM that the motherboard and processor will support. This way, I don't have to worry about my RAM not keeping up with the processor, or the program. Why have 8Gb of RAM if the operating system only supports 4Gb? I'm not going to be running Windows XP forever, and if the extra space is there, it's one less trip into my computer case.

Installation of RAM is kind of a no-brainer, especially if you understood the selection section without stopping. RAM modules, or 'sticks' are keyed, and should only fit into the motherboard one way. The only thing that MAY be tricky is whether the modules have to be installed in pairs, or if you can add single sticks. I ALWAYS recommend installing in pairs, as this eliminates the possibility of a hardware incompatibility (paired RAM is the convention going all the way back to the IBM 8086, and is near-universal as a fallback architecture). Push the RAM module down until you feel it seat, then hook the retention tabs to the edges of the module. If you choose to use a RAM heat-sink, I recommend that you install one stick, then the heat-sink, then move on to the next stick. This gives you maximum 'wiggle-room', and reduces the number of times you have to get in-between two sticks.

Hope this has been helpful!

Until Next Time!