THE CONCEPT of random-access memory
has been around since the 1940s, although
it didn’t exist in its current form
until 1968. When we talk about
RAM here, we mean DRAM—
dynamic RAM—the kind of memory
you’re probably familiar with: Sticks
that plug into your motherboard and
use binary capacitors and transistors
to temporarily store readable data. Early
RAM worked differently, using electrically
charged spots on cathode ray tubes or
networks of magnetized metal rings.
The core principles remain the same,
though—the points of positive or negative
data could be read in any order, therefore
denoting them as “random access.”
The current model of RAM, using
transistors to store data as combinations
of charges, came into commercial use
in 1970 with the Intel 1103 chip. This
memory requires a constant supply of
electricity, with the minuscule charges on
the thousands of transistors needing to be
refreshed hundreds of times per second.
Unlike storage memory (such as that
found on traditional SSDs and HDDs), RAM
is volatile; once the computer is powered
off, the charges dissipate, and any data is
lost. While non-volatile RAM does exist, it
tends to be too slow for normal memory
needs, and can suffer from other issues.
Modern DRAM uses solid-state memory
on silicon circuitry, unlike the ceramic and
magnetic components of the Intel 1103. It
functions in much the same way, though,
losing data once the power is turned off.
Nowadays, RAM is used for a wide variety
of computing functions, most commonly
for graphical tasks, be that rendering 3D
objects in real time in a game, or editing
video footage. DR AM is found in more than
just the heatsink-equipped silicon sticks
you can buy in varying sizes and kits; it
operates inside modern graphics cards,
games consoles, even calculators.32GB
QSome RAM kits have got significantly
cheaper over the past year. In early
2018, 32GB of DDR4 could set you back
$400 or more, but prices have dropped
by around half since then. At the
moment, a kit of four 8GB sticks should
only set you back $100-$200, even at
higher speeds, such as 3,600MT/s. With
this new affordability in mind, 32GB (or
more) becomes a more distinct option.
If you’re looking to edit 4K video, use 3D
rendering programs, or play high-end
games at maximum graphical settings,
you’ll want at least this much memory
to play with. For gaming purposes, 32GB
will be overkill for most modern games,
but also serves to future-proof your
system. Again, if you’re rocking four
8GB modules, as opposed to two 16GB
ones, make sure that you’ve got support
for quad-channel memory.
64GB+
QIt wasn’t that long ago that the notion
of putting 64GB in a desktop PC was
faintly ridiculous, in terms of both cost
and necessity. Today, though, 64GB
of high-speed RAM (over 3,000MT/s)
can cost as little as $250, making
it feasible in a high-end system for
gaming or editing tasks. While 32GB
modules are available, we recommend
a quad-channel kit of four 16GB sticks;
dual-channel runs the risk of RAM
bottlenecks. 64GB will give any system
serious oomph, but if you have money
to burn, 128GB is an option too. It’s hard
to see where this would be required—
advanced high-res videography,
perhaps—but the option exists. DDR5
promises to up that maximum to 256GB,
which will likely only serve a niche role
for heavy data analysis tasks and video
processing in 8K and beyond.Stepping Back
Through Time
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WI
KI/Say hello, Gr andpa... This is the Intel
1103 chip, the precursor to modern
DR AM as we know it.maximumpc.com SEP 2019 MAXIMUMPC 25