FEATURE / DEEP DIVE
exact role of system memory. So, to help
clear up the situation, we’re going to get
right back to basics and explore the inner
workings of the memory that sits at the
heart of modern-day PCs.THE BASICS
At its most basic, main system memory
is simply a temporary storage place for
the data that your PC’s CPU and other
processing components, such as GPUs,
are working on. In theory, a CPU could
retrieve all data directly from long-term
storage such as hard drives and SSDs,
but because these storage mediums are
relatively slow, a faster intermediary is
required. When a program starts, data
is loaded into memory from long-term
storage, which is why you get those
classic game and program loading times
where files are being retrieved from
long-term storage.
The need for separate long-term
storage is twofold. First, making system
memory large enough to store all the dataT
here are few elements of
computing that are more
misunderstood than random
access memory, or RAM. It’s both
incredibly important for maximising
performance of other components, yet it
can’t boost performance in and of itself.
Moreover, with different CPUs benefiting
in different ways from different RAM
speeds, and other processing units such
as GPUs often using their own dedicated
RAM, there’s a lot of confusion over theTOTAL RECALL
EDWARD CHESTER EXPLORES THE INNER WORKINGS OF
MODERN MEMORY. NO MIND TRICKS INVOLVEDIntel Optane is the first storage medium to offer non-volatile
storage and fast enough speeds to act as system memoryFEATURE / DEEP DIVE
exactroleofsystemmemory.So,tohelp
clearupthesituation,we’regoingtoget
rightbacktobasicsandexploretheinner
workingsofthememorythatsitsatthe
heartofmodern-dayPCs.THEBASICS
Atitsmostbasic,mainsystemmemory
issimplya temporarystorageplacefor
thedatathatyourPC’sCPUandother
processingcomponents,suchasGPUs,
areworkingon.Intheory,a CPUcould
retrievealldatadirectlyfromlong-term
storage such as hard drives and SSDs,
but because these storage mediums are
relatively slow, a faster intermediary is
required. When a program starts, data
is loaded into memory from long-term
storage, which is why you get those
classic game and program loading times
where files are being retrieved from
long-term storage.
The need for separate long-term
storage is twofold. First, making system
memory large enough to store all the dataT
here are few elements of
computing that are more
misunderstood than random
access memory, or RAM. It’s both
incredibly important for maximising
performance of other components, yet it
can’t boost performance in and of itself.
Moreover, with different CPUs benefiting
in different ways from different RAM
speeds, and other processing units such
as GPUs often using their own dedicated
RAM,there’sa lotofconfusionovertheTOTAL RECALL
EDWARD CHESTER EXPLORES THE INNER WORKINGS OF
MODERN MEMORY. NO MIND TRICKS INVOLVEDIntel Optane is the first storage medium to offer non-volatile
storage and fast enough speeds to act as system memory