While you may be familiar with RAM, the vital PC component that helps your computer run faster and not crash after opening more than 4 Chrome tabs, you must be wondering what DRAM is. Is it much different from RAM? The world of computers is full of jargon, and keeping up with the latest technologies (and their naming schemes) can be overwhelming. Don't worry, because we're here to help! In this guide, let's start by understanding what DRAM means and then look at the different types of DRAM.
Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) explained | 'All About Semiconductors' by Samsung Semiconductor
DRAM, or Dynamic Random Access Memory, is a temporary memory bank for your computer where data is stored for quick, short-term access. When you perform some task on your PC, such as launching an application, the CPU on your motherboard retrieves program data from your storage device (SSD/HDD) and loads it into DRAM. Because DRAM is significantly faster than your storage devices (even SSDs), the processor can read this data faster, resulting in better performance. The speed and capacity of your DRAM helps determine how quickly applications can run and how efficiently your computer can multitask. Therefore, it is always beneficial to have faster and higher capacity DRAM.
DRAM is the most common type of RAM that we use today. The RAM DIMMs (dual in-line memory modules) or sticks that we install in our computers are actually DRAM memories. But what exactly does DRAM do dynamically? Let's find out!
By design, DRAM is volatile memory, meaning it can only store data for a short period of time. Each DRAM cell is constructed using a transistor and a capacitor, with data stored in the latter. Transistors tend to leak small amounts of electricity over time, causing the capacitors to discharge and lose the information stored in them in the process. Therefore, DRAM must be refreshed with a new electrical charge every few milliseconds to help it retain stored data. When DRAM loses access to power (eg when you turn off your computer), all data stored in it is also lost. The need for constant updating of data is what makes DRAM dynamic. Static memory, such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), does not need to be updated.
