What Is RAM

• Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, orsystem memory, Random Access Memory (RAM) is a computer storage location that allows information to be stored and accessed quickly from random locations within DRAM on a memory module. 
• Because information is accessed randomly instead of sequentially like a CD or hard drive the computer is able to access the data much faster than it would if it was only reading the hard drive. 
• However, unlikeROM and the hard drive RAM is a volatile memory and requires power in order to keep the data accessible, if power is lost all data contained in memory lost.
• As the computer loads parts of the operating system and drivers are loaded into memory, which allows the CPU to process the instructions much faster and your computer to load faster. 
• After the operating system has loaded, each program you open such as the browser you're using to view this page is loaded into memory while it is running. 
• If too many programs are open the computer will swap the data in the memory between the RAM and the hard disk drive.
• Over the evolution of computers there has been several different variations of RAM used in computer. 
• Some of the more common examples are DIMM, RIMM, SIMM, SO-DIMM, and SOO-RIMM. 
• Below is an example image of a 512MB DIMM computer memory module and what the typical desktop computer memory card will look like. 
• This memory module would be installed into memory slots on themotherboard.