What is RAM? RAM Types? Technological Enhancements Explained!

      RAM Stands for Random Access Memory. It is a hardware available in almost every computing device such as computers, mobiles and other IoT devices. It is the hardware where system software/Operating System, application software and data in current use or current session saved for processor. RAM is a volatile memory which gets erased after shut down of the device. It is the main memory of the computing devices and much more faster than other memories such as HDD - Hard Disk Drive, SSD - Solid State Drive and optical drives i.e. CD and DVD.

Types - 

Widely used form of modern RAM are SRAM - Static Random Access Memory and DRAM - Dynamic Random Access Memory. Implementers brought technological enhancements of these two types of RAM over times.

Development History & Technological Enhancements - 

The first form of RAM came with the use of Williams Tube in 1947. It uses CRT - Cathode Ray Tube and stored data as electrically charged spot on the face of the CRT.

Next widely used form of RAM was invented in 1947 called Magnetic Core Memory. Magnetic Core Memory works through the use of tiny metal rings and wires connecting to each rings.

MOS RAM - 

Next, in 1964, MOS RAM - Metal - Oxide - Semiconductor Random Access Memory developed by John Schmidt. It became popular because it was cheaper and consumed less power than magnetic core memory. It uses MOSFET - Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor or MOS Transistor technology.

SRAM - 

Also at the same time, SRAM- Static Random Access Memory was invented by Robert H. Norman followed by MOS RAM. It became an alternative of magnetic core memory. It uses six MOS transistors.

DRAM - 

Next, in 1965, DRAM - Dynamic Random Access Memory was developed. It replaced SRAM. As a technological enhancement process it replaced six transistors with single transistors.

SDRAM - 

Next, in 1992, Samsung Electronics developed SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory based on DRAM. It was basically a chip based RAM. It received huge technological enhancements over times. It is the most used RAM in recent times. Almost every computer, mobile and IoT device uses this RAM.

DDR SDRAM - 

SDRAM received technological enhancements in terms of power, process, size and capacity over times. In 1998, DDR SDRAM - Double Data Rate Synchronous Random Access Memory came with the capacity of 64 MB.

DDR2 SDRAM - 

Next, in 2001, DDR2 SDRAM was developed over the DDR SDRAM technology. It has the capacity of 2 GB.

DDR3 SDRAM - 

Next, in 2003, DDR3 SDRAM was developed over DDR2 SDRAM technology. It has the capacity of 16 GB. It is still available today and most of the computers, mobiles and other IoT devices uses this.

DDR4 SDRAM - 

Next, in 2011, DDR4 SDRAM was developed over the DDR3 SDRAM technology. It has the maximum capacity of 128 GB as of now. The latest technological computing devices IoT devices are using this RAM in recent days.

Now in today's world, every computing devices i.e. PCs, mobiles and other IoT devices uses either DDR3 SDRAM or DDR4 SDRAM. In terms of speed in reading or writing, DDR4 based RAMs are better than DDR3 RAMs.

Image & Information Courtesy : Wikipedia.org