All language subtitles for 2_RAM

Let's talk about RAM,
our computers short-term memory.

We use RAM to store data that
we want to access quickly.

This data changes all the time so
it isn't permanent.

Almost all RAM is volatile, which means
that once we power off our machines,

the data stored in RAM is cleared.

Remember that our computer
is comprised of programs.

To run a program, we need to make a copy
of it in RAM so our CPU can process it.

When you see a new phone or
laptop that says it has 16 gigs of RAM,

that means it can run up to 16 gigs of
programs, meaning you can run lots of

programs at the same time, when you
type the document, you're using RAM.

if you've ever had the misfortune of
working on an important presentation or

paper and losing power,

you know the feeling you get when
all of the work you've done is lost.

It's a total bummer, this happens to
anything with RAM, even video games.

Have you ever gone on a long
campaign without saving,

then right as you get to a safe point,
the power goes off on the console and

all the progress you've
made is lost forever?

It's not fun at all.

You spend the next hour or
so deciding whether or

not just to rage quit the game completely
and start all over from scratch.

Not that this happened to me or
anything that was just a friend.

Anyway, all of this happens because RAM
clear is its data when powered off.

There are lots of types of RAM, and

the one that's commonly found in computers
is DRAM or dynamic random-access memory.

When 1 or 0 is sent to DRAM, it stores
each bit in a microscopic capacitor,

this is either charged or
discharged, represented by 1 or a 0.

These semiconductors are put into chips
that are on the RAM and store our data.

They're also different types of memory
sticks that DRAM chips can be put on.

The more modern DIMM sticks
which usually stands for

Dual Inline Memory Module have
different sizes of pins on them.

I should call out,

we don't really buy RAM based on
the number of DRAM chips they have,

they're labeled by the capacity of RAM on
a stick, like an eight-gig stick of RAM.

After DRAM was created,

RAM manufacturers built something called
SD RAM which stands for synchronous dram.

This type of RAM is synchronized
to our system's clock speed,

allowing quicker processing of data.

In today's system, we use another type of

RAM called double data rate SDRAM or
DDR SDRAM for short.

Most people refer to this RAM as DDR,
even shorter.

There are lots of iterations of DDR,
from DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and now, DDR4.

DDR is faster, takes up less power, and

has a large capacity than
earlier SD RAM versions.

The latest version DDR4 is the fastest
type of short-term memory currently

available for your computer, and
faster RAM means that programs can be

run faster and that more programs
can run at the same time.

Keep in mind that any RAM sticks you
use need a compatible motherboard

with a different number of pins aligned
with the motherboard RAM slots.

Just like with the CPU,
make sure that your motherboard is

compatible with any RAM
sticks that you buy.

Up Next,
we'll take a deep dive into motherboards.