There are many different types of computer memory. To anyone who hasn’t spent years studying them, it can seem like there’s a lot of information going through your head. Sure, computer memory is complicated, but knowledge isn’t as unattainable as most people think.

RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. It was first invented in 1949, although it looked very different back then. Even in 1949, when the personal computer screen was a science-fictional ideal, RAM was critical to the operation of a computer. RAM allows data to be stored in any order and accessed by the computer in any order. Before RAM became popular, computers had to follow a chain of unrelated data every time they wanted to access something. RAM is used in modern computers as short-term memory and data storage. It is a flash memory, so it can be rewritten as many times as necessary. Because it is a volatile form of data storage, it requires a constant power supply. But this constant power means it has much faster access times than non-volatile memory, like hard drives, and stores programs and files that are in use.

RDA

Another type of RAM is DDR RAM. DDR stands for Double Data Rate. DDR RAM is twice as fast as previous versions of RAM. What most people think of as RAM today is actually DDR RAM, which was first released in June 2000. And in 2003, it was even improved with DDR2 RAM, which is even faster than DDR RAM.

DIMMs

All DIMMs are RAM (or more specifically DDR2 RAM these days), but not all RAM is DIMMs. DIMM stands for Dual Inline Memory Module. A DIMM is essential just a stick of RAM. This circuit board is long, thin, and narrow with tabs on one edge. These tabs are studded with flat metal pins. The pins are responsible for transferring data between the DIMM and the computer. If you look at a series of DIMMs, two main things will stand out; the green metal part and the protruding black squares. Those black squares are the RAM memory. The green part, the part that makes it DIMM, connects these squares efficiently and quickly.

The difference

In terms of what’s available today, the only difference that matters is what the specific computer compatibilities are. And the IBM computer must have a DIMM 5913-8202 or similar. An HP computer must have HP DIMMs, and so on. Other than speed capabilities and computer compatibility, there really is no difference between RAM, DDR RAM, and DIMMs. Because essentially, they all incorporate aspects of each other anyway.