Computers use RAM to store and retrieve information. There are two types: DRAM and SRAM. DRAM is cheaper but requires frequent refreshing, while SRAM is faster but more expensive and less space-efficient.
Computers use random access memory (RAM) to store and retrieve information in an easily and instantly accessible way. There are two types of RAM available for computers: dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM). Each of these has its distinct advantages and disadvantages. SRAM has the speed advantage and DRAM is much less expensive. Most computers use both types, but DRAM is much more common and does most of the work.
A dynamic RAM chip contains millions of memory cells, each made up of a transistor and a capacitor. Each of these cells is capable of holding 1 bit of information, which the computer reads as a 1 or 0. To determine the reading of a bit, the transistor tests the charge in the capacitor. If a charge is present, the reading is 1; otherwise, the reading is 0. The cells are arranged in a square configuration, with rows and columns numbered in the thousands.
The problem with dynamic RAM chips is that the capacitor loses energy very quickly and can only hold a charge for a fraction of a second. A refresher circuit is required to hold charge in a capacitor and retain information. This update process occurs hundreds of times per second and requires access to all cells, even if the information is not needed. As each row of cells is read, the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) rewrites each bit of information, recharging the capacitors as needed.
Static RAM chips, on the other hand, use a different technology. The memory cells invert between 0 and 1 without the use of capacitors, which means that no refresh process is required and accessed only when the information is required. Without the need for constant access to all information, SRAM is much faster than DRAM. In general, these chips are much more power efficient, but that’s only because of their limited need to access memory, and the consumption rate increases with heavy use.
SRAM’s biggest drawback is space. Each transistor on a dynamic RAM chip can store one bit of information, but it takes four to six transistors to store one bit using SRAM. This means that a dynamic RAM chip will hold at least four times as much memory as a static RAM chip of the same size, making SRAM much more expensive. DRAM is most commonly used for personal computer memory, and SRAM chips are preferred when energy efficiency is an issue, such as in automobiles, home appliances, and portable electronic devices.
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