Memory refresh is a process that recharges a computer’s RAM periodically to prevent data loss. DRAM requires more frequent refreshing due to its capacitor unit for each piece of data. Refreshing occurs automatically, but high rates drain power and slow down the computer.
Memory refresh is a recharging cycle that a computer’s random access memory (RAM) performs on a periodic basis. When the computer reads the data, the information is stored as 1 or 0, on or off, respectively. To ensure that sections 1 do not lose their energy and that information does not disappear from RAM, that section of memory is reloaded. If the memory refresh cycle did not occur, any information read by the computer would disappear within milliseconds. While all types of RAM go through a refresh cycle, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) does so more often because it has a capacitor unit for each piece of data.
When a computer opens an application and examines data or does anything, it reads the information in binary format. Binary is a computer language made up of 1s and 0s, with 1 meaning on and 0 meaning off. When there’s a 0, that part of the information doesn’t need any electric charge because it’s off; if there is a 1, then an electric charge is needed to turn on the memory. With an electric charge, the memory is capable of displaying any information requested by the user.
The charge is only temporary. Without the memory upgrade, the charge would disappear, driving all sections of RAM to 0, and no information could be viewed or stored for long. It only takes a few milliseconds for the charge to disappear completely.
To fix this, a memory controller unit or central processing unit (CPU), depending on the model, visits the RAM. Any section marked as 1 receives an electrical charge to ensure that the section does not shut down. This process takes place automatically, without instructions from the user, and occurs thousands of times in just one second. By refreshing the memory, the computer can contain any information; with high refresh rates, however, this also drains a significant amount of power and slows down the computer.
All versions of RAM go through a memory upgrade, but the only version of RAM that holds more is DRAM. The main difference between DRAM and other RAM units is that it is built to hold each section of data in a separate capacitor unit. This makes the information easier to store, but it also makes it more volatile if the memory refresh cycle doesn’t reload the DRAM stick.
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