There are two types of RAM: buffered (registered) and unbuffered (unregistered). Unbuffered is faster, cheaper, and more common in home computers, while buffered is slower but more stable and used in servers. Buffered memory has a hardware register that reduces the risk of errors.
There are two main types of random access memory (RAM); these are buffered memory, or registered memory, and unbuffered memory, otherwise known as unregistered memory. Unbuffered memory is faster, more common, and significantly cheaper to purchase than buffered memory. Therefore, these unregistered memory modules are the type of module found in almost all home desktop and laptop computers. Buffered memory is more expensive than the unbuffered type and is also slower due to the way it handles data storage and retrieval. Buffered memory is, however, much more stable than unbuffered modules, so it is mainly used in mainframe network computers and servers.
Unbuffered memory is by far the most common form of computer memory module found in everyday use. These memory modules are cheap to manufacture compared to buffered memory modules, due in part to their common use in home and commercial computers, and also due to the fact that less hardware is used. In an unbuffered memory module, there is no form of integrated hardware that acts as a register for instructions between the RAM chip and the computer’s memory controller. This results in increased operational speed but an increased risk of a critical memory leak error that occurs due to the random nature of information placement and retrieval, especially during periods of intensive activity.
More commonly referred to as registered memory is buffered memory. Unbuffered memory, strangely, keeps its name and hasn’t been changed to unregistered memory. Buffered memory differs from the unbuffered type in that it has a hardware register that caches information for one clock cycle of the memory chip. While this may result in a slower execution time for the memory chip, it provides additional stability and a reduced risk of memory errors or corruption.
In general home use, the speed difference between the two types of memory modules seems negligible. It is during times of intense information transfer that the latency experienced through registry use becomes apparent. Buffered memory is commonly used in server computers and mainframe systems to provide the stability and protection against corruption that can occur in unbuffered modules when subjected to continuous heavy use. While buffered modules are more expensive and generally slower to operate, memory stability and data security more than compensate in a commercial environment.
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