What Is Random Access Memory (RAM)?

What is RAM?People always say you should upgrade your RAM.

But what is it, anyways?

Random Access Memory, or RAM (pronounced as ramm), is the physical hardware inside a computer that temporarily stores data, serving as the computer's "working" memory.

Additional RAM allows a computer to work with more information at the same time, which usually has a dramatic effect on total system performance.

Some popular manufacturers of RAM include Kingston, PNY, Crucial Technology, and Corsair.

It's also known as 

• main memory
• internal memory
• primary storage
• primary memory
• memory "stick",
• RAM "stick".

Your Computer Needs RAM to Use Data Quickly

The purpose of RAM is to provide quick read and write access to a storage device. Your computer uses RAM to load data because it's much quicker than running that same data directly off of a hard drive.

Think of RAM like an office desk. A desk is used for quick access to important documents, writing tools, and other items that you need right now. Without a desk, you'd keep everything stored in drawers and filing cabinets, meaning it would take much longer to do your everyday tasks since you would have to constantly reach into these storage compartments to get what you need, and then spend additional time putting them away.

Similarly, all the data you're actively using on your computer (or smartphone, tablet, etc.) is temporarily stored in RAM. This type of memory, like a desk in the analogy, provides much faster read/write times than using a hard drive. Most hard drives are considerably slower than RAM due to physical limitations like rotation speed.

How Much RAM Do You Need?

Just like with a CPU and hard drive, the amount of memory you need for your computer depends entirely on what you use, or plan to use, your computer for.

For example, if you're buying a computer for heavy gaming, then you'll want enough RAM to support smooth gameplay. Having just 2 GB of RAM available for a game that recommends at least 4 GB is going to result in very slow performance if not total inability to play your games.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you use your computer for light internet browsing and no video streaming, games, memory-intensive applications, etc., you could easily get away with less memory.

The same goes for video editing applications, programs that are heavy on 3D graphics, etc. You can normally find out before you buy a computer just how much RAM a specific program or game will require, often listed in a "system requirements" area of the website or product box.

It would be hard to find a new desktop, laptop, or even tablet that comes with less than 2 to 4 GB of RAM pre-installed. Unless you have a specific purpose for your computer apart from regular video streaming, internet browsing, and normal application use, you probably don't need to buy a computer that has any more RAM than that.

Source : https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-random-access-memory-ram-2618159