RAM is one of the essential parts of your personal computer. It acts as a member, which speeds up the entire process on your PC. In the case of RAM, there is a notion that more RAM is better for a computer. But, this is not the case, as the performance of a RAM depends upon several factors.

The factors that affect the performance of a RAM make up the crucial factors that can decide the overall performance of a PC. The RAM, in general, stands for Random Access Memory. It can play a vital role in recognizing the true potential of your PC. The right combination of RAM can also maintain a good performance in your decade-old desktop PC. So, today we will look at some of the factors that can assist you in improving the performance of your old computer by selecting the correct RAM.

Generations of RAM

RAM has been able to improve in terms of technology with every generation. The first generation was called the DRAM. Here, D means Dynamic. Then, the generations kept on rolling every few years like DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4. Here, DDR means Double Data Rate.

Different form factors of different RAMs

Before deciding on buying RAM for your device, there are some physical differences. The RAM of a laptop is smaller in size than that of a desktop. There are also some differences in terms of the structure of RAM.  The difference in structure is evident with every generation of RAM. So, in your computer, there is a specific generation of RAM that your motherboard will support. There is no reverse compatibility in the case of RAM. The motherboard also cannot support a future generation of RAM if it supports any specific RAM generation.

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DDR and its identity

As stated above, initially DRAM was used. It then improved, after the introduction of the clock signal interface. These are called SDRAM. After that, DDR came in front of us. These, simply have a double rate of data transfer.

Types of RAM

There are some different versions or types of RAM, that we have in the market. They can be listed in a list as follows: –

• UDIMM

These are the most common types of RAM, that we have in our devices today. Here, U stands for Unbuffered or Unregistered.

• SO-DIMM

Here SO means Small outline. These kinds are also readily available in the market. These are the ones, which you will find on laptops, as these are smaller in size.

• MicroDIMM

It is smaller than the previous one and, is used in smaller computing devices. It is rare in the market.

So, these are the three types that one can get today. These keep on improving with time and as new technology arrives. Here, DIMM stands for dual in-line memory module.

Frequency

Now, comes the most crucial factor that determines how good is your RAM. The frequency shows how rapidly can your RAM handle the data.

It is the speed at which your RAM does the read-and-write task. It is depicted by the frequency that is written next to the generation of RAM. It means that among DDR3-1866 MHz, the latter is the frequency.

Channels

These act as the slot for a RAM attachment in a motherboard. In the case of desktops, there are some dos and don’ts for channels. In the case of channels, there is typically more than one. In such cases, it is advisable to use both channels. It is because more channel utilization will ensure that your computer has a better performance. In the end, the two channels will act as more bridges for the to and fro of data flow.

Other interesting facts

There are a few more points that can be crucial for some users. Those points can be put together as follows: –

• Voltage is crucial for some users

Voltage can be important for users who want to go the overclock way. Otherwise, it will not matter to the general user.

• Heat spreader can be helpful for gamers

There are new RAM sticks from some companies in the market that have better heat circulation and even help gamers in case their RAM gets heated up.

So, these are the factors, that one can keep in mind while getting RAM for their computer. But these points also do prove that myths like having a higher RAM will be better, are wrong. It is also crucial that you need to see the supported hardware of your device to get the right RAM. It is because, for example, a 32-bit system can utilize only up to 4GB of RAM. But 64-bit RAM can use up to 4 petabytes, but they are capped for genuine reasons.

The reasons are cost-related and the general utilization of the high amount of RAM. So, these are the reasons that can help you in getting the suitable RAM for the old system, to make it perform faster. Thus, your system will improve in some aspects and can be with you for some more time. So, go ahead and get the correct RAM for your device and get going with your day-to-day tasks.