Understanding RAM

[melorock]

Coming from someone that didn't know squat about computers a few weeks ago, I've been doing quite a bit self educating. I'm learning what I need to build a major professional recording studio. I also want to do video editing and album covers and music videos. I also want to do some gaming. Sounds like I need every component of this computer to be high quality.

On RAM
To describe RAM would the best analogy is that it's the lobby to the computer? The bigger the 'lobby', the more and bigger applications that the machine can simutaneously perform easier and faster?

Now I'm confused about the combinations. What's the difference between a 2x2=4GB and a 4x1=4GB? What's the concept?


Also, I've seen some machines with the capability to go up to 32 GB of RAM, even 48 GB's of RAM. Is there any need to have this much? What is a good amount of RAM for what I'm trying to accomplish?

EDIT: Also, just thought of this. DDR3 is the next generation to DDR2. It's faster, that's it?

Thanks so much for input and helping me understand.

 

[PCKid777]

1) Better to think of RAM as a desk; the bigger the desk, the more piles or even pieces of paper you can have and the more you can bounce between them to do things.

2) The bigger the sticks of RAM, the more RAM you can have in your computer. There are some conditions such as, really big sticks of RAM have slower timings than smaller sticks of RAM. Here is an analogy for timings and RAM speed: Consider a UPS delivery man and the task of scanning a package barcode, picking up the package, walking to his truck, and dropping it off. Think of the speed of the RAM in Mhz as the speed to do each task; and think of the timings as the delay between starting each task.

Also, note that 2x2Gb sticks uses less energy than 4x1Gb sticks because you operate half the number of RAM modules at the same voltage.

3) Machines that can have up to 48Gb+ RAM are usually for servers; I think you should be ok with 8Gb

 

[blackhawk1928]

Okay so here is basic concept of ram: Imagine you have library of books (Your Hard Drive) and imagine you carry a cart with you (RAM)...lets say you need to take certain books and transport them to your Desk where you work on them...edit them...write them....etc. Now lets say your Desk can hold a maximum of 5 books, in simple terms you can only work on 5 books at once. Therefore if you need to edit 10 books, you need to take out five, edit them, then put them back and then take out the other five. However if you get a bigger desk that can lets say hold 10books, you only need to make one trip, get your 10 books, edit all of them and then put them back. This analogy explains the size of the RAM! The more ram you have, the more applications and software your hard drive can load into it. Technically your Ram is like hard drive except much much much much much much faster. If your software was all working in your hard drive, this would mean that you have to take out a book and edit it very slowly because you dont have a desk. I am not really sure how to explain the MHZ speed of ram and the latency of it, I am sure there is stuff about it on the internet, it wasn't the best analogy but i thought of it in 5 minutes so give me some credit.

-With combinations, the general rule is more sticks with less ram per stick will be better then less sticks with more ram on each since you have a wider interface to use

-Some machines support up to 100GB of ram...bisnuss grade machines and servers. For a common user like yourself there is no need, gaming, photo, recording, and video editing can be done with a very small amount of ram, 4-6GB should be all you need. Lots of ram is good for Vmware which makes virtual multiple servers on the same hardware.

 

[badge]

To describe RAM would the best analogy is that it's the lobby to the computer?

Fair enough. A useful analogy. But remember this is a cutting edge technology site comprised of a high percentage of highly educated people. For example, consider this fact found in the CPU section.

“Scientists tell us that the fastest animal on earth, with a top speed of 120 feet per second, is a cow that has been dropped out of a helicopter.”