RAM stands for random-access memory. RAM is hardware that temporarily stores operating system data so the laptop processor can easily access the programs running and in use. RAM is one of the most essential parts of the computer and plays a vital and influential role in the computer’s and laptop’s performance.
The more RAM your computer has, the better your work experience with the system will be easier and faster. Remember the essential points discussed in this article to buy RAM for a laptop or computer.
10 points to consider when buying laptop RAM
1- Frequency
Each computer’s motherboard is only compatible with a certain amount of RAM frequency; For example, the suitable RAM for your system may be DDR3 1600MHz. Now, if you choose RAM with a higher frequency, your computer will slow down or not work. If you choose a memory with a frequency lower than the one suitable for your laptop, the performance of your device will decrease. In general, the higher the frequency of a computer’s RAM, the higher its performance, but other than the frequency, other factors are also influential in this field.
2- Voltage
Some RAMs consume a higher voltage than usual; Therefore, you must check that your laptop motherboard can supply this voltage. Usually, during overclocking, the RAM of the device consumes more voltage. Remember that in Core i7 processors, it is not recommended to use RAM with a voltage higher than 65.1 volts because the laptop processor will be damaged.
3- Timing
Timings or timing of RAM is the amount of time that RAM spends to perform a function. The shorter this time, the lower the delay and the more bandwidth you will have.
4- Amount of RAM required
Another important factor when buying RAM is what you will do with the laptop and how much memory you need. The minimum RAM required for a high-performance system is 4 GB. The minimum RAM for running new games is 4 to 6 GB. In general, the more RAM, the better.
If you only do simple and daily tasks with your laptop, the standard RAM will be eight gigs, But for high-quality games, you will need 16 to 32 GB of RAM. For designing and creating content, 32 GB RAM or even higher is recommended so that programs can load faster. If needed, you can also use dual-channel RAM. This type of RAM has two channels and simultaneously communicates with the processor with separate channels, significantly increasing system performance speed.
5- 32 or 64-bit
32-bit operating systems can only provide you with 4 GB of memory. You must have a 64-bit operating system to use 4 GB or more RAM.
6- RAM capacity
The amount of RAM is called RAM capacity. This factor is one of the critical factors when choosing RAM. You should select the RAM capacity depending on what you will do with your laptop or computer. RAM sticks have a capacity between 4 and 32 GB.
If you want to do general tasks with your computer, such as surfing the web, watching movies, and using the Word program, choose 4 GB RAM. It would help to have 16 GB RAM or higher for smooth performance and good speed to play on high-end computers or edit video and graphic design.
7- Warranty
Some RAM manufacturers provide their products with a lifetime warranty, and some with a multi-year warranty. When buying RAM, ensure it has a warranty so you can use the warranty if it is defective or damaged.
8- Single-channel or dual-channel RAM
Single-channel RAM has only one 64-bit data channel to communicate with the CPU, but dual-channel RAM uses two paths to communicate with the processor and store data. The total working memory will be 128 instead of 64 bits in this case. In this way, the bandwidth is doubled, and the speed of performance and execution of programs increases dramatically.
9- Price
The price of rum has increased since last year, and it is expected that we will see an increase in the price of rum again. In any case, the RAM price is another thing you should consider when buying.
10- RAM speed
If you are going to play without a dedicated graphics card, you will get a much better frame rate by buying high-speed RAM. But buying a graphics card for the game is best if you have to purchase specialized hardware parts to achieve higher speed.
Types of RAM
1- DDR RAM: DDR stands for Double Data Rate and means double data rate. The speed of DDR RAMs was only 400 MHz, and their maximum capacity was 25.1 GB. This type of RAM is obsolete, and it is doubtful that you will be able to find a system that will work with DDR RAM.
2- DDR2 RAM: The speed of this type of RAM was two times higher than its previous generation and reached 800 MHz. DDR2 RAM is also obsolete, but not completely obsolete yet. Many old desktop computers and laptops use DDR2 RAM.
3- DDR3 RAM: This type of RAM has twice the speed and capacity of DDR2 RAM, and its voltage has been reduced to 5.1 volts. The data transfer rate in DDR3 RAM is between 800 and 2133 MHz.
4- DDR4 RAM: One of the new standards available is DDR4 RAM with 16 and 32 GB capacity and 1600 to 3200 MHz data transfer speed.
5-DDR5 RAM: The latest RAM standard opens in all capabilities until the end of 2023 and has a higher rate than DDR4 RAM.
4- What types of RAM are there?
Static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), and synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM) are three types of RAM used in computers.