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What does RAM do in a Computer?

Computer memory, or RAM if you prefer, temporarily stores the programs and data that allows your computer to do tasks. This includes the pictures, text, and code of any website you’re browsing. The actual browser will be held in memory too. The same is true for your word processor (for example Microsoft Word) and the document you’re working on, as well as your preferred spreadsheet application (such as XL) and the data being held in the individual cells. It’s all stored in RAM until you close the application or program down—remember to save your data first of course.

The reason you want to save your data is because system memory is volatile, which basically means that it's temporary. This means that when you close the application you are using, or turn the machine off, then any unsaved data is lost. Gone for good.

This lack of permanence is offset by the speed of RAM, memory is so fast that you’re not waiting around for memory to do its thing, as far as your concerned, is pretty much instantaneous.

RAM and Storage

If you want to keep your data for longer then you’re going to want to save it somewhere. This is where your hard drive or SSD come in, or if you like to work in the cloud then someone else’s hard drive or SSD.

The point being: this kind of storage is non-volatile and therefore stores your files even when they are not powered, i.e. when you turn your laptop or desktop PC off. This kind of storage isn’t as fast as system memory, but it is permanent. Your permanent storage is usually much bigger than your RAM too.

This is why your machine has both kinds of storage. RAM for working with your programs and data in the here and now, and a hard drive or SSD to store everything when you close your applications or turn the machine off.

Close-up of a PC build with Corsair Vengeance RGB RAM

This relationship between memory and hard drive/SSD is closer than you may think, because if you’re trying to keep several applications open at the same time, with lots of data in each one, then there’s a chance you’ll exceed your memory capacity. When this happens, some of that data will be temporarily stored on your hard drive/SSD in something called the page file or scratch area. This basically acts as virtual memory, but it’s slower than your actual memory.

Having more memory means you can have more applications and bigger sets of data open at the same time without having to go to virtual memory. Allowing you work on large photos, videos, and documents all concurrently to create whatever masterpiece you’re working on without slowing down.

CORSAIR RAM, Storage & Fans arranged on a dark background

What does RAM stand for?

RAM stands for random access memory. It is named this because any area of memory can be accessed immediately, seemingly at random, as opposed to some older memory technologies that stored data using sequential access.

How much RAM do I need?

How much memory you need depends on what you use your computer for. The good news is we have a whole article dedicated at looking at how much memory you need. (16GB is fine for most people)

What’s the difference between RAM and ROM?

RAM and ROM may only differ by a single letter, but they are very different types of memory. You can find out more with this article on the difference between RAM and ROM.

What is DDR memory?

DDR stands for double data rate, which refers to the fact that memory is transfer on both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal, effectively doubling the data rate compared to SDRAM. The latest version of this technology is called DDR5, which offers faster frequencies and higher capacities than DDR4. You can find out more about the advantages of DDR5 here.