What does ram do for a computer

What Is RAM, and How Much Memory Do You Need?

RAM, also known as memory, is one of the most important components in determining your computer’s speed and overall performance. So, whether you’re looking to buy a new computer, or you want to speed up your current PC, it’s crucial to understand what RAM is, and how much memory you actually need. Here’s everything you need to know about what RAM does, and how to find out if you have enough memory you have on your Mac or Windows computer.

What Is RAM?

Random access memory (RAM) is a hardware component that is used to store temporary data for the programs running on computers, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other devices. Operating systems (like Windows and macOS) need to have a certain amount of memory installed just to boot up.

What Does RAM Do?

You can think of RAM as your computer’s short-term memory. It provides temporary storage space for data and program codes that your computer is currently using. Your computer uses memory to launch programs, process actions, load features, and more.

While your hard drive and RAM are both measured in gigabytes (GB), they do very different things. You can think of your hard drive like your computer’s long-term memory, where all your files and programs are stored when they are not in use. However, the data stored in your RAM will be erased whenever you turn off your computer.

Your computer’s RAM is faster than the best long-term storage drives today. RAM stores commonly-used data that your programs, apps, or processes need on stand-by. This way, your computer’s memory can quickly pull up information and hand it over to your central processing until (CPU).

How Much RAM Do You Need?

You will need at least 2 GB of RAM to use basic programs like Microsoft Word or surf the web. However, you should have at least 4 GB of RAM if you want to use newer apps. You might need 8-16 GB of RAM or more if you do lots of multitasking or use intensive programs.

As a general rule, the more RAM you have, the faster your programs will run, and the more programs you can run at the same time. However, your memory is only one part of the equation, and your computer’s overall performance will also depend on your other hardware and software.

To get the best performance out of your computer, it is recommended that you always purchase memory sticks in pairs with the exact same specs. This is because most computers these days come with dual- or quad-channel memory slots, which will provide your memory with more channels of communication and increase data transfer speeds.

However, if you use two different kinds of memory cards, they will only run at the speed of the slowest module.

Is 2 GB of RAM Enough?

With 2 GB of RAM, you will have enough memory to do very basic tasks, like using Microsoft Word and Excel, opening a few tabs when browsing the web, or playing very low-end games. However, you can only run one or two programs at a time before your device starts slowing down.

Keep in mind that 2 GB of memory is the minimum you need to run the 64-bit version of Windows 10. So, if you only have 2 GB of RAM, your computer will feel very slow and sluggish. For example, we used more than 2 GB of RAM on a 64-bit Windows 10 laptop without any programs running or devices connected.

Is 4 GB of RAM Enough?

With 4 GB of RAM, you have enough memory to run a few lightweight programs at a time. You can open a handful of browser tabs, do basic image or video editing, play low-spec games, and stream music or videos online.

For example, we consistently used more than 4 GB of RAM just by opening 10 tabs in the Chrome web browser while running Microsoft Word (and the Task Manager). However, your system might be able to handle these tasks with less memory if you have better hardware, or if you enable certain settings.

Even low-budget computers and laptops come with at least 4 GB of RAM pre-installed these days. If your computer only has 2 GB of memory, upgrading to 4 GB of memory will feel like night and day. However, it is important to note that old 32-bit computers can’t handle more than 4 GB of RAM.

Is 8 GB of RAM Enough?

With 8 GB of RAM, you will have enough memory to run several programs at once. You can open lots of browser tabs at once, use photo or video editing programs, stream content, and play mid-to-high-end games.

Many Windows 10 and macOS computers or laptops come with 8 GB of memory installed these days. So, 8 GB of memory should be more than enough to run most productivity programs. It’s also the minimum amount of memory recommended by Adobe to run Creative Cloud programs like Photoshop.

While 8 GB of RAM is more than enough for most people, you can easily use it up if you have dozens of tabs open on your web browser, and you are running several programs at the same time. For example, we used up more than 8 GB of memory on a laptop by opening 50 tabs in Chrome while running Photoshop, PowerPoint, Word, and Spotify at once.

Some newer games will also use up to 8 GB of RAM all on their own. For example, Cyberpunk 2077 requires at least 8 GB of memory to run. That means you might experience major lag when trying to run the game if you have any other programs running in the background.

Is 16 GB of RAM Enough?

With 16 GB of RAM, you have enough memory to run as many programs as you want without slowing your computer down. This amount of memory is enough for hardcore gamers, video editors, gaming streamers, and anyone using AutoCAD or other demanding software.

For example, we were not able to use all 16 GB of memory installed on our laptop because the processor slowed everything down too much. So, if you have 16 GB of RAM, your processor is probably to blame for any bottlenecks.

Is 32 GB of RAM Worth It?

With 32 GB of RAM, you have enough memory to edit high-resolution video (4K), model 3-D environments, or work with extremely large files. It’s also worth it if your computer needs to be dual-booted or you have several virtual machines installed.

Is 64 GB of RAM Overkill?

With 64 GB of RAM, you have enough memory for machine learning, feature film editing, and 3D graphics design. However, most power users will find 32 GB of RAM to be overkill, especially if your priority is just high-end gaming or multitasking a few demanding programs.

Now that you know how much RAM you need, you might want to upgrade your memory. However, there are a few other factors that you should consider when buying new memory sticks, like speed, latency, and more.

What Is the Difference Between DDR3 and DDR4?

If you shop around for RAM, you’ll notice most of them are DDR3 and DDR4 DDR5 sticks. The main difference between them is that the new DDR4 sticks are faster, more energy-efficient, and have a higher capacity than DDR3.

DDR stands for Double Data Rate, and the numbers 3 and 4 refer to the memory chip’s version. RAM speed (also known as clock speed or frequency) is measured in megahertz (MHz). This measure tells you how many times your RAM can access its storage space per second.

As of now, DDR3 RAM can only reach a maximum speed of 2133 MHz, while DDR4 goes from 2,133 MHz to 4266 MT/s (million transfers per second). When it comes to capacity, DDR3 can only handle up to 16 GB per stick, but you can buy DDR4 modules up to 256 GB.

DDR3 and DDR4 also come in different standard sizes. A DDR3 RAM stick won’t fit into a DDR4 RAM slot. So, before you upgrade your RAM, make sure to find out what kind of RAM slots your computer has. Also, it is important to note that desktop computers use a different kind of RAM than laptops.

What About DDR5?

DDR5 is the latest evolution of PC memory that only became commercially available in 2021. Compared to DDR4, the new RAM standard is faster, has higher capacity, and is more energy-efficient. However, since the standard is still new, it does not work with many computers right now.

Does RAM Speed Matter?

Your RAM speed won’t matter if your CPU can’t keep up. However, you will see a slight boost in performance with faster RAM if your other components can handle it. But you can improve your performance much more by upgrading your CPU or GPU speeds.

Some CPUs list a recommended RAM speed in their technical specs. Using this recommended speed can also boost performance, but only slightly. For example, while you might not see a much higher frame rate while gaming with faster RAM, you might see a higher 1% and 0.1% frame rate. Also, you need to make sure that your motherboard supports higher RAM speeds. Otherwise, your RAM speed will cap out, and then it won’t matter how fast it is.

What is a Good CAS Latency For RAM?

CAS latency is the number of clock cycles a RAM stick takes to access a set of data. For RAM sticks with identical speeds and chip versions, lower latency is better. While DDR3 generally has lower latencies than DDR4, the latter compensates with much higher speeds that deliver better performance.

Once you understand what RAM capacity, speed, and latency are, here’s how to find out how much memory your current computer has:

How Much RAM Do You Have on Your Windows 10 PC?

To find out how much RAM you have on a Windows 10 computer, open the Window Search Box. Then type Task Manager into the search bar and click Open. Next, click the Performance tab, and you will see how much RAM you have in the top-right corner.

You can also access this window by right-clicking on your Taskbar at the bottom of your screen and selecting Task Manager. Or you can press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard at the same time.

How Much RAM Do You Have on Your Mac Computer?

To find out how much RAM you have on a Mac computer, open a Finder window, and go to the Applications folder. Then go to the Utilities folder and open the Activity Monitor app. Finally, click the Memory tab, and you will see how much memory you have next to Physical Memory.

Now that you know what RAM is and how much memory your computer has, check out our list of the best desktop computers if you want to upgrade.

What is RAM?

Random-access memory, or RAM, is an essential component in all devices, from PCs to smartphones to game consoles. Without RAM, doing just about anything on any system would be much, much slower. On the flip side, not having enough for the application or game you’re trying to run can bring things to a crawl or even prevent them from running at all.

But what is RAM exactly? In a nutshell, it’s a high-speed component that temporarily stores all the information a device needs both right now and imminently. Accessing data in RAM is insanely fast, unlike hard drives that are slower but provide long-term storage.

If this is all semantics and you need to know how to install some RAM or want to find out how much RAM you need, we have guides for that, too.

Short-term memory

RAM is essentially a device’s short-term memory. It temporarily stores (remembers) everything currently running on a device, like all OS-specific services and any web browser, image editor, or game you’re playing.

RAM prevents the CPU from digging through the device’s slower storage — like a hard drive or even a solid-state drive (SSD) — every time you request a new browser tab or load a new enemy to shoot. As fast as storage is compared to drives of years gone by, they’re still far slower than RAM.

Data that resides in RAM is readable from any capable component at almost the same speed. Because it has a hard-wired connection to the device, there’s no real latency in cabling or connection.

RAM doesn’t remember everything forever, however. It’s a “volatile” technology, meaning that once it loses power, it forgets everything. That makes it perfect for handling the multitude of high-speed tasks that your device throws at it each day.

But it’s also why storage systems like hard drives and SSDs are required. Unlike RAM, they hold information when the device powers off.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Different types of RAM

RAM is a bit of a catch-all term, like “memory,” and covers a few different types.

“RAM” or “memory” typically refers to dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or more accurately for modern systems, synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM). The terminology doesn’t matter beyond technicalities, but it’s useful to know that the terms are relatively interchangeable colloquially.

The most common type of RAM sold today is DDR4, though older systems may use DDR3 or even DDR2. The numbers denote RAM’s generation, with each successive generation offering faster speeds through greater bandwidth — a higher megahertz (MHz) rating. Each generation also has physical changes, so they are not interchangeable.

Another common term, especially in the video game space, is VRAM (video RAM). Although once a stand-alone piece of technology, VRAM is currently used to denote dedicated memory on the graphics card. For game consoles, it can also reference system memory, but in either case, it has to do with memory reserved exclusively for the GPU. Ram is critical to graphics DDR, or GDDR, usually with a generational designation, like GDDR6.

Most modern graphics cards use GDDR6. However, some graphics cards may use a different VRAM form called High Bandwidth Memory (HBM, HBM2, and HBM2e). It has unique performance advantages, although it is typically expensive, and supply issues hinder widespread adoption.

How much RAM do you need?

The most significant consideration when buying RAM for a PC is how much is needed. A minimum amount is required to run an operating system, while many games and applications have a minimum requirement as well. Those requirements are listed in gigabytes (GB) and are often between 1GB and 8GB, depending on the application’s hardware demands.

Having more than the minimum amount of RAM is essential. A PC runs not only the current application but also other services and tasks in the background. However, having massive amounts of system memory doesn’t necessarily make a PC run faster.

The amount is not the only important aspect of RAM. While more gigabytes can help with multitasking, faster memory improves overall speed in certain games and applications.

Like a CPU, RAM has its clock speed, which effectively controls how much data it can handle per second when combined with a few other factors. The memory’s total speed is referred to as bandwidth and measured in megabytes per second (MBps), but traditionally, you’ll see memory marketed with rates in megahertz (MHz).

Typical DDR4 memory runs between 2,133MHz and 3,000MHz, but some can run upwards of 4,866MHz for the fastest kits available. You’ll see these marketed as DDR4-2133 or similar, sometimes with the confusing “PC” label. The number following “PC” is simply the MHz speed multiplied by eight and then rounded. For example, you might see it listed as DDR4-2133 PC4-17000.

Timings are another aspect of memory that can impact RAM performance, although they are no longer as important. It’s effectively the time between clock cycles, and as memory speed increases, timings increase as well, reducing latency. Typically, timing is listed as several numbers separated by dashes, such as 15-15-15-35 or similar.

When buying memory, timings are only crucial when considering high-performance memory for benchmarking or top-tier gaming. Timing isn’t of real concern to the average consumer.

Lastly, we have channels. Most memory sticks sold today support dual-channel at the very least, which means there are two lanes (buses) between one memory slot and the CPU’s memory controller on the motherboard.

However, this design requires two RAM sticks of the same type and speed that support dual channels. High-end RAM kits with three or four modules supporting triple- or quad-channel memory designs on motherboards are available as well.

For practical purposes, multichannel designs don’t make a huge difference in everyday performance. However, if you want to take advantage of dual or more channel memory, be sure to install the sticks in the correct colored slots on the motherboard. Check the manual for help on that front.

How important is RAM?

RAM is significant. Too little can lead to sluggish performance, though smaller devices like tablets and smartphones don’t need as much as high-end gaming desktops. However, installing massive amounts or using the highest MHz rating doesn’t mean a device will run blazingly fast. Remember, RAM is only part of the overall equation.

However, having enough RAM does matter. Having RAM that isn’t bargain-basement slow is a good idea, too, especially for a complicated image or video editing task and playing games that are CPU-limited.

But when it comes to improving a PC’s overall performance, consider the costs involved. A faster CPU or graphics card will typically significantly impact the overall speed more than a memory upgrade. However, some CPUs, like AMD’s Ryzen line, gain more significant benefits with memory upgrades.

Upgrading from a hard drive to an SSD is also a big step in the right direction. The move to an SSD speeds up the slowest storage component by a considerable margin. It contributes massively to making a PC feel more snappy.

As with any computing device, the slowest component typically limits performance. That means slow memory can hold the device back if it’s the worst part of the configuration. Unless you’re doing anything particularly intensive, something just beyond the minimum should be fine. A bit more than the amount necessary is enough, as long as it’s not the bottom of the barrel. A figure just above the minimum for your equipment is adequate.

Final thoughts

To understand your computer’s abilities, you need to know about RAM, including an initial idea of how much your PC needs and how to install RAM. Knowing about RAM will save money on unnecessary hardware. All of the steps are essential to the performance, but RAM is where you see its abilities’ speed and quality.

Look at your whole setup and figure out the minimum amount of RAM needed to use the hardware. Simple models will have just enough RAM to run the PC but nothing else. When you start to add other pieces like programs and data, problems arise quickly. However, if this does happen to you, there are quite a few aftermarket solutions out there to grow your memory.

What Is RAM And What Does RAM Do In A Computer [MiniTool Tips]

According to statistics, most computer users know RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it’s a form of computer memory, but they don’t know what’s the function of RAM is. MiniTool Solution provides this article to tell you what RAM is and more importantly, what RAM really do for a computer. This will help you get a better understanding of RAM.

What Does RAM Do in a Computer

What Is RAM

What does RAM mean? Literally, RAM refers to Random Access Memory, which is a type of memory to store related data. The most obvious features of RAM compared to other common memory types are:

What is RAM used for? It is used to store everything running on the computer currently for a while (until the device is powered off). That’s why you can access data stored on your device so quickly.

What is ROM? It refers to the Read Only Memory; it’s another type of computer memory which can be read but not written to.

What Does RAM Do

You may be wondering what does RAM do. In fact, all the active files, applications data, and operating systems services are stored in RAM, making it possible for users to access multiple documents, programs, applications immediately with a terrific speed and ultra-high efficiency.

The RAM function:

RAM Features

What does RAM do for a computer exactly?

You may receive the error message – Windows Photo Viewer can’t open this picture – when trying to open a picture file on your device.

Why Is RAM So Important

RAM is an essential short-term storage component in all devices to store the information they need, including computers, mobile phones, smart TV and game consoles. In contrast, the common storage media, such as hard disk, flash drive, and SDD, are the long-term storage components.

RAM in computing is very important, why? Nearly anything (files, documents, applications, Netflix streams, etc.) won’t work properly without the RAM. Even the simple actions will become much slower than before. It is no exaggeration to say that RAM is one of the most important factors to determine the performance of a computer.

How Much RAM Do You Need

General, the amount of RAM you really need depends on what you plan to do with your computer. If you’re only performing normal tasks on computer, 8GB of RAM should be enough.

However, if you’re playing games on computer a lot or have a lot of professional and sophisticated applications, at least 16 GB of RAM is needed.

What does more RAM do? Of course, it stores more data, provides faster speed, and brings better performance.

About The Author

Sarah has been working as an editor at MiniTool since she graduated from university. Sarah aims at helping users with their computer problems such as disk errors and data loss. She feels a sense of accomplishment to see that users get their issues fixed relying on her articles. Besides, she likes to make friends and listen to music after work.

What Does RAM Do? (Computer Memory Explained)

If you’re looking to build/buy a new PC, purchase a new laptop, or upgrade your existing system, you’ll need to understand what RAM is and how it affects your computer’s performance.

In this short guide, we’ll take a look at what computer memory (RAM) is, how it works, and why it’s important in your system.

Table of Contents

What is Computer Memory (RAM)?

Computer memory or RAM (random access memory) is a temporary storage solution that allows your CPU quick access to important data.

What Does RAM Do?

There are a handful of ways that your computer stores data. For instance, your computer’s hard drive or SSD store all of your system’s programs and files until you delete them. However, while SSDs and hard drives can store a ton of data, that data cannot be accessed by your computer’s processor very quickly.

So, computer system’s utilize RAM to serve as a buffer to help access important data from your SSD or hard drive in a much quicker manner. While RAM can’t hold nearly as much data as a standard hard drive or SSD and, the data that it does hold is only temporary (the data held in RAM is deleted when your computer is turned off), data on RAM can be accessed by your computer’s processor much faster.

If your CPU was forced to read and write data directly from and to your computer’s hard drive and SSD, applications and programs would operate extremely slowly. So, when you load a program or application, that program or application’s important data is first loaded into your computer’s memory. Once loaded onto your RAM, the data that those applications and programs need can be accessed more quickly.

How Much RAM Do You Need?

The amount of RAM you need will depend on how you use your computer. Are you a gamer? Do you edit a lot of video? Do you run resource-intensive programs/applications?

If so, you’ll need more RAM than others.

How Much RAM for Casual Use?

For casual use (web browsing, sending emails, streaming content), 8GB of RAM should be enough.

How Much RAM for Gaming?

For gamers, depending on the types of games you play, RAM can have a big impact on your performance. As a general rule of thumb, for modern gaming, 8GB is the bare minimum. However, as games become increasingly more demanding, more RAM is necessary. And, as long as you have a moderate budget, you should aim for 16GB of memory.

How Much RAM for Professional Work?

If you’re doing professional work like video editing, graphics design, or working with large spreadsheets, the more RAM you have the better. Just like with gaming, I’d recommend at least 16GB of RAM to start.

However, the more intensive the work you’re doing, the more you’ll benefit from adding more RAM to your system.

How Important is Computer Memory?

To wrap it all up, computer memory, or RAM, is an integral part of your computer’s system. If every other piece of hardware in your computer (your CPU, GPU, SSD, etc.) is powerful, but you don’t have enough RAM to run your most-used applications and programs, your computer will feel slow.

So, if you’re looking to purchase a new computer, or upgrade an existing one, make sure you understand what RAM is and why it is important. In this guide, we’ve laid out the basics on what RAM does and have given you some basic guidelines that will help you determine how much RAM you need for your system.

Brent Hale

Hey, I’m Brent. I’ve been building computers and writing about building computers for a long time. I’m an avid gamer and tech enthusiast, too. On YouTube, I build PCs, review laptops, components, and peripherals, and hold giveaways.

What is Computer Memory (RAM) and What Does It Do?

Not sure exactly what computer memory is for or how it works? We cover all the bases, from what RAM is to how it works and why it is worth getting an upgrade.

Why is computer memory (RAM) important?

Computer random access memory (RAM) is one of the most important components in determining your system’s performance. RAM gives applications a place to store and access data on a short-term basis. It stores the information your computer is actively using so that it can be accessed quickly.

The more programs your system is running, the more you’ll need. SSDs (solid state drives) are also important components and will help your system reach its peak performance.

The speed and performance of your system directly correlate to the amount of RAM you have installed. If your system has too little RAM, it can be slow and sluggish. But on the opposite end, you can install too much with little to no added benefit. There are ways to see if your computer needs more memory, and to make sure you are buying memory that is compatible with the other components in your system. Generally, components are created to the highest standard at the time of manufacture, but with the expectation that technology will continue to change.

To prevent users from inserting incompatible memory, modules are physically different for each memory technology generation. These physical differences are standard across the memory industry. One of the reasons for industry-wide standardization in memory is that computer makers need to know the electrical parameters and physical shape of the memory that can be installed in their computers.

What is RAM Speed and Latency?

RAM performance is all about the relationship between speed and latency. While the two are closely related, they’re not connected in the way you might think. At a basic level, latency refers to the time delay between when a command is entered and when the data is available. Understanding speed and latency of RAM will help you better choose the right RAM to install in your system based on your needs.

What does RAM (memory) do?

RAM allows your computer to perform many of its everyday tasks, such as loading applications, browsing the internet, editing a spreadsheet, or experiencing the latest game. Memory also allows you to switch quickly among these tasks, remembering where you are in one task when you switch to another task. As a rule, the more memory you have, the better.

When you turn on your computer and open a spreadsheet to edit it, but first check your email, you’ll have used memory in several different ways. Memory is used to load and run applications, such as your spreadsheet program, respond to commands, such as any edits you made in the spreadsheet, or toggle between multiple programs, such as when you left the spreadsheet to check email. Memory is almost always being actively used by your computer. If your system is slow or unresponsive, you may need a memory upgrade. If you think you may need more memory, it’s easy to upgrade your desktop or laptop RAM yourself.

In a way, memory is like your desk. It allows you to work on a variety of projects, and the larger your desk, the more papers, folders, and tasks you can have out at one time. You can quickly and easily access the information without going to a filing cabinet (your storage drive). When you’re finished with a project, or leaving for the day, you can put some or all the projects in the filing cabinet for safekeeping. Your storage drive (hard drive or solid state drive) is the filing cabinet that works with your desk to track your projects.

What uses RAM?

RAM is used to store information that needs to be used quickly. This means that opening many programs, running various processes or accessing multiple files simultaneously is likely to use a lot of RAM. Particularly complexed programs like games or design software will use most RAM.

Do you need to upgrade your RAM?

Whether you are a gamer, designer, or just looking to speed up your personal computer, upgrading RAM is a simple and easy way to boost your system performance. To determine the right kind of memory for your computer, use the Crucial® Advisor™ or System Scanner. These tools will help you determine which memory modules are compatible with your computer, along with options for your speed requirements and budget.

© 2017 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information, products, and/or specifications are subject to change without notice. Neither Crucial nor Micron Technology, Inc. is responsible for omissions or errors in typography or photography. Micron, the Micron logo, Crucial, and the Crucial logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.