Manhattan Project
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- Posted: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 23:14:48 +0000
Wondering what the heck DDR means? What is SDRAM? You wondering whether to take "DIMM" as an insult?
Well, in this guide, all of your questions will be answered here.
RAM? What's that?
RAM is Random Access Memory. Now, don't get it confused with ROM (Read-Only Memory.), like the stuff on CD-ROMs. RAM, you can write, rewrite, and delete all you want. ROM, you can't.
Think of memory as clay. RAM, you can mold and shape it all you want, but after you stick it in the kiln, it turns into ROM. You wouldn't be able to write anything to it.
One final note. RAM clears as soon as power is removed from it. ROM continues to hold what was in there when power is removed.
What is SDRAM?
SDRAM is a type of RAM for motherboards. It is one of the most common types out there on the market now. The real big fancy-shmancy technical name for it is "synchronous dyamic RAM".
What the heck is DDR?
No, I'm not talking about Dance Dance Revolution. If I were, this wouldn't be here. I'm talking about Double-Data Rate RAM. DDR RAM is actually another type of SDRAM. It's actual name is DDR-SDRAM.
So what the heck is the difference?
There is quite a bit of a difference. First off, you cannot stick a stick of SDRAM into a DDR RAM motherboard. Why not? Simple. The pin count was changed to allow for faster transfer of data from RAM -> CPU, and vice versa. The pin count was also changed, so you couldn't stick a stick of SDRAM into a DDR slot. (For those of you wondering what the exact difference is, DDR
DIMMs have 184 pins, compared to the SDRAM DIMM's 164 pins. For SO-DIMMs, it is 200 pins for DDR SO-DIMM vs. 144 pins SDRAM SO-DIMMs.)
That also means that you cannot stick a stick of DDR RAM into an SDRAM motherboard. (Unless you want to trash both said stick and said motherboard.)
I'm not DIMM! What the heck is a SO-DIMM?
A DIMM is a "dual inlay memory module". An SO-DIMM is a small outline DIMM. What's the difference? A DIMM is larger than a SO-DIMM, and is typically found in desktops. SO-DIMMs are typically found in laptops.
DIMMs aren't the first kinds of memory modules that can compare to today's technology. There were SIMMs, or single inlay memory modules. The main difference? SIMMs only have a 32 bit data path, and DIMMs have a 64 bit data path.
Any other addtitions will be added onto the following post.
Upcoming additions:
RDRAM
Sorry guys, but I gotta stop working on this thing for a while. Exams are going on, and I'm going on vacation (hopefully soon). That'll also give me enough time to check, double-check, and triple-check all the information.
Well, in this guide, all of your questions will be answered here.
RAM? What's that?
RAM is Random Access Memory. Now, don't get it confused with ROM (Read-Only Memory.), like the stuff on CD-ROMs. RAM, you can write, rewrite, and delete all you want. ROM, you can't.
Think of memory as clay. RAM, you can mold and shape it all you want, but after you stick it in the kiln, it turns into ROM. You wouldn't be able to write anything to it.
One final note. RAM clears as soon as power is removed from it. ROM continues to hold what was in there when power is removed.
What is SDRAM?
SDRAM is a type of RAM for motherboards. It is one of the most common types out there on the market now. The real big fancy-shmancy technical name for it is "synchronous dyamic RAM".
What the heck is DDR?
No, I'm not talking about Dance Dance Revolution. If I were, this wouldn't be here. I'm talking about Double-Data Rate RAM. DDR RAM is actually another type of SDRAM. It's actual name is DDR-SDRAM.
So what the heck is the difference?
There is quite a bit of a difference. First off, you cannot stick a stick of SDRAM into a DDR RAM motherboard. Why not? Simple. The pin count was changed to allow for faster transfer of data from RAM -> CPU, and vice versa. The pin count was also changed, so you couldn't stick a stick of SDRAM into a DDR slot. (For those of you wondering what the exact difference is, DDR
DIMMs have 184 pins, compared to the SDRAM DIMM's 164 pins. For SO-DIMMs, it is 200 pins for DDR SO-DIMM vs. 144 pins SDRAM SO-DIMMs.)
That also means that you cannot stick a stick of DDR RAM into an SDRAM motherboard. (Unless you want to trash both said stick and said motherboard.)
I'm not DIMM! What the heck is a SO-DIMM?
A DIMM is a "dual inlay memory module". An SO-DIMM is a small outline DIMM. What's the difference? A DIMM is larger than a SO-DIMM, and is typically found in desktops. SO-DIMMs are typically found in laptops.
DIMMs aren't the first kinds of memory modules that can compare to today's technology. There were SIMMs, or single inlay memory modules. The main difference? SIMMs only have a 32 bit data path, and DIMMs have a 64 bit data path.
Any other addtitions will be added onto the following post.
Upcoming additions:
RDRAM
Sorry guys, but I gotta stop working on this thing for a while. Exams are going on, and I'm going on vacation (hopefully soon). That'll also give me enough time to check, double-check, and triple-check all the information.
