by Reid Case

Created on: November 03, 2009   Last Updated: August 04, 2010

The speed of any computing system is directly related to the function of many distinctly different and crucial components working in synchronization. A simple example of a common house hold personal computer is one that consists of what we see and interact with directly, and many underlying components hidden, and protected, inside of the main case. Most components that can commonly be named are the monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and printer. Most people are aware that internal components exist and are directly responsible for a computers overall operating speed, but many do not know the how and why of computer operation with respects to speed.

What many consider to be the computers speed is really what is perceived by the user as response time to their commands. In other words, to the user, a fast computer is one that instantaneously executes any command as it is given. Typically, what is overlooked is the background processes that may be affecting the system. What most need to understand is that even the fastest computers on the planet can appear slow when tasked with many jobs at once.

The common personal computer owner will typically find the solution to his, or her, slow computer to be the addition of RAM. What is RAM, and why is it assumed to be the primary speed increasing component? RAM is, in itself, a circuit board made up of many circuits arranged in a particular order so that data can be stores and retrieved based on a very specific protocol. RAM is an acronym for Random Access Memory. As a component of a computing system, RAM is used to temporarily store data as it is passed between other components of the system.

A simple map of a computing system, in operation, would show the monitor displaying a command line requesting input. The user would use the keyboard to input data. That data will be sent to the processor and subsequently to the other components of the system as necessary. Over this pathway, the data will make many stops in the RAM. Other components that allow data to be written may also perform in a similar manner to RAM, such as the hard drive. RAM is ideal, when compared to a hard drive and other memory media, because it can be accessed much faster. Typically RAM can be found in many configurations identified by a series of numbers and letters. For instance, 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 1066 SDRAM, this code displays the storage capacity, operational frequency, and connection format of this particular product.

So, why can RAM

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>