What is Random Access Memory or RAM?
Random Access Memory is more commonly referred to as RAM, and no it isn’t an animal! RAM is used by the CPU as short term data storage for your computer. RAM is also the fastest storage location available to the CPU, due to this adding RAM is the most cost efficient thing you can do to increase performance. RAM is actually a series of memory chips mounted on a circuit board. This circuit board and memory chip combination is called a DIMM, or Dual In-line Memory Module, for desktops and has 240 contacts. Laptop RAM is called SODIMM, or Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module, and has 200 contacts. Both are often referred to as a stick, as in RAM stick. The notches, indicated with arrows, prevent insertion of non-compatible RAM.
