What Is RAM?

So, what is RAM? RAM is one of the most important elements of your computer memory, and it bears a direct influence on your overall computer performance. If you want a computer to perform well, know your RAM.

RAM is your computer's short-term computer memory.
Basically, RAM is your computer's short-term computer memory. When you start your computer, you load files and bits of data into your computer's short-term memory, or RAM.

Your computer stores information like bits of programming from the software you're running; data that you're working with in the form of Word documents or e-mails; and multimedia files, such as the music you're listening to or the video you're watching. When you turn off your computer, any data stored in your RAM is erased, but, if you've saved it to your hard drive, you'll still be able to retrieve it when you turn your system on again.

What is RAM? 
RAM is your computer's short-term memory. It stores the data you're using when you're at your computer. Your hard drive is an entirely different piece of hardware; it stores all of your files and data for long-term use, even when your computer is turned off. Your computer retrieves data from the hard drive and moves it into the RAM when data is active.

When your RAM gets full, your computer has to access data directly from the hard drive, which slows your system down. Generally, when people ask about computer memory, they're asking about your RAM; while a hard drive is technically also computer memory, people generally refer to it directly as hard drive.

RAM comes in sticks, which you can swap in and out of your computer.
RAM itself comes in sticks, or modules, which consist of several small chips that store data. Theoretically you can swap RAM chips into and out of your system as needed. You may be able to replace old RAM with newer, faster RAM, if your computer supports it. Likewise, if you have extra RAM slots, you can add more memory to your system without removing the existing memory, up to the maximum amount that your system supports.

RAM compatibility varies from system to system.
Unfortunately, RAM compatibility isn't universal. Different motherboards require different types of computer memory. If you do plan to upgrade your RAM, you'll need to know what types of RAM work with your system. Your motherboard manual should tell you what type of RAM you need, but you can also find diagnostic programs online that can tell you what kind of RAM you're currently running.

Additionally, if you use more than one speed of RAM in your system simultaneously, your machine only works as fast as the slowest chip. If you add newer, faster RAM to your system, it is still only going to run as fast as the slowest chip. Therefore, if you're adding RAM and you want your system to perform faster, you might want to replace your old, slower RAM outright.