Memory capacity
The total volume of all modules of the RAM kit.
Knowing this parameter and the number of planks in the set, you can estimate the volume of one plank. This information can be useful for assessing compatibility with a specific PC: any motherboard has a limit on the maximum volume of each individual bar.
Now on the market there are kits with such a volume of memory:
4 GB,
8 GB,
16 GB,
32 GB,
64 GB and even
128 GB. The combination of several sticks allows you to sell sets of
8 GB (2 sticks of 4 GB),
16 GB (2 sticks of 8 GB),
16 GB (4 sticks of 4 GB),
32 GB (2 sticks of 16 GB),
32 GB (4 8 GB sticks),
48 GB (2 24 GB sticks). 64 GB kits are represented by the following sets:
64 GB (2 sticks of 32 GB),
64 GB (4 sticks of 16 GB) and
64 GB (8 sticks of 8 GB). 128 GB RAM mainly consists of
4 sticks of 32 GB or
8 sticks of 16 GB. And
256 GB and
96 GB (2 sticks of 48 GB each) are not so popular
Type
The type of memory used in the module(s). This parameter directly determines compatibility with the motherboard: the latter must support the same type of memory that the bracket belongs to, since different types are not compatible with each other. Specific options for today can be as follows: outdated, but still found somewhere
DDR2 memory, outdated
DDR3, modern
DDR4 and new
DDR5.
— DDR2. The second generation of double data transfer RAM, released in 2003. To date, such memory has been almost completely replaced by more advanced DDR3 and DDR4 standards; DDR2 support can only be found in a frankly outdated PC or laptop.
— DDR3. Third generation double data transfer RAM, released in 2007. Compared to DDR 2, it has a higher speed and lower power consumption. DDR4 is gradually replacing this standard, but DDR3 support is still found in relatively simple and inexpensive motherboards.
— DDR4. Further development of the DDR standard, which replaced DDR3 in 2014. It provides, in particular, an increase in throughput (up to 25.6 GB / s in the future) and reliability while reducing power consumption.
— DDR5. The procession of the fifth generation of the DDR standard began at the turn of 2020-2021. It provides for approximately a twofold increase in memory subsystem performance and increased bandwidth compar
...ed to DDR4. Instead of a single 64-bit data channel, DDR5 uses a pair of independent 32-bit channels that work with 16-byte packets and allow 64 bytes of information to be delivered per clock on each channel. New memory modules require a voltage of 1.1 V, and the maximum volume of one DDR5 bar can reach an impressive 128 GB.Memory rank
The number of ranks provided in the memory bar.
The rank in this case is called one logical module — a chipset with a total capacity of 64 bits. If there is more than one rank, this means that several logical ones are implemented on one physical module, and they use the data transmission channel alternately. A similar design is used in order to achieve large amounts of RAM with a limited number of slots for individual brackets. At the same time, it should be said that for consumer computers, you can not pay much attention to the memory rank — more precisely, peer-to-peer modules are quite enough for them. But for servers and powerful workstations, two-, four- and even eight-rank solutions are produced.
Note that other things being equal, a larger number of ranks allows achieving larger volumes, however, it requires more computing power and increases the load on the system.
Memory speed
The clock frequency of the RAM module.
The higher this indicator, the faster the “RAM” works, other things being equal, the higher its efficiency in games and other resource-intensive applications. On the other hand, a high clock frequency has a corresponding effect on the cost. In addition, in order to use the full capabilities of the memory, the motherboard to which the module is connected must support the appropriate frequency.
The most popular are modules with a frequency of
3200 and
3600 MHz - so to speak, universal workhorses. There are also more modest options - for example
2400,
2666,
2800,
2933,
3000 MHz. And advanced for serious tasks -
3866,
4000,
4800,
5200 MHz,
5600 MHz. High-frequency modules
6000 and
6400 MHz are also provided.
Clock speed
The amount of information that a memory module can receive or transmit in one second. The speed of the memory and, accordingly, the price of it directly depend on the bandwidth. At the same time, this is a rather specific parameter, which is relevant mainly for high-performance systems — gaming and workstations, servers, etc. If the RAM module is bought for a regular home or office system, you can not pay much attention to bandwidth.
CAS latency
This term refers to the time (more precisely, the number of memory cycles) that passes from the processor's request to read data to granting access to the first of the cells containing the selected data. CAS latency is one of the timings (for more details, see the "Memory Timings Scheme" section, where this parameter is designated as CL) — which means that it affects performance: the lower the CAS, the faster this memory module works. However this is true only for the same clock frequency (for more details, see ibid.).
Now there are memory modules on the market with the following CAS latency values:
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
24,
30,
32,
36,
38,
40,
42,
46.
Memory timing
Timing is a term that refers to the time it takes to complete an operation. To understand the timing scheme, you need to know that structurally RAM consists of banks (from 2 to 8 per module), each of which, in turn, has rows and columns, like a table; when accessing memory, the bank is selected first, then the row, then the column. The timing scheme shows the time during which the four main operations are performed when working with RAM, and is usually written in four digits in the format CL-Trcd-Trp-Tras, where
CL is the minimum delay between receiving a command to read data and the start of their transfer;
Trcd — the minimum time between the selection of a row and the selection of a column in it;
Trp is the minimum time to close a row, that is, the delay between the signal and the actual closing. Only one bank line can be opened at a time; Before opening the next line, you must close the previous one.
Tras — the minimum time the row is active, in other words, the shortest time after which the row can be commanded to close after it has been opened.
Time in the timing scheme is measured in cycles, so the actual memory performance depends not only on the timing scheme, but also on the clock frequency. For example, 1600 MHz 8-8-8-24 memory will run at the same speed as 800 MHz 4-4-4-12 memory—in either case timings, if expressed in nanoseconds, will be 5-5-5-15.
Voltage
The nominal voltage required for the operation of the memory module. When choosing memory, you must pay attention to the fact that the appropriate voltage is supported by the motherboard.
Cooling
Type
of cooling provided in the design of RAM.
—
No refrigeration. The lack of special cooling is typical for memory modules with low and medium power — they do not emit so much heat that it needs to be specially removed.
— Radiator. A device in the form of a metal structure with a characteristic ribbed surface — this form increases the area of \u200b\u200bcontact with air, which, in turn, improves heat transfer. The simplest type of cooling system is inferior in efficiency to a radiator with a cooler and even more so to a water circuit (see below), but it does not create noise, does not consume excess energy and does not require additional power or tubes. And the mentioned efficiency is enough even for quite powerful RAM modules.
— Radiator with cooler. Radiator
cooling(see above), supplemented by a block with a fan (fans) for forced air circulation. This add-on significantly increases the efficiency of the heatsink; it can be used even in fairly powerful RAM sets. On the other hand, the fan creates noise during operation and significantly increases power consumption.
— Water cooling. Cooling in the form of a liquid heat exchanger connected to the water cooling circuit of the computer system. A distinctive external feature of such cooling are two characteristic pipes. Water systems are very efficient and suitable even for the mo
...st powerful and “hot” sticks, but they are difficult to connect and require expensive external equipment, and therefore they are mainly used among top RAM models, in which such cooling is in principle indispensable. Note that some of these models allow operation “dry”, without water, but this is not recommended — failures may occur at high loads.
— Liquid-air. In accordance with the name, this option involves the use of two types of cooling at once — air (radiator) and water. See above for both, but it is worth noting that in this case water cooling can be provided in a somewhat “truncated” form — not in the form of pipes for connecting to a common cooling circuit, but in the form of a sealed capsule with a heat-conducting liquid. In terms of efficiency, such systems, of course, noticeably lose to classical liquid ones — but they do not require complex connections; and the capsule somehow improves the efficiency of the radiator, and it looks unusual.
