subject: Type of Computer Memory Modules [print this page] Type of Computer Memory Modules Type of Computer Memory Modules
You can easily boost up your computer performance considerably by upgrading your computer. Upgrading the computer memory is perhaps the least expensive and the easiest way. Consider the computer RAM memory to be a workspace where all the information it requires to act upon are stored on a temporary basis. You can liken it to a desk which you use for sorting through your work. In case the size of this desk happens to be small, your efficiency would get limited compared to a larger desk which would definitely allow you to work more effectively and with more efficiency.
In a similar fashion, a computer that has more RAM has the ability to work more efficiently as it doesn't need to gather information from the hard disk drive all that often. For users that are working with larger files or who are opening more than one program at one time or are using memory intensive applications like games, graphics or video editing software require memory upgrade most particularly.
How do you know that time is right for a memory upgrade? There are certain signs that indicate that up gradation of memory is needed. In case your mouse pointer turns into an hourglass for long time periods or if you can hear that your hard drive is working or that your computer is slower that what you expect.the reason is because of insufficient memory. When the physical memory gets insufficient the system tends to use up the Hard Disk Space as memory or what can be termed as virtual memory'. The system slows down to a considerable extent as the access time of Physical memory is in tens of NanoSeconds and Access time of Hard Disk is in MilliSeconds.
The DDR2 memory module is the next generation memory technology which enhances the thermal performance, promotes faster speeds, gives higher data bandwidths and offers lower power consumptions. The DDR2 DIMM or the dual inline memory module consists of a range of memory components that are mostly black in color and are attached to a printed circuit board that is usually green in color. At the bottom of the DIMM are gold pins which connect the module and the socket to a larger printed circuit board. The pins that are located on the front and back of the DIMM have no connection with each other.
The DDR2 memory modules come in frequency ranges of 400MHz, 533MHz and 667MHz speeds/data rates. The 240-pin DIMMs provide DDR2 SDRAM memory for desktop computers. Each of the 240-pin DIMM provides a 64-bit data path or a 72-bit data path for the ECC or the registered modules. Therefore they are singly installed in 64-bit systems. Most DDR2 chipsets provide a 128-bit data path as they lend their support to a dual-channel memory. The DDR2 DIMM memory modules consist of incompatible pin configurations, core voltages and memory chip technology and are not backward-compatible.
The DDR2 memory modules have been designed with a different key' in the edge connector so as to prevent its insertion in to the DDR motherboard or incompatible memory sockets. The DDR2 SDRAM DIMM cannot fit into the standard SDRAM DIMM socket or into the DDR DIMM socket. The DDR2 memory modules with their 1.8V power supply, offer greater power saving over the 2.5V DDR memory modules. The 240-pin DIMMs are in DDR2 PC2-4200 (DDR2-533) SDRAM or DDR2 PC2-3200 (DDR2-400) SDRAM. In order to operate a DDR2 memory, your system's motherboard must have 240-pin DIMM slots and a DDR2-enabled chipset.
