Random Access Memory or RAM is volatile memory. That means it is only in use when the computer is on. Once you turn off the computer everything stored in RAM is gone.

There are many types of RAM:

SRAM:
Static Random Access Memory is very fast and very expensive. It is primarily used for memory caching (such as on processor chips). Architecturally, it has multiple transistors for each memory cell. It does not need to be refreshed. It is rarely encountered except as a component of other devices.

DRAM:
Dynamic Random Access Memory is slower than SRAM and needs to be refreshed many times every second. Each memory cell consists of a capacitor and a transistor. DRAM is much less expensive than SRAM.

SDRAM:
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory is a special type of DRAM that is synchronized to the system clock. Each chip contains internal registers that accept requests from the CPU, thus freeing the cpu to do other things while the data is assembled. Since SDRAM is synchronized to the CPU, it “knows” when the next cycle is coming, and has the data ready when the CPU requests it. This increases efficiency by reducing CPU wait states. SDRAM is available at speeds as high as 133 MHz.

DDR-SDRAM:
Double-Data Rate SDRAM works the same way as does ordinary SDRAM, except it works twice as quickly by synchronizing to both the rising and falling of the clock pulse (which makes it twice as fast as ordinary SDRAM). DDR-SDRAM can also be installed in dual-channels if the motherboard supports this arrangement. There is no difference in the actual RAM modules used for dual-channel DDR, but the two sticks of RAM in each channel must be a matched pair (same size and speed). DDR3 is the latest evolution in DDR RAM.

RDRAM:
RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory is a very fast type of RAM in which the chips work in parallel to produce very fast speeds. However, because it is proprietary and very expensive, RDRAM has been slow in catching on.

The ram we will be building our computer with is DDR-SDRAM (DDR RAM for short). It is the standard memory currently used for building desktop computers.

SAMPLE BUILD:

Case: $68.99
Fans: $9.99
Motherboard: $138.99
Processor: $199.99
Video Card: $299.99
Memory: $39.99
Total: $757.94

The memory I chose is GeIL Black Dragon 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600.

If you look at the motherboard I chose earlier you will see this in the product description:

Memory Standard

DDR3 800 / 1066 / 1333 / 1600 / 1866* / 2133* (OC)

Maximum Memory Supported

32GB

This means that the fastest memory I can put into my board (without overclocking) is DDR3 1600 and up to 32GB. I won’t put that much in because I would probably never use that much. Determining how much memory to get can be tricky, I like to get double what the most strenuous game or application is going to use; therefore, I will get 8GB of DDR3 1600.

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