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RAM Evolution and Types

RAM is a type of semiconductor memory that uses transistors and capacitors to store charges. The most common types are DRAM, which must be refreshed constantly, and SRAM, which does not need to be refreshed but is more expensive. As computer systems evolved, RAM packaging changed from DIPPs to SIPPs to SIMMs to DIMMs to support increasing memory capacities and speeds required by newer CPUs and architectures. RAM specifications like timing, banking, and error correction continued improving to meet evolving computing needs.

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139 views13 pages

RAM Evolution and Types

RAM is a type of semiconductor memory that uses transistors and capacitors to store charges. The most common types are DRAM, which must be refreshed constantly, and SRAM, which does not need to be refreshed but is more expensive. As computer systems evolved, RAM packaging changed from DIPPs to SIPPs to SIMMs to DIMMs to support increasing memory capacities and speeds required by newer CPUs and architectures. RAM specifications like timing, banking, and error correction continued improving to meet evolving computing needs.

Uploaded by

minjra
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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RAM (random access memory)

 RAM is a semiconductor that stores charges


with transistors and capacitors.
 DRAM- Dynamic RAM
– Most popular type of electronic memory in the
PC world.
– Must be refreshed constantly or it loses its
contents
 SRAM- Static RAM- very expensive
– does not have to be refreshed
RAM Random Access Memory

 OriginallyRAM had a 640 K limit


 The 8088 could use only use 256 K per row

 Needed improved MCC before more RAM


could be added
MCC and Parity

 MCC- Memory Controller Chip


– “Fetches” memory for the CPU from RAM
 Parity
– Extra chip
– For error detection
– Usually seen as a “ninth” or odd number chip
– MCC must be designed to handle parity
Evolution of RAM packages

 DIPPS- first generation of DRAM chips


– 2 rows on either side
– easy to install wrong or break
– Installed a chip at a time
– Needed to create a row
– So why have to install all chips?
30 pin SIPPS

 Page 160- With SIPPS RAM was on a small


board that installed on motherboard
 Memory was more than one bit wide, so
you could have more memory and fewer
rows
 But pins were still easy to break
30 Pin SIMMS

 No visible pins hanging off, so you couldn’t


break it
 Always 8 bits wide, though depths could
vary
 Can’t tell depth by looking at it

 Whether you need parity depends on


motherboard
 You can disable parity in CMOS
Access in Nanoseconds (ns)
 The
lower the better. 200 ns on the 8088,
now less than 50 ns
Banking

 Accessing more than one row of DRAM at


a time
 Only possible with the 286 and later

 Width of RAM must equal external data bus

 RAM was always 8 bits wide

 More rows were added to equal data bus

 8 bits times 4 rows equals 32 bits


Banking continued

 All SIMMs in the same bank must be


identical
 You can have different total types but all of
the members of one bank must be identical
 All SIMMs in bank should be same speed

 Totally “populated” or totally


“unpopulated”
On to the 72 pin SIMMs

 Modern Computers needed too many 30 pin


SIMMs to make a bank to match the
modern 64 bit data bus
 New memory needed, to eliminate space

 The 72 pin SIMM is 32 bits wide, not 8 bits


like previous RAM like 30 pin SIMMs
 Only 2 SIMMs needed for bank in Pentium
168 Pin DIMM
 DIMM: Dual-inline memory module (has
DRAM chips on both sides)
 64 bits wide, not 32

 Each side of each pin has separate function

 SO-DIMMS used in laptops and have only


72 pins so are much shorter
 A bank is formed when

 X * Width of SIMM chip=Width of external


data bus X=sticks in one bank
 Can you mix DIMMs and SIMMs?
Types of RAM

 EDO- Extended data out- doesn’t need to


be refreshed as often. Can be on either 72
pin SIMM or 168 pin DIMM. Don’t mix
with FPM RAM
 SDRAM- Synchronized DRAM tied to
system clock, 5 times faster than DRAM. Is
available only on DIMMs
 ECC RAM- Errors detected and fixed
ROM- Read-only memory

 PROM- Programmable Read Only


Memory- can be programmed only once
and are then read only- cannot be erased or
changed
 EPROM- Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory
 EEPROM- Electrically Erasable Read-Only
Memory

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