RAM Memory

RAM Memory is very important and one of the basic computer components. This is the place where the computer temporarily stores the individual data. The more memory you install on your computer, the more programs will be able to run at the same time, which will run more efficiently. RAM is important for the performance of your computer. Of course, in the context of memory has not only its size, but also the operating parameters.

What are the types of memory?

There are several types of memory, but now they are the most important:

• DDR 3
• DDR 4

What kind of memory you can install on your computer, it will depend on the motherboard. Since it also depends on the amount of memory that is how many GB can handle up to and how capacious may be a single unit.

The main differences between DDR3 and DDR4:

The most important thing that is decisive for the choice of a given standard is not the parameters of individual versions of RAM, but rather the purchase of a motherboard - more precisely the processor. If it is a unit belonging to the Haswell-E family (as for now) and the X99 chipset, the user is condemned to DDR4 memory. Otherwise, he has to buy DDR3 dice. Installation of a specific version of RAM is forced by their different construction, and there is no possibility of inserting them into the same slot.

The theoretical differences between DDR4 and DDR3 memory are included in the table below:

DDR4 bone structure is different from its predecessor. The module is a millimeter higher, and thanks to the same width, the pins are more densely spaced. The position of the indentation has also changed, avoiding mistakes when inserting the bone into the wrong slot. It is also worth remembering that the DDR4 module is not backwards compatible.

RAM Memory

RAM Memory is very important and one of the basic computer components. This is the place where the computer temporarily stores the individual data. The more memory you install on your computer, the more programs will be able to run at the same time, which will run more efficiently. RAM is important for the performance of your computer. Of course, in the context of memory has not only its size, but also the operating parameters.

What are the types of memory?

There are several types of memory, but now they are the most important:

• DDR 3
• DDR 4

What kind of memory you can install on your computer, it will depend on the motherboard. Since it also depends on the amount of memory that is how many GB can handle up to and how capacious may be a single unit.

The main differences between DDR3 and DDR4:

The most important thing that is decisive for the choice of a given standard is not the parameters of individual versions of RAM, but rather the purchase of a motherboard - more precisely the processor. If it is a unit belonging to the Haswell-E family (as for now) and the X99 chipset, the user is condemned to DDR4 memory. Otherwise, he has to buy DDR3 dice. Installation of a specific version of RAM is forced by their different construction, and there is no possibility of inserting them into the same slot.

The theoretical differences between DDR4 and DDR3 memory are included in the table below:

DDR4 bone structure is different from its predecessor. The module is a millimeter higher, and thanks to the same width, the pins are more densely spaced. The position of the indentation has also changed, avoiding mistakes when inserting the bone into the wrong slot. It is also worth remembering that the DDR4 module is not backwards compatible.

SSD M.2

M.2 discs existed many years ago as NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor), or successor to the SATA III and mSATA standards. The name was officially renamed M.2 in 2013. M.2 drives have a similar structure to mSATA, use the edge connector and are mounted directly on the motherboard of the desktop computer. The design of the M.2 disc is simple. It is an oblong plate with memories and a controller that looks like a chewing gum leaf and is not much bigger than it. M.2 disks do not have an additional casing, although they are available in versions with heat sinks, which improve heat dissipation. Individual disks vary in dimensions, especially in terms of length. Most M.2 drives measure 22 mm in width, which is the current standard. However, the length of M.2 carriers is different, usually in versions 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm. However, the most popular are models with a length of 80 mm, that is, carriers type 2280. You can see immediately that the first two numbers indicate the width of the disk, and the last two digits.

SSD M.2 Standards and Performance


The M.2 connector has been created not only for SSD carriers, but also for Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC modules and GPS. M.2 allows you to implement various devices, and thus different interfaces.

Disks with two interfaces are available within M.2 SSDs:

  - using the SATA III standard;
  - using the PCIe standard (PCI Express).

M.2 drives with SATA III interface do not differ in performance from typical 2.5-inch media. It's the same disks, only in a different format. SATA III carriers use the AHCI protocol for operation, which strongly limits SSD storage media - the maximum transfer of SATA III interface is 600 MB/s.

M.2 drives that use the PCIe interface (PCI Express) are much faster carriers. In this case, the NVMe protocol, designed specifically for SSD drives, is responsible for the operation. It allows you to use the bandwidth of the PCI Express standard for the fastest possible file transfer. However, performance will depend on the generation of the PCIe interface and the number of communication lines. Currently, disks using the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface (four lines) achieve transfers of 4000 MB/s! However, the cheaper M.2 drives with PCIe 3.0 x2 (two lines) are limited to 1969 MB/s. It does not mean, however, that each disk in a given standard will be just as fast - the results depend on the used memory and controllers. However, even the basic M.2 drive from NVMe will be much more efficient than SATA III carriers.

SSD M.2

M.2 discs existed many years ago as NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor), or successor to the SATA III and mSATA standards. The name was officially renamed M.2 in 2013. M.2 drives have a similar structure to mSATA, use the edge connector and are mounted directly on the motherboard of the desktop computer. The design of the M.2 disc is simple. It is an oblong plate with memories and a controller that looks like a chewing gum leaf and is not much bigger than it. M.2 disks do not have an additional casing, although they are available in versions with heat sinks, which improve heat dissipation. Individual disks vary in dimensions, especially in terms of length. Most M.2 drives measure 22 mm in width, which is the current standard. However, the length of M.2 carriers is different, usually in versions 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm. However, the most popular are models with a length of 80 mm, that is, carriers type 2280. You can see immediately that the first two numbers indicate the width of the disk, and the last two digits.

SSD M.2 Standards and Performance


The M.2 connector has been created not only for SSD carriers, but also for Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC modules and GPS. M.2 allows you to implement various devices, and thus different interfaces.

Disks with two interfaces are available within M.2 SSDs:

  - using the SATA III standard;
  - using the PCIe standard (PCI Express).

M.2 drives with SATA III interface do not differ in performance from typical 2.5-inch media. It's the same disks, only in a different format. SATA III carriers use the AHCI protocol for operation, which strongly limits SSD storage media - the maximum transfer of SATA III interface is 600 MB/s.

M.2 drives that use the PCIe interface (PCI Express) are much faster carriers. In this case, the NVMe protocol, designed specifically for SSD drives, is responsible for the operation. It allows you to use the bandwidth of the PCI Express standard for the fastest possible file transfer. However, performance will depend on the generation of the PCIe interface and the number of communication lines. Currently, disks using the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface (four lines) achieve transfers of 4000 MB/s! However, the cheaper M.2 drives with PCIe 3.0 x2 (two lines) are limited to 1969 MB/s. It does not mean, however, that each disk in a given standard will be just as fast - the results depend on the used memory and controllers. However, even the basic M.2 drive from NVMe will be much more efficient than SATA III carriers.

SSD M.2

M.2 discs existed many years ago as NGFF (Next Generation Form Factor), or successor to the SATA III and mSATA standards. The name was officially renamed M.2 in 2013. M.2 drives have a similar structure to mSATA, use the edge connector and are mounted directly on the motherboard of the desktop computer. The design of the M.2 disc is simple. It is an oblong plate with memories and a controller that looks like a chewing gum leaf and is not much bigger than it. M.2 disks do not have an additional casing, although they are available in versions with heat sinks, which improve heat dissipation. Individual disks vary in dimensions, especially in terms of length. Most M.2 drives measure 22 mm in width, which is the current standard. However, the length of M.2 carriers is different, usually in versions 42, 60, 80 and 110 mm. However, the most popular are models with a length of 80 mm, that is, carriers type 2280. You can see immediately that the first two numbers indicate the width of the disk, and the last two digits.

SSD M.2 Standards and Performance


The M.2 connector has been created not only for SSD carriers, but also for Wi-Fi cards, Bluetooth, NFC modules and GPS. M.2 allows you to implement various devices, and thus different interfaces.

Disks with two interfaces are available within M.2 SSDs:

  - using the SATA III standard;
  - using the PCIe standard (PCI Express).

M.2 drives with SATA III interface do not differ in performance from typical 2.5-inch media. It's the same disks, only in a different format. SATA III carriers use the AHCI protocol for operation, which strongly limits SSD storage media - the maximum transfer of SATA III interface is 600 MB/s.

M.2 drives that use the PCIe interface (PCI Express) are much faster carriers. In this case, the NVMe protocol, designed specifically for SSD drives, is responsible for the operation. It allows you to use the bandwidth of the PCI Express standard for the fastest possible file transfer. However, performance will depend on the generation of the PCIe interface and the number of communication lines. Currently, disks using the PCIe 3.0 x4 interface (four lines) achieve transfers of 4000 MB/s! However, the cheaper M.2 drives with PCIe 3.0 x2 (two lines) are limited to 1969 MB/s. It does not mean, however, that each disk in a given standard will be just as fast - the results depend on the used memory and controllers. However, even the basic M.2 drive from NVMe will be much more efficient than SATA III carriers.

SSD

SSD (solid-state drive), sometimes also a solid state disk - a mass storage device based on flash memory. The basic advantage of SSD is the lack of moving parts. In addition, these disks are characterized by significantly shorter data access time (several dozen times), quieter operation and much more resistant to mechanical damage (caused, for example, by shocks during work or fall from a height). Another issue is the use of SSD memory in industrial computers, where large capacity is not important as it is in the case of classic HDDs, but above all operational reliability and resistance to vibrations. SSD memories in industrial applications do not require capacities of 50-100 GB, because in practice capacities of 512 MB-8 GB are used, and it is enough to keep memory at a relatively low cost.

The advantages and disadvantages of SSD

The biggest disadvantage of SSDs is their price to capacity. HDD disks are more widely available, have a larger capacity and are cheaper. However, as disks with moving mechanical systems have some disadvantages that SSDs do not have.

The advantages of SSDs:

•      less energy consumption - there is no need to drive magnetic discs like in HDD disks,
  
•      minimized failure rate,
  
•      instant data writing and reading - programs, games, system start without delays,
  
•      higher bandwidth - faster data transfer,
  
•      resistance to shocks - the disk with moving mechanical parts may be damaged due to a fall, interrupted by writing or reading data,
  
•      in the event of a sudden power outage, the data stored on the flash memory will not be erased,
  
•      work in a larger temperature range than HDD disks,
  
•      they emit less heat,
  
•      no need to defragment the disk.

Limited lifespan of the SSD

The disadvantages of SSDs are their limited lifespan due to the limited number of data write cycles. There is a type of memory associated with the life of the disk:

•  SLC (Single Level Cell) - 1 cell records 1 data bit,
  
•  MLC (Multi Level Cell) - 1 cell saves 2 bits of data,
  
•  TLC (Triple Level Cell) 1 cell saves 3 bits of data.
  

SSD

SSD (solid-state drive), sometimes also a solid state disk - a mass storage device based on flash memory. The basic advantage of SSD is the lack of moving parts. In addition, these disks are characterized by significantly shorter data access time (several dozen times), quieter operation and much more resistant to mechanical damage (caused, for example, by shocks during work or fall from a height). Another issue is the use of SSD memory in industrial computers, where large capacity is not important as it is in the case of classic HDDs, but above all operational reliability and resistance to vibrations. SSD memories in industrial applications do not require capacities of 50-100 GB, because in practice capacities of 512 MB-8 GB are used, and it is enough to keep memory at a relatively low cost.

The advantages and disadvantages of SSD

The biggest disadvantage of SSDs is their price to capacity. HDD disks are more widely available, have a larger capacity and are cheaper. However, as disks with moving mechanical systems have some disadvantages that SSDs do not have.

The advantages of SSDs:

•      less energy consumption - there is no need to drive magnetic discs like in HDD disks,
  
•      minimized failure rate,
  
•      instant data writing and reading - programs, games, system start without delays,
  
•      higher bandwidth - faster data transfer,
  
•      resistance to shocks - the disk with moving mechanical parts may be damaged due to a fall, interrupted by writing or reading data,
  
•      in the event of a sudden power outage, the data stored on the flash memory will not be erased,
  
•      work in a larger temperature range than HDD disks,
  
•      they emit less heat,
  
•      no need to defragment the disk.

Limited lifespan of the SSD

The disadvantages of SSDs are their limited lifespan due to the limited number of data write cycles. There is a type of memory associated with the life of the disk:

•  SLC (Single Level Cell) - 1 cell records 1 data bit,
  
•  MLC (Multi Level Cell) - 1 cell saves 2 bits of data,
  
•  TLC (Triple Level Cell) 1 cell saves 3 bits of data.