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| Domintor 1666 Mhz DDR3 RAM |
What I Will be looking at?
I will be looking at the types of memory in which consoles use and the various different types of memory which can be used for other reasons. I will be addressing the types and comparing them between two different consoles which will be the Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3. The types of Random Access Memory I will be looking at is, (RDRAM) Rambus Dynamic, (SRAM) Static, (DRAM) dynamic & unified RAM.
What is the Purpose of RAM?
RAM allows for a temporary storage of program and the operations whilst using it, for example when opening Microsoft Word, it would be stored in the RAM for quick access when it needs to be used later on. Programs would be loaded in the Hard Drive however this would take several weeks for it to load, so instead it is put into the RAM so it can be loaded within seconds. Depending on the amount of RAM you have installed on your computer will determine how many programs you can have running at the same time. However if you have only a small limited amount of RAM then this can bottleneck your system and cause it too freeze or dramatically slow down.
What types of RAM are there?
- Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory
- Static Random Access Memory
- Dynamic Random Access Memory
- Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory:
RDRAM is the fastest type of RAM available to computer systems as it can transfer data at 1 Ghz per second which other RAM modules cannot perform unless over clocked. Due to its very high speeds only computers with high-end motherboards can benefit from the use of this type of RAM however with more high spec motherboards being created, RDRAM is becomming more common in standardized computers due to the implementation of DDR3 memory modules being supported by all motherboards, low spec or high-end. RDRAM can run at speeds of up to 2133 when it has been over clocked however these are only supported by motherboards such as the Asus Formula boards or the Sabretooth boards as they are designed for gaming computers/servers.
RDRAM is normally used for the computers which require fast transfer speeds constantly, which would be for design set computers & gaming systems, where data transfer needs to be quick and constant.
Static Random Access Memory:
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Dynamic Random Access Memory:
This is the most commonly used RAM in a computer system and works better than SRAM as it stores each different bit of data on a different capacitor within the RAM which means that it takes up less space compared to other sets of RAM. This space means that more programs & application can be loaded into the RAM meaning a quicker transfer of data. However the downside to this type of RAM is that it consumes more power in relation to SRAM, so an increase of wattage for the power supply would be needed.
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory:
This is an improved version of the DRAM, where data is received between sets of memory which removes the delay of receiving data as its split between two RAM modules. The RAM is also synced with the clock speed meaning that the faster the bus speed if for the memory clock the faster the RAM will perform loading calculations into the CPU faster and loading programs quicker. As its linked to the clock speed, if the clock speed is increased then the RAM will perform quicker, this is a good addition to have with a computer system that has been over-clocked as not only will the CPU perform quicker the RAM will also benefit from it.
Xbox 360 Memory Modules & Type:
The Xbox 360 included DRAM & GDDR3 System RAM for the video card to use when games are running:
The Main RAM is 512 MB GDDR3 system RAM running at 700 MHz & 10 MB embedded DRAM for other operations whilst the GDDR3 system is being used. This would be used for such elements as the xbox live menus & account information, so when the game is being run, the DRAM can load the other applications used on the side.
In comparison to now-a-day systems which are used in standard PC's & consoles, 512 MB of RAM is a very small amount, although the console is designed for gaming & media streaming the limitation of the size of RAM can prevent the console for performing operations as quick as they should & with the upgrade to newer consoles the addition of more RAM should have been implemented by now.
PlayStation 3 Memory Modules & Type:
The PlayStation 3 includes only a small amount of RAM which is dedicated to the entire system instead of the split that xbox 360 has:
The console has built in 256MB GDDR3 running at 700MHz the same as Xbox 360 however it has only half the RAM meaning that operations are going to be a lot slower & that all operations use the same RAM, which again is going to slow the console down dramatically.
This has been noticed a lot with online gameplay where a lot of data processing needs to take place, as information is constantly being downloaded & uploaded the RAM has a lot of work to do to ensure the CPU can process and do the operations required, however as its lacking a large amount of RAM this can create a slow & laggy online experience.
