What is DDR3 SDRAM Memory?
Memory or random access memory is the hardware component in computers that temporarily stores data in use by running programs. DDR3 is a specific type of interface for synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), which relies on an external clock signal rather than its own. Samsung is just one electronics brand that manufacturers DDR3 SDRAM.
What Are Some Things to Know When Installing Memory?
When installing memory like DDR3 into your desktop computer, there are several concepts worth knowing and factors worth checking, like:
- Memory Modules: Memory modules, including DIMM and SO-DIMM, are the individual memory boards that are inserted into their dedicated slots on a motherboard. It's important to know how many modules your computer can take so you know how many you will be adding or replacing. Keep in mind that while RAM might be described as having 16 GB, it may in fact be 4 modules each with 4 GB.
- RAM Compatibility: A computer's motherboard enables communication between different hardware components including the computer's processor and its memory. Each motherboard is only compatible with a specific type of RAM, such as DDR3 SDRAM, with the right number of pins. This means a DDR3 240-pin DIMM will not fit in the place of a DDR4 288-pin DIMM.
- Clock vs. Transfer Speeds: With memory like Samsung DDR3 there are two speeds worth noting, clock measured in MHz and the transfer rate measured in megatransfers per second. You can tell the transfer rate of a memory module by its name, as DDR3-1333 memory has a rate of 1333 megatransfers per second and DDR3-1600 has a rate of 1600 megatransfers per second.
- ECC vs. non-ECC: Referring to RAM modules with error correction code (ECC) and those without error correction code, generally ECC is used for servers and other high-value data and not a concern for regular desktop computers.
What Are Some of Benefits DDR3 SDRAM over DDR2?
Naturally, technology is always evolving and each new version of technology attempts to improve on its predecessor. The ways in which DDR3 improves over earlier versions like DDR2 include:
- Synchronous Interfaces: By relying on the external clock cycle of the desktop or laptop computer's processor, DDR3 SDRAM synchronizes the two components so that the processor doesn't have to wait a cycle to receive data from the DDR3 RAM.
- Faster Data Transfer: The DDR in DDR3 RAM refers to double data rate, as the RAM is able to make two data transfers per clock cycle rather than just one. This double data rate leads to a higher bandwidth interface between the memory and processor and therefore faster computing.
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