What does RAM dimm mean? Difference between DIMM and SODIMM (RAM modules)

Story RAM , or RAM, began back in 1834, when Charles Babbage developed the “analytical engine” - essentially, the prototype of a computer. He called the part of this machine, which was responsible for storing intermediate data, a “warehouse.” Memorizing information there was organized even more cleanly mechanically, through shafts and gears.

In the first generations of computers, cathode ray tubes and magnetic drums were used as RAM; later magnetic cores appeared, and after them, in the third generation of computers, memory on microcircuits appeared.

Nowadays RAM is made using technology DRAM in form factors DIMM and SO-DIMM, This dynamic memory, organized as integrated circuits semiconductors. It is volatile, meaning data disappears when there is no power.

Choosing RAM is not a difficult task today; the main thing here is to understand the types of memory, its purpose and main characteristics.

Memory types

SO-DIMM

Memory of the SO-DIMM form factor is intended for use in laptops, compact ITX systems, monoblocks - in short, where the minimum physical size of memory modules is important. It differs from the DIMM form factor in that the length of the module is approximately halved and there are fewer pins on the board (204 and 360 pins for SO-DIMM DDR3 and DDR4 versus 240 and 288 on boards of the same types of DIMM memory).
In terms of other characteristics - frequency, timings, volume, SO-DIMM modules can be anything, and do not differ in any fundamental way from DIMMs.

DIMM

DDR memory appeared in 2001 and had 184 contacts. The supply voltage ranged from 2.2 to 2.4 V. The operating frequency was 400 MHz. It is still available for sale, although the selection is small. Today the format is outdated - it is suitable only if you do not want to update the system completely, and the old motherboard only has connectors for DDR.

The DDR2 standard came out in 2003 and received 240 pins, which increased the number of threads, significantly speeding up the processor data bus. The operating frequency of DDR2 could be up to 800 MHz (in some cases - up to 1066 MHz), and the supply voltage was from 1.8 to 2.1 V - slightly less than that of DDR. Consequently, power consumption and heat dissipation of memory have decreased.
Differences between DDR2 and DDR:

· 240 contacts versus 120
· New slot, not DDR compatible
· Less power consumption
Improved design better cooling
Higher maximum operating frequency

Just like DDR, it is an outdated type of memory - now it is only suitable for old motherboards, in other cases there is no point in buying it, since the new DDR3 and DDR4 are faster.

In 2007, RAM was updated to the DDR3 type, which is still widely used. The same 240 pins remain, but the connection slot for DDR3 has changed - there is no compatibility with DDR2. The operating frequency of the modules is on average from 1333 to 1866 MHz. There are also modules with frequencies up to 2800 MHz.
DDR3 differs from DDR2:

· DDR2 and DDR3 slots are not compatible.
· The clock frequency of DDR3 is 2 times higher - 1600 MHz versus 800 MHz for DDR2.
· Features a reduced supply voltage - about 1.5V, and lower power consumption (in the version DDR3L this value is on average even lower, about 1.35 V).
· The delays (timings) of DDR3 are greater than those of DDR2, but the operating frequency is higher. In general, the speed of DDR3 is 20-30% higher.

DDR3 is a good choice today. Many motherboards on sale have DDR3 memory connectors, and due to the massive popularity of this type, it is unlikely to disappear soon. It is also slightly cheaper than DDR4.

DDR4 - new type RAM developed only in 2012. It is an evolutionary development of previous types. Memory bandwidth has increased again, now reaching 25.6 GB/s. The operating frequency also increased - from an average of 2133 MHz to 3600 MHz. If we compare the new type with DDR3, which lasted on the market for 8 years and became widespread, the performance increase is insignificant, and not all motherboards and processors support the new type.
DDR4 differences:

· Incompatible with previous types
· Reduced supply voltage - from 1.2 to 1.05 V, power consumption has also decreased
· Memory operating frequency up to 3200 MHz (can reach 4166 MHz in some trims), with, of course, timings increasing proportionally
May be slightly faster than DDR3

If you already have DDR3 sticks, then there is no point in rushing to change them to DDR4. When this format spreads massively, and all motherboards already support DDR4, the transition to a new type will happen by itself with an update of the entire system. Thus, we can summarize that DDR4 is more of a marketing product than a real new type of RAM.

Which memory frequency should I choose?

Today you should not choose memory with a frequency lower than 1600 MHz. The 1333 MHz option is acceptable in the case of DDR3, unless these are ancient modules lying around the seller, which will obviously be slower than the new ones.

The best option for today is memory with a frequency range from 1600 to 2400 MHz. A higher frequency has almost no advantage, but it costs much more, and as a rule, these are overclocked modules with raised timings. For example, the difference between modules of 1600 and 2133 MHz in a number of work programs will be no more than 5-8%; in games the difference may be even smaller. Frequencies of 2133-2400 MHz are worth taking if you are engaged in video/audio encoding and rendering.

The difference between frequencies of 2400 and 3600 MHz will cost you quite a lot, without significantly increasing speed.

How much RAM should I take?

Volume 2 GB- today, it may only be enough to browse the Internet. More than half will be consumed by the operating system; the rest will be enough for the leisurely work of undemanding programs.

Volume 4 GB– suitable for a mid-range computer, for a home PC media center. Enough to watch movies and even play undemanding games. Modern ones, alas, are difficult to cope with. (Will be the best choice if you have a 32-bit operating system Windows system, which sees no more than 3 GB of RAM)

Volume 8 GB(or a 2x4GB kit) is the recommended volume today for a full-fledged PC. This is enough for almost any games, for working with any resource-demanding software. The best choice for a universal computer.

A capacity of 16 GB (or sets of 2x8GB, 4x4GB) will be justified if you work with graphics, heavy programming environments, or constantly render video. Also perfect for online streaming - here with 8 GB there may be stutters, especially when high quality video broadcasts. Some games in high resolutions and with HD textures can behave better with 16 GB of RAM on board.

Volume 32 GB(set 2x16GB, or 4x8GB) – still a very controversial choice, useful for some very extreme work tasks. It would be better to spend money on other computer components; this will have a stronger effect on its performance.

Operating modes: is it better to have 1 memory stick or 2?

In order for the memory to work in dual-channel mode, you need to install the sticks in slots of the same color on the motherboard. As a rule, the color is repeated through the connector. It is important that the memory frequency in the two sticks be the same.

- Single chanell Mode– single-channel operating mode. Turns on when one memory stick is installed, or different modules, operating at different frequencies. As a result, the memory operates at the frequency of the slowest stick.
- Dual Mode– two-channel mode. Works only with memory modules of the same frequency, increases operating speed by 2 times. Manufacturers produce sets of memory modules specifically for this purpose, which can contain 2 or 4 identical sticks.
-Triple Mode– works on the same principle as two-channel. In practice it is not always faster.
- Quad Mode- four-channel mode, which works on the principle of two-channel, accordingly increasing the speed of operation by 4 times. Used where needed exclusively high speed- for example, in servers.

- Flex Mode– a more flexible version of the two-channel operating mode, when the bars are of different volumes, but only the frequency is the same. In this case, in dual-channel mode, the same volumes of modules will be used, and the remaining volume will function in single-channel mode.

Does memory need a heatsink?

Nowadays, memory power consumption has decreased significantly, and a heatsink on a module can be justified from a technical point of view only if you are into overclocking and the module will operate at frequencies that are prohibitive for it. In all other cases, radiators can be justified, perhaps, by their beautiful design.

If the radiator is massive and noticeably increases the height of the memory bar, this is already a significant disadvantage, since it may prevent you from installing a processor super cooler in the system. By the way, there are special low-profile memory modules designed for installation in compact cases. They are slightly more expensive than regular size modules.

What are timings?

Simply put, RAM can be thought of as a two-dimensional table in which each cell carries information. Cells are accessed by column and row numbers, and this is indicated by the row access strobe RAS(Row Access Strobe) and column access gate CAS (Access Strobe) by changing the voltage. Thus, for each cycle of work, accesses occur RAS And CAS, and between these calls and the write/read commands there are certain delays, which are called timings.

In the description of the RAM module you can see five timings, which for convenience are written as a sequence of numbers separated by a hyphen, for example 8-9-9-20-27 .

· tRCD (time of RAS to CAS Delay)- timing, which determines the delay from the RAS pulse to the CAS
· CL (time of CAS Latency)- timing, which determines the delay between the write/read command and the CAS pulse
· tRP (time of Row Precharge)- timing, which determines the delay when transitioning from one line to the next
· tRAS (time of Active to Precharge Delay)- timing, which determines the delay between the activation of a line and the end of working with it; considered the main meaning
· Command rate – defines the delay between the command to select an individual chip on the module until the command to activate the line; this timing is not always indicated.

To put it even more simply, it is important to know only one thing about timings - the lower their values, the better. In this case, the strips can have the same operating frequency, but different timings, and a module with lower values ​​will always be faster. So it’s worth choosing the minimum timings; for DDR4, timings for average values ​​will be 15-15-15-36, for DDR3 - 10-10-10-30. It is also worth remembering that timings are related to the memory frequency, so when overclocking you will most likely have to increase the timings, and vice versa - you can manually lower the frequency, thereby reducing the timings. It is most beneficial to pay attention to the totality of these parameters, choosing rather a balance, and not chasing extreme values ​​of the parameters.

How to decide on a budget?

The price will also depend on the timings; the lower they are, the higher the speed, and, accordingly, the price.

So, having up to 2000 rubles, you can purchase a 4 GB memory module, or 2 2 GB modules, which is preferable. Choose depending on what your PC configuration allows. Modules DDR type 3 will cost almost half as much as DDR4. With such a budget, it makes more sense to take DDR3.

To the group up to 4000 rubles includes modules with a capacity of 8 GB, as well as sets of 2x4 GB. This optimal choice for any tasks except professional work with video, and in any other heavy environments.

In total up to 8000 rubles It will cost 16 GB of memory. Recommended for professional purposes, or for avid gamers - even enough in reserve, while waiting for new demanding games.

If it's not a problem to spend up to 13,000 rubles, then the best choice would be to invest them in a set of 4 4 GB sticks. For this money you can even choose more beautiful radiators, perhaps for later overclocking.

I don’t recommend taking more than 16 GB without the purpose of working in professional heavy environments (and even then not in all), but if you really want it, then for the amount from 13,000 rubles you can climb to Olympus by purchasing a 32 GB or even 64 GB kit. True, this will not make much sense for the average user or gamer - it is better to spend money on, say, a flagship video card.

Hello friends. Next up is our extremely important component stationary personal computer. RAM is considered one of the basic parts of absolutely any electronic computing system. And today we will tell you about RAM strips for traditional desktop systems. To be more precise, our focus is on a removable dynamic rewritable memory module of the DIMM DDR3 standard (240 pins). Generally, DIMM memory module DDR3 has much in common with its “younger” modification of RAM boards for mobile PCs in the SO-DIMM format. Memory strips of the DIMM DDR3 form factor have a number of specific properties. About the most significant parameters of this type digital devices you can find out in this publication.

Memory DIMM DDR3 - this is the third generation of full-size operational modules ultra-fast memory for desktop computers. Unlike previous RAM sticks with DDR2 memory type, this release of devices is characterized by double data exchange speed. This solution made it possible to achieve a significant increase in productivity in both traditional and mobile applications. computer systems Oh. Thanks to a number of successful technical solutions, quickly rewritable DDR3 class memory can be equipped with a large capacity virtual memory(2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB). Moreover, the frequency of this used memory has also become higher. Now on the shelves of electronics stores, ordinary computer system users are able to purchase modern RAM modules with operating frequencies from 1333 to 2400 MHz.

Not everyone knows, but in a personal computer with a modern motherboardDIMM memory module DDR3 capable of working according to several unique schemes. We are talking about multi-channel (2, 3, 4) modes of operation of RAM modules. In addition to reduced power consumption, this popular type of RAM will provide a significant increase in the performance of your computer assembly. We would like to reveal the principle of operation of this technology using the example of the available dual-channel mode. To obtain the maximum possible speed of information exchange between RAM strips and system board it is necessary to install absolutely identical devices in the corresponding (same color) slots on the motherboard. It is worth noting that your soldered boards must have the same main characteristics.

If you become the owner of a new motherboard, you probably might have noticed that there are not just one, but several special connectors for connecting modules RAM memory. But that doesn't mean you have to fill all the slots. For the average user home computer One or two sticks of RAM with a total memory size of 8 gigabytes will be quite enough. Using the 2-channel method of RAM operation, as additional method After upgrading the system, you will have access to the remaining empty slots on the main PC board. In the future, you will only need to buy new devices and improve the configuration of your computer equipment.

Be careful - DIMM DDR3 RAM is not compatible with motherboards that work with the outdated DDR2 memory type. A special key (contact cable with a groove) will tell you if there is a mismatch between the RAM module and the system bus connectors. On the sides of any RAM device you can find small recesses with which they are attached to the main board of a personal computer. This technical trick does not give us the chance to install a RAM memory device into a computer assembly that is not suitable for our system.

When purchasing a flash drive, many people ask the question: “how to choose the right flash drive.” Of course, choosing a flash drive is not so difficult if you know exactly for what purpose it is being purchased. In this article I will try to give a complete answer to the question posed. I decided to write only about what to look for when buying.

A flash drive (USB drive) is a drive designed for storing and transferring information. The flash drive works very simply without batteries. You just need to connect it to USB port at your PC.

1. Flash drive interface

3. Housing material

4. Data transfer rate

6. Password protection

Conclusion

Good afternoon, my dear friends. In today's article I want to talk about how to choose the right mouse pad. When buying a rug, many people do not attach any importance to this. But as it turned out, special attention needs to be paid to this point, because... The mat determines one of the indicators of comfort while working at a PC. For an avid gamer, choosing a mat is a completely different story. Let's look at what types of mouse pads have been invented today.

Mat options

And now I would like to talk about each type in more detail.

1. First I want to consider three options at once: plastic, aluminum and glass. These rugs are very popular among gamers. For example, plastic mats are easier to find on sale. The mouse glides quickly and accurately on these mats. And most importantly, such mats are suitable for both laser and optical mice. Aluminum and glass mats will be a little harder to find. Yes, and they will cost a lot. True, there is a reason for this - they will serve for a very long time. These types of rugs have minor flaws. Many people say that they rustle when operating and are a little cool to the touch, which may cause discomfort for some users.

2. Rubberized (rag) mats have soft sliding, but the accuracy of their movements is worse. For ordinary users such a rug will be just right. And they are much cheaper than the previous ones.

3. Double-sided mouse pads, in my opinion, are a very interesting type of mouse pad. As the name suggests, these rugs have two sides. Typically, one side is high-speed and the other is high-precision. It happens that each side is designed for a specific game.

4. Helium mats have a silicone cushion. She supposedly supports the hand and relieves tension from it. For me personally, they turned out to be the most inconvenient. According to their intended purpose, they are designed for office workers, since they sit at the computer all day long. These mats are not suitable for casual users and gamers. The mouse glides very poorly on the surface of such mouse pads, and their accuracy is not the best.

Mat sizes

Rugs design

This is where I want to end the article. On my own behalf I wish to do you right choice and be happy with it.
For anyone who doesn’t have a mouse or wants to replace it with another one, I advise you to look at the article:.

Microsoft's all-in-one PCs have been replenished new model all-in-one PC called Surface Studio. Microsoft recently presented its new product at an exhibition in New York.

Note! I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago where I reviewed the Surface all-in-one. This candy bar was presented earlier. To view the article, click on.

Design

Note! The display resolution of 4500x3000 pixels corresponds to 13.5 million pixels. This is 63% more than 4K resolution.

Note! For people in creative professions, I advise you to look at the article where I reviewed all-in-one computers with similar functionality. Click on the highlighted one: .

Note! By the way, Microsoft has another amazing candy bar. To find out about it, go to.

Specifications

From the periphery, I note the following: 4 USB ports, Mini-Display Port connector, network port Ethernet, card-reader, 3.5 mm audio jack, 1080p webcam, 2 microphones, 2.1 Dolby Audio Premium audio system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The candy bar also supports Xbox wireless controllers.

Price

OCZ demonstrated the new VX 500 SSD drives. These drives will be equipped with a Serial ATA 3.0 interface and are made in a 2.5-inch form factor.

Note! Anyone interested in how SSD drives work and how long they last can read in an article I wrote earlier:.

The number of input/output operations per second (IOPS) with data blocks of 4 KB in size can reach 92,000 when reading, and 65,000 when writing (this is all at random).
The thickness of OCZ VX 500 drives will be 7 mm. This will allow them to be used in ultrabooks.

The prices of the new products will be as follows: 128 GB - $64, 256 GB - $93, 512 GB - $153, 1 TB - $337. I think in Russia they will cost more.

Lenovo presented its new gaming all-in-one IdeaCentre Y910 at Gamescom 2016.

Note! Previously, I wrote an article where I already reviewed gaming all-in-one PCs different manufacturers. This article can be viewed by clicking on this one.

The monoblock will have several configurations. The maximum configuration includes a 6 processor Intel generation Core i7, volume hard drive up to 2 TB or 256 GB. The amount of RAM is 32 GB DDR4. The graphics card will be responsible for the graphics. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 1080 with Pascal architecture. Thanks to such a video card, it will be possible to connect a virtual reality helmet to the candy bar.
From the periphery of the candy bar, I would highlight the Harmon Kardon audio system with 5-watt speakers, the Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi module, a webcam, USB ports 2.0 and 3.0, HDMI connectors.

In its basic version, the IdeaCentre Y910 monoblock will go on sale in September 2016 at a price of 1,800 euros. But the candy bar with the “VR-ready” version will appear in October at a price of 2,200 euros. It is known that this version will contain GeForce video card GTX 1070.

MediaTek has decided to upgrade its Helio X30 mobile processor. So now the developers from MediaTek are designing a new mobile processor called Helio X35.

I would like to briefly talk about Helio X30. This processor has 10 cores, which are combined into 3 clusters. Helio X30 has 3 variations. The first - the most powerful - consists of Cortex-A73 cores with a frequency of up to 2.8 GHz. There are also blocks with Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz and Cortex-A35 with a frequency of 2.0 GHz.

New processor Helio X35 also has 10 cores and is created using 10-nanometer technology. The clock frequency in this processor will be much higher than that of its predecessor and ranges from 3.0 Hz. The new product will allow you to use up to 8 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The graphics in the processor will most likely be handled by the Power VR 7XT controller.
The station itself can be seen in the photographs in the article. In them we can see storage compartments. One bay has a 3.5" jack and the other has a 2.5" jack. Thus, it will be possible to connect to the new station as solid state drive(SSD) and hard drive(HDD).

The dimensions of the Drive Dock station are 160x150x85mm, and the weight is no less than 970 grams.
Many people probably have a question about how the Drive Dock connects to a computer. I answer: this happens via a USB port 3.1 Gen 1. According to the manufacturer, the sequential read speed will be 434 MB/s, and in write mode (sequential) 406 MB/s. The new product will be compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

This device will be very useful for people who work with photo and video materials at a professional level. Drive Dock can also be used for backup copies files.
The price for the new device will be acceptable - it is $90.

Note! Previously, Renduchinthala worked for Qualcomm. And since November 2015, he moved to a competing company, Intel.

Here once again I was asked how to appearance you can determine the type of RAM. Because This question comes up periodically, I decided that it was better to show it once than to explain it a hundred times, and write an illustrated mini-review of types of RAM for PCs.

Not everyone is interested in this, that’s why I’m hiding it under the cat. Read

The most common types of RAM that have been and are used in personal computers commonly called SIMM, DIMM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3. You are unlikely to see SIMMs and DIMMs anymore, but DDR, DDR2 or DDR3 are now installed in most personal computers. So, in order

SIMM

SIMM for 30 contacts. Used in personal computers with processors from 286 to 486. Now it is already a rarity. SIMM for 72 contacts. This type of memory was of two types: FPM (Fast Page Mode) and EDO (Extended Data Out).

The FPM type was used on computers with 486 processors and the first Pentiums until 1995. Then EDO appeared. Unlike its predecessors, EDO begins fetching the next block of memory at the same time it sends the previous block to the CPU.

Structurally, they are identical; they can only be distinguished by markings. Personal computers that supported EDO could also work with FPM, but the opposite was not always the case.

DIMM

That's what they called the type SDRAM memory(Synchronous DRAM). Starting in 1996, most Intel chipsets began to support this type of memory module, making it very popular until 2001. Most computers with Pentium processors and Celeron used this type of memory.

DDR

DDR (Double Data Rate) was a development of SDRAM. This type of memory module first appeared on the market in 2001. The main difference between DDR and SDRAM is that instead of doubling the clock speed to speed things up, these modules transfer data twice per clock cycle.

DDR2

DDR2 (Double Data Rate 2) is a newer variant of DDR that should theoretically be twice as fast. DDR2 memory first appeared in 2003, and chipsets supporting it appeared in mid-2004. The main difference between DDR2 and DDR is the ability to work at much higher clock frequency, thanks to improvements in design. In appearance it differs from DDR in the number of contacts: it has increased from 184 (for DDR) to 240 (for DDR2).

DDR3

Like DDR2 memory modules, they are available in 240-pin printed circuit board(120 contacts on each side of the module), however, they are not electrically compatible with the latter, and for this reason they have a different “key” arrangement.

And finally, there is another type of RAM - RIMM (Rambus). Appeared on the market in 1999. It is based on traditional DRAM, but with a radically changed architecture. This type of RAM did not take root in personal computers and was used very rarely. Such modules were used back in game consoles Sony Playstation 2 and Nintendo 64.

SIMM for 30 contacts.

In one of my previous articles, I wrote about RAM, I was asked how a DIMM module differs from a SODIMM. Along the way, we’ll talk about other variations.

First of all, you need to understand where you will use the RAM, that is, in a computer, laptop or netbook. Therefore, you need to decide not only the characteristics of the RAM, but also the scope of application.

Difference between DIMM and SODIMM

This is what SODIMM and DIMM modules look like:

To be precise, the former are 67.6 mm in size, and the latter are 133.35 mm. Also, on any of the types there are special keys that prevent connection to the wrong side or to the wrong interface.

The DIMM type has a larger number of pins - 240 pins for DDR3, and 204 for SODIMM. The first option for DDR4 has 288 pins, and 260 pins for SODIMM. Other characteristics may be similar, for example, memory size, frequency, etc.

Previously, these modules had a difference in supply voltage, that is, about 1.5 V was supplied to full-size modules, and 1.35 V to compact modules. Now there is no such difference.

Other types of modules

SIPP modules

The disadvantage of SIPPs is that they could easily break during installation. They were very fragile, which is why they switched to the SIMM type.