What is DRAM in RAM and GPU?
Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM in RAM and GPU is a semiconductor memory inside the RAMs and GPUs. It stores small bits of data in capacitors stored in ICs. Due to the nature of capacitors, they lose energy gradually; thus, you need to refresh the DRAMs continuously.
Unlike SRAMs, DRAMs are comparatively cheap and can store more data. However, the downside is that they are slower to access and high-power consumers.
DRAM in RAM
The next generation of DRAMs is called SDRAMs or SDR SDRAM, i.e., Synchronous Dynamic RAM or Single Data Rate SDRAM. This is because they work hand in hand with CPUs at their optimized clock speed. Besides, SDRAMs can handle multiple tasks simultaneously compared to DRAMs, making them much faster.
As we progress, we see the next-gen DRAMs called the DDR SDRAMs or the Double Data Rate SDRAM. These are faster than the SDRAMs and are often called DDRAMs.
Most of the RAMs we’re using today are DDRAM. There are newer generations of DDRAM out in the market. You may have seen the term “DDR4” or “DDR5” while choosing RAM for your PC. Therefore, those are simply the advanced versions of the DRAM.
The DDRAM can access data almost 2X fast compared to SDRAM, evident by its name. Moreover, it consumes less power than the previous generation. As mentioned above, the DDRAMs have a number before them, denoting their generation. The higher the number, the better the performance.
For example-
DDR2 is faster than DDRAM, DDR3 is faster than DDR2, and so forth. The latest generation is the DDR5 RAM which has had some tremendous breakthroughs.
The latest DDR5 RAMs are for top-of-the-line processors from Intel and AMD. Generally, they come with a factory-set 4800Mhz-5500Mhz frequency. But some manufacturers like G.Skill the overclocked versions.
DRAM in Graphics Cards
Graphics Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic RAM or GDDR SDRAM, more commonly known as GDDR, is a specific memory dedicated to gaming that GPUs can access. The main difference between GDDRAM and DDRAM is that GDDRAM focuses more on computing more data without prioritizing latency.
Like the DDRAMs, the GDDRAMs have also undergone technical innovations, improving from generation to generation. Much like the DDRAMs, the higher the generation, the better the performance. The two latest, GDDR6 and GDDR6X, are used on Nvidia Graphic cards using the Turing and Ampere architecture, respectively.
The list includes the latest GeForce RTX 4090 Graphics cards and the previous RTX 2000 series graphics cards.
Conclusion
The DRAM is an integral part of modern computer architecture, and with multiple innovations in the field, it has become an essential component of the computing world. The latest generations of RAM and GRAM are all derived from the DRAM.
Thus, it is not an overestimation to say that DRAM paved the path for the fast computing we all enjoy today.
FAQ
Yes, DRAM is a volatile memory source and loses power instantaneously when it loses power.
DRAMs are one of the most integral and essential components in the PC-building world. The newer generations of DRAM are the backbone of good RAM or GPU modules. RAMs and GPUs are the standard PC hardware where DRAM is commonly used.
The capacitor-over-bit line (COB) stacked capacitor cell, also known as the top-capacitor-type STC cell, is a commonly used cell design in current DRAMs.
The primary purpose of DRAM is short-term memory storage.