What Is The Difference Between Computer Memory & Disk Space?

In the world of computing, the terms 'memory' and 'disk space' are perhaps two of the most widely-confused. Commonly seen as the same thing, memory and disk space actually have two very different uses, and to really understand how your computer works, you must first understand the tasks these two components perform.

The hard disk, sometimes known as the hard drive, is where a computer permanently stores information in a format it can read. It is made up of a spindle of magnetic discs that contain several gigabytes of data, and if the computer breaks or fails, the information stored on the hard disk can still be accessed by plugging it into another computer. When you download a document, music or photo, it is stored on your hard disk, and the more files you download or install, the more full your hard disk becomes. Typically these days, hard disks range from 500 gigabytes (500GB) to 2 terabytes (2TB), with even larger systems on their way to cope with the digital revolution, where music and films are being increasingly stored on hard disks as opposed to CDs and DVDs.

Memory, however, is a completely different notion. Memory, sometimes referred to as RAM (Random Access Memory) is the area used to store running programs, including the operating system (Windows, Mac, etc). Consisting of small chips inside a computer, when you open up a program such as Paint, Microsoft Word or iTunes, it gets loaded into the computer's memory, but unlike writing something onto the hard disk, when you close the program, this frees up the space again. The easiest comparison to make is that memory is the equivalent of a human remembering something for a task, whereas hard disks are the equivalent of writing information down on paper. With computer memory, you keep things in your brain that you are using throughout your lifetime, but it is not permanent storage, and when the human brain is switched off, the information is lost. Hard disks are similar to writing something down on paper, because the information is still available even if the brain or human it came from isn't.

Knowing the different between the two is vital when trying to decide how to upgrade your computer. If your computer tells you that there isn't enough memory to run a certain program, you will need to purchase more RAM to afford it more memory. If your computer tells you that you don't have the space to install a program, you need only delete some files from your hard drive to free up some space.

Data Memory Systems can provide you with all types of memory solutions, from flash drives and external hard drives to PC memory and Apple memory, with a team who can assist you if you're unsure what sort of memory you require.

To keep up to date with computer memory technology and to buy Apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com

Is the Future of DRAM Memory a Cube?

The recently completed, annual Hot Chips conference in Stanford threw up a number of interesting developments in computer memory and computer processing. As usual, the event was attended by key names in the memory industry and a number of new products revealed. One of the most interesting breakthroughs was presented by Micron, a memory manufacturer who announced that it has developed a hybrid cube DRAM chip.

DRAM (dynamic random access memory) is one of the key components of any machine whether a laptop, desktop, personal computer or work machine. When a specification lists 1GB or 2GB PC memory or Apple memory, it is usually referring to amounts of DRAM.

The Micron announcement has created a new buzz about memory upgrades as the product is the first ever to use a cube construction to stack layers of memory one on top of the other. This method of organizing memory has never been commercially used before and works in a unique way – the position of the layers creates paths of interconnecting sections, allowing for higher data density and higher data throughput.

Although the Hot Chips conference routinely premiers groundbreaking new memory and storage products, the Micron demonstration was particularly interesting as the manufacturer was able to demonstrate data transfer speeds of 128 gigabytes per second. As anyone who has ever contemplated a RAM upgrade out of sheer frustration with slow computing will know, this promises to significantly alter the speeds of common functions.

A discussion about general advancements in RAM speeds followed, suggesting more manufacturers will be snapping at the heels of Micron as they continue their development of the new memory chip.

To find out more, access memory upgrade guides and to buy Apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com

A Hard Drive Made From Glass?

Research undertaken at Southampton University has discovered that using lasers to reposition atoms in pieces of glass can create a new form of computer storage. The brand new and extremely innovative glass data storage is thought to be more resilient and hardwearing than the storage devices currently used in computers, which is fragile and susceptible to damage from factors such as moisture and high temperatures. At present, computer drives can become corrupted, but the new findings point to a method of storing data without these risks. The concept has been compared to a famous scene from the Superman movie 'Fortress of Solitude', where video messages are saved onto a 'memory crystal' and played back at will.

The revolutionary technique works by putting tiny holes called 'voxels' (scientists describe this as the 3D version of a 'pixel') into pure silica glass, changing the way the light is directed through it. The device redirects light into 'whirlpools' which can then be read and accessed in a way comparable to the way we currently read optical fibres. The shards of glass can be read, accessed and written over an unlimited amount of times without the danger of a corruption within a file.

This new futuristic approach is also a great space-saver, with the glass shards currently able to hold up to 50GB of data – the equivalent of a full Blu-ray disc – on a piece of glass the size of a mobile phone screen. As well as saving space, the design can significantly prolong the lifespan of ordinary computer data storage device. Even in this modern age we live in, we are lucky to get a few decades of use out of our storage devices, but the new concept could see the glass data retention devices being constantly used and written over for thousands of years. With those in the medical industry stating that the method could dramatically lower the cost of medical imaging, and museums and large companies also enthusiastic about having a more reliable way to store their huge archives of information, it would not be an overstatement to say that this development will almost certainly revolutionise the way we store data in the future.

Whilst the technology itself is so advanced and cutting-edge that it is not currently available commercially, Data Memory Systems can still provide you with all of your memory upgrade needs right now. The team pride themselves on providing quality Apple memory and PC memory at the lowest prices, along with such essentials as flash drives and external hard drives.

To keep up to date with computer memory technology and to buy Apple and PC memory upgrades securely online, visit http://www.datamemorysystems.com