4 Myths And Misconceptions About RAM You Still Trust

RAM Myth

Surely many of us are familiar with RAM (Random Access Memory) which is one of the basic components of a computer or smartphone. But there are so many misunderstandings that often occur, such as whether we can mix RAM sizes or brands. As we know RAM's job is to remember calculations for a finite time, so our processors don't have to repeat those calculations every time. But there is a misunderstanding about using different RAM sizes at the same time, does the RAM have to match? For that, let's discuss 4 Myths And Misconceptions About RAM.

Also Read: Difference Between DDR RAM 2, 3, And 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 1. “We Can't Mix RAM Sizes”

2. 2. “We Don't Need More RAM”

3. 3. “RAM Size Matters”

4. 4. “We Have to Free Up RAM to Increase Speed”

5. RAM Works Differently on Mac and iPhone

6. Conclusion

1. â€We Can't Mix RAM Sizesâ€� 

We Can't Mix RAM Size

In general, most laptops or computers are equipped with two slots for RAM sticks, and sometimes more. And there is a prevailing misconception that we cannot use different sizes of RAM at the same time, or mix brands of RAM. That's an untrue RAM myth. Can we mix RAM sizes? Yes. But it may not be the best for performance.

It is recommended to use RAM by the same manufacturer, of the same size, and of the same frequency. But there's a simple reason behind why mixing RAM sizes isn't usually the best way. RAM has several components that all come together to make it work properly. For two different sizes of RAM sticks to work together optimally, they need to use the same voltage and controller, each having to play well with the other. That is why it is better to use the same model in all slots.

However, this doesn't mean we can't use different RAM sizes at the same time. For example, if our first RAM was 4GB, we can still add a new 8GB RAM. Once we enable dual channel mode or so-called flexible mode, it will work as two 4GB trunks running side by side in optimal performance. Then the remaining 4GB will run in single channel mode. Overall, it's not as fast as using two sticks of the same size, but it's still faster than what we had before.

Same as frequency or speed. RAM sticks will work together at lower stick frequencies, by default. So do RAM sticks have to match? No, but it's much better if we do.

2. “We Don't Need More RAM”

We Don't Need More RAM

This amount of RAM is enough to run the software, we don't need any more. These are all general suggestions that we will find. Yes, it might be enough to run applications, but that doesn't mean our PC can't be faster. More RAM does help, even if we use different sizes of RAM at the same time.

Most developers write their programs in a way, the application asks for a certain percentage of the available RAM. So, if we have more RAM installed, the same requested percentage will mean more size for the program. But that doesn't mean that because we only use 60 percent (or a small percentage) of our total RAM capacity, that doesn't mean we don't need more RAM. Our regular tasks might only ask for 60 percent of RAM, saving the rest for other tasks we might use later.

As a general rule for computers, for casual users, 4GB is the minimum and 8GB is the recommended size for best performance. Gamers, PC enthusiasts, and professionals working with graphics, video or sound should have 16GB. On Android phones, Android Authority runs an experiment to estimate the ideal RAM requirement. They suggest 2.5GB for casual users, 3GB for social users, and 5GB for gamers.

3. â€The Size of RAM That Mattersâ€� 

Important RAM Size

We may know how much RAM our phone or PC has. And when someone says they have more RAM in their PC, we automatically assume their system is running faster. But that's not necessarily true. The capacity or size of RAM doesn't really matter. Among the determinants of RAM performance are speed and frequency. Like a CPU, RAM has a clock speed. The higher the clock speed, the more functions it can perform in one second. We will often find RAM with a frequency of 2400 MHz or 3000 MHz.

However, be careful with the RAM mismatch here. If the RAM runs at 2000 MHz but our motherboard only supports 1333 MHz, we won't get that speed increase. So buy RAM based on the capacity of our motherboard.

In general, a typical computer user won't notice much difference between 8GB and 16GB RAM. However, changing it to faster than the same 8GB RAM can lead to a significant increase. Depending on how we use the machine, we have to figure out which one is better. more important for us, faster RAM or more RAM?

4. †.We Have to Free Up RAM to Increase Speedâ€� 

We Must Free Up RAM to Increase Speed

This is the most frustrating RAM myth about how memory works. That's one of the misconceptions that come out of the inclusion of “RAM booster” or “memory optimizer” software. If our RAM is full, that's a good thing! Don't wipe RAM, it doesn't increase speed. RAM's job is not to sit idly by. In fact, our operating system and our software must use every bit of available RAM. Freeing RAM with one of those booster programs did nothing. If anything, it might slow down our system, because “freeing” means removing certain calculations from RAM memory.

RAM or memory is not the same as hard drive or storage! RAM automatically adjusts itself. If we have 4GB of RAM, then it is constantly writing, erasing and rewriting data in those 4GB. And all of that is data we don't want to keep. “Storage” is what our hard drive does, and it doesn't automatically adjust. In short, having free space on our hard drive is a good thing, but having free space on RAM is a bad thing. It is recommended not to use memory cleaning apps, they do more harm than disproportionate benefits.

RAM Works Differently on Mac and iPhone

Apple has a different approach to RAM compared to PCs and Android phones. The basic architecture of iPhone is much different from Android. That's why we won't find Apple talking about how much RAM iPhones have, while they are still as fast as the best Android phones. On Mac , we can't easily replace or upgrade RAM like with PC. We need to know if our Mac can accept the upgrade and choose the right components.

Also Read: The Difference Between RAM And ROM That You Should Know

Conclusion

So now we know that the 4 RAM Myths are still believed by many people, it is wrong even though on the part to mix and match RAM types is not a problem, but later we will also face some limitations.

Hopefully, this article about 4 Myths And Misconceptions About RAM You Still Trust, gives you a little insight. Also, read an article about 4 Ways to Fix Windows Resource Protection Could Not Start The Repair Service that you may need to know. Thank you.