With computers, most people know they have memory systems but few people have a real understanding of the various types of memories computers have. Interestingly, different types of computer equipment uses different memory. For example, some of the memory types that you would typically find with a computer as well as other peripheral devices would include the following:

THE MEANING OF COMPUTER MEMORY TERMS By Vern Ziglar, Copyright 2005

With computers, most people know they have memory systems but few people have a real understanding of the various types of memories computers have. Interestingly, different types of computer equipment uses different memory. For example, some of the memory types that you would typically find with a computer as well as other peripheral devices would include the following: * BIOS * Cache * Dynamic RAM * Flash Memory * Memory Sticks * RAM * ROM * Static RAM * Video Memory * Virtual Memory Generally speaking, memory identifies your data and quickly stores it. For instance, if your computer had to find each small piece of information by going to the hard drive as you worked, your system would quickly become sluggish. If you use memory instead for storage, then the CPU component of your computer could access the data much more quickly. The various types of memory have different functions within a computer. In most cases data is stored in memory temporarily to let you work faster. Your computer will operate at peak efficiency if all the components of the computer are working together well. The computers CPU, operating system, hard drive and all memory must be working and functioning together for your computer to be optimal. Your computer uses its memory every time it's turned on. When you shut down your computer and then restart it, your data is loaded from the ROM, or read-only memory. The next thing it does is to run a power-on-self-test, or POST to make sure that everything is working as it should. The POST includes a memory controller. It does a fast read/write check of all memory addresses. This test ensures that the memory chips don't have any errors. After that the data is both written and read as a bit. Now, the basic input/output system known as BIOS is loaded from ROM. Additionally, BIOS provides basic information about the storage devices, boot sequence, plug and play capability, security, and so on. Next, the operating system or OS is loaded from the hard drive into the RAM. Since the OS is extremely critical to the computer, it is always a part of the RAM when the computer is turned on. With that, the CPU can gain immediate access to the OS to help improve performance and functionality. Your application software, such as Microsoft Word, is also loaded into RAM. You may be interested to note that at times the programs often use only the most essential parts in order to save on RAM. From their other aspects are loaded as needed. When you are using an application, any of the files you access are loaded into RAM as well. Once you finish with a file, you normally save and then close it. From there is gets written to the correct storage location, and then RAM is purged of the information from that application. The whole point of these steps is to keep the RAM from becoming too full and slowing down your system. Vern Ziglar is an avid computer researcher and runs Computer - Flap Computer, a top Internet resource for computer information. For more details, go to http://www.flapcomputer.com Keywords: BIOS, cache, Dynamic RAM, Flash Memory, Memory Sticks, RAM, ROM, Static RAM, Video Memory, Virtual Memory, computer memory Online Advertising Provided By Ads-On-Q.com