RAM vs. Memory — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 14, 2024
RAM is a type of volatile memory used for temporary data storage during program execution, while memory generally refers to all types of data storage in computing.
Difference Between RAM and Memory
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the primary storage used by a computer to store data temporarily and provides fast read and write access to a processor. On the other hand, the term "memory" can refer to various forms of data storage, including both volatile and non-volatile types like RAM, ROM, hard drives, and SSDs.
While RAM loses its data when the power is turned off, other types of memory such as SSDs and hard drives retain data even when the power is off. This makes RAM essential for the swift operation of applications, whereas other memory types provide long-term data storage.
RAM speeds significantly impact system performance, as it directly affects the speed at which applications load and run. Conversely, other memory forms mainly affect storage capacity and data retrieval speeds rather than system speed.
The cost per gigabyte of RAM is generally higher than that of other storage types like hard disks, reflecting its importance in system performance and speed. In contrast, hard drives offer a more cost-effective solution for mass storage needs.
Upgrading RAM can be a straightforward way for users to enhance their computer's performance, specifically in handling more applications simultaneously. In contrast, upgrading other types of memory, like increasing hard drive space, primarily expands storage capacity rather than performance.
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Comparison Chart
Volatility
Volatile (data is lost when off)
Non-volatile (retains data)
Usage
Temporary storage during use
Long-term data storage
Impact on Speed
Directly affects system performance
Affects data retrieval speed
Cost
Higher cost per gigabyte
Lower cost per gigabyte
Upgrade Impact
Enhances performance (speed)
Increases storage capacity
Compare with Definitions
Ram
Temporary storage for active processes.
The computer’s RAM can be upgraded to improve multitasking.
Memory
Includes both volatile and non-volatile types.
Memory upgrades can involve installing more RAM or a larger hard drive.
Ram
Directly accessible by the CPU.
RAM speeds influence how quickly software operates.
Memory
Used for data retention.
Saving files to memory ensures they are not lost after shutdown.
Ram
Data in RAM is volatile.
Data stored in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.
Memory
General term for storage components.
The device’s memory includes RAM and hard drive.
Ram
An uncastrated male sheep.
Memory
Can be internal or external.
External memory options include USB sticks and external hard drives.
Ram
A battering ram.
Memory
Varies in speed and capacity.
SSD memory offers faster speeds than traditional hard disks.
Ram
The falling weight of a piledriving machine.
Memory
Memory is the faculty of the brain by which data or information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when needed. It is the retention of information over time for the purpose of influencing future action.
Ram
A hydraulic water-raising or lifting machine.
Memory
The mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experience.
Ram
Roughly force (something) into place
He rammed his stick into the ground
Memory
The act or an instance of remembering; recollection
Spent the afternoon lost in memory.
Ram
(of a place) be very crowded
The club is rammed to the rafters every week
Memory
All that a person can remember
It hasn't happened in my memory.
Ram
Digital memory hardware in which information can be accessed in any order with equal speed.
Memory
Something that is remembered
Pleasant childhood memories.
Ram
A male sheep.
Memory
The fact of being remembered; remembrance
Dedicated to their parents' memory.
Ram
A battering ram.
Memory
The period of time covered by the remembrance or recollection of a person or group of persons
Within the memory of humankind.
Ram
The weight that drops in a pile driver or steam hammer.
Memory
A circuit or device that stores digital data.
Ram
The plunger or piston of a force pump or hydraulic press.
Memory
Capacity for storing information
Two gigabytes of memory.
Ram
A hydraulic ram.
Memory
(Statistics) The set of past events affecting a given event in a stochastic process.
Ram
A projection on the prow of a warship, used to batter or cut into enemy vessels.
Memory
The capacity of a material, such as plastic or metal, to return to a previous shape after deformation.
Ram
A ship having such a projection.
Memory
(Immunology) The ability of the immune system to respond faster and more powerfully to subsequent exposure to an antigen.
Ram
Ram See Aries.
Memory
(uncountable) The ability of the brain to record information or impressions with the facility of recalling them later at will.
Memory is a facility common to all animals.
Ram
To strike or drive against with a heavy impact; butt
Rammed the door with a sledgehammer until it broke open.
Memory
A record of a thing or an event stored and available for later use by the organism.
I have no memory of that event.
My wedding is one of my happiest memories.
Ram
To force or press into place.
Memory
(computing) The part of a computer that stores variable executable code or data (RAM) or unalterable executable code or default data (ROM).
This data passes from the CPU to the memory.
Ram
To cram; stuff
Rammed the clothes into the suitcase.
Memory
The time within which past events can be or are remembered.
In recent memory
In living memory
Ram
To force passage or acceptance of
Rammed the project through the city council despite local opposition.
Memory
Which returns to its original shape when heated
Memory metal
Memory plastic
Ram
A male sheep, typically uncastrated.
Memory
(obsolete) A memorial.
Ram
A battering ram; a heavy object used for breaking through doors.
Memory
A term of venery for a social group of elephants, normally called a herd.
Ram
A warship intended to sink other ships by ramming them.
Memory
The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events.
Memory is the purveyor of reason.
Ram
A reinforced section of the bow of a warship, intended to be used for ramming other ships.
Memory
The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong.
Ram
A piston powered by hydraulic pressure.
Memory
The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.
Ram
An act of ramming.
Memory
The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man.
And what, before thy memory, was doneFrom the begining.
Ram
A weight which strikes a blow, in a ramming device such as a pile driver, steam hammer, or stamp mill.
Memory
Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory.
The memory of the just is blessed.
That ever-living man of memory, Henry the Fifth.
The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory.
Ram
(ambitransitive) To collide with (an object), usually with the intention of damaging it or disabling its function.
The man, driving an SUV, then rammed the gate, according to police.
[http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/12/29/snatch-thieves-rammed-by-victim-accidentally/ Two snatch thieves who snatched a woman's bag experienced swift karma when their victim accidentally rammed into their motorcycle.]
Memory
A memorial.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
Ram
(transitive) To strike (something) hard, especially with an implement.
To build a sturdy fence, you have to ram the posts deep into the ground.
Memory
Something that is remembered;
Search as he would, the memory was lost
Ram
(transitive) To seat a cartridge, projectile, or propellant charge in the breech of a firearm by pushing or striking.
After placing the cartridge in the musket, ram it down securely with the ramrod.
Memory
The cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered;
He can do it from memory
He enjoyed remembering his father
Ram
(transitive) To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
Rammed earth walls
Memory
The power of retaining and recalling past experience;
He had a good memory when he was younger
Ram
(slang) To thrust during sexual intercourse.
Memory
An electronic memory device;
A memory and the CPU form the central part of a computer to which peripherals are attached
Ram
(Northern England) rancid; offensive in smell or taste.
Memory
The area of cognitive psychology that studies memory processes;
He taught a graduate course on learning and memory
Ram
The male of the sheep and allied animals. In some parts of England a ram is called a tup.
Ram
Aries, the sign of the zodiac which the sun enters about the 21st of March.
Ram
An engine of war used for butting or battering.
Ram
A hydraulic ram. See under Hydraulic.
Ram
The weight which strikes the blow, in a pile driver, steam hammer, stamp mill, or the like.
Ram
The plunger of a hydraulic press.
Ram
To butt or strike against; to drive a ram against or through; to thrust or drive with violence; to force in; to drive together; to cram; as, to ram an enemy's vessel; to ram piles, cartridges, etc.
[They] rammed me in with foul shirts, and smocks, socks, foul stockings, greasy napkins.
Ram
To fill or compact by pounding or driving.
A ditch . . . was filled with some sound materials, and rammed to make the foundation solid.
Ram
The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on; an integrated circuit memory chip allows information to be stored or accessed in any order and all storage locations are equally accessible
Ram
(astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Aries
Ram
The first sign of the zodiac which the sun enters at the vernal equinox; the sun is in this sign from about March 21 to April 19
Ram
A tool for driving or forcing something by impact
Ram
Uncastrated adult male sheep;
A British term is `tup'
Ram
Strike or drive against with a heavy impact;
Ram the gate with a sledgehammer
Pound on the door
Ram
Force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically;
She rammed her mind into focus
He drives me mad
Ram
Undergo damage or destruction on impact;
The plane crashed into the ocean
The car crashed into the lamp post
Ram
Crowd or pack to capacity;
The theater was jampacked
Ram
Fastest type of storage in a computer.
Games load faster because they utilize a lot of RAM.
Ram
Usually comes in the form of chips.
The laptop has two RAM slots for expansion.
Common Curiosities
Can upgrading RAM improve system speed?
Yes, upgrading RAM can significantly improve system speed, especially in handling multiple applications.
What does memory refer to in computing?
In computing, memory refers to all components and media that are used for storing data, whether temporary or permanent.
What are the differences between RAM and a hard drive?
RAM is volatile and used for temporary data storage, while a hard drive is non-volatile and used for long-term storage.
How does RAM affect computer performance?
RAM affects how quickly a computer can process tasks by providing fast data access to the CPU.
What is the role of RAM in a smartphone?
In smartphones, RAM is crucial for allowing the smooth operation of apps and multitasking.
How can I check how much memory my computer has?
You can check your computer's memory by looking at the system settings under the "About" section.
What is RAM?
RAM is a type of volatile computer memory used for temporary data storage by a computer's processor.
What is non-volatile memory?
Non-volatile memory refers to storage that retains data even when the power is turned off.
Why is RAM more expensive per gigabyte than hard drives?
RAM is more expensive due to its higher speed and impact on overall system performance.
What type of memory is best for data storage?
For long-term data storage, non-volatile memory like SSDs or hard drives is preferred.
Does more RAM mean a faster computer?
More RAM can make a computer faster at processing multiple or resource-intensive tasks.
Is all computer memory volatile?
No, computer memory includes both volatile types like RAM and non-volatile types like SSDs and hard drives.
How much RAM do I need for gaming?
Gaming typically requires more RAM, with 8GB being a basic requirement and 16GB or more recommended for optimal performance.
What's the difference between RAM and ROM?
RAM is used for temporary data storage and is volatile, while ROM is permanent and used to store essential system information.
Can memory affect the lifespan of a computer?
Adequate memory can help maintain a computer’s performance over time, potentially extending its lifespan.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
