Question

summary of the history of RAM memory?

Answer 1

RAM or Random Access Memory is the main memory or primary memory of the computer systems that store the information and data needed for the program execution.

Unlike storage devices, RAM needed to be faster with data rates since it needs to meet up the speed of the processor.also they are volatile in nature hence need a power supply to keep the information without losing it.

Before 1947, before the introduction of the first practical model of RAM, Delay line memories were used to meet up the main memory functions of the computers, but the major drawback was that they were able to output the data only in the same order as they are written to it.

In 1947, The practical form of computer memory with the technology called Williams tube ( Also known as Williams Kilburn tube) was introduced. it makes use of a cathode ray tube that was able to create charged spots on the screen attached to it and read that using a thin metal sheet along with it. (First Generation Computers)

Also in 1947, the another commonly used form of RAM was introduced with magnetic core technology. It comes with metal rings and wire assembly where a bit of data was able to store in each of the rings. (Second Generation Computers)

In the 1960s after the introduction of Integrated circuits where a number of transistors were replaced by single IC the first solid-state memory devices called DRAM or Dynamic RAM (Invented by Robert Dennard ) started to use as the main memory of the computers. (Third Generation computes)

in the 1970s Intel company released the DRAM chip for the first time in the name of 1103 with 1KB DRAM and IC manufacturer Mostek was able to come up with 64KB DRAM.

In the 1980s and 1990s, every advancement in IC technology also reflected in computer technology. as the processors were able to much faster and faster hence need for a faster and larger primary memory lead to the invention of high-speed RAMs called SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) that uses an externally supplied clock signal to refresh the data and sized up to 512 MB

In the 2000s and thereafter the Double data rate SDRAM or DDR SDRAM has started to use in computer systems with a higher clock rate for faster data access and higher storage capacity

2000: DDR 256 MB to 2GB

2003: DDR2 512 MB to 2 GB

2007: DDR3 2GB to 8 GB

2014: DDR4 4GB to 16GB

2019(estimated): DDR5