DDR SDRAM, commonly known as DDR RAM or DDR RAM for short, is a type of computer memory that can be up to ten times faster than old-school SDRAM and it’s much more reliable. DDR RAM is used in all modern computers and you can’t compare it with any other type of computer memory we know of. It’s essentially SDRAM, but with a twist: instead of using the clock signal to move data only once, it does so twice as fast.
What is DDR RAM?
DDR stands for Double Data Rate, which means that the data is transferred on both edges (rising and falling) of the clock signal. The “double” refers to the fact that this data rate transfers twice as much information per clock cycle (i.e., two bits instead of one).
This doubled transfer rate results in higher bandwidth, hence double data rate name. Because DDR RAM can deliver twice as much data compared to other memory types, it’s commonly referred to as the first generation of DDR SDRAM.
Another characteristic that differentiates DDR RAM from other computer memories is its ability to transfer data on both edges (rise and fall) of the clock signal. The ‘double’ in this case refers to the fact that this doubles the amount of information per clock cycle (2 bits instead of 1).
This means that due to the doubled transfer rate, there is higher bandwidth which results in a double data rate name. Because DDR RAM can deliver twice as much data compared with other memory types, it’s often referred to as the first generation of Double Data Rate SDRAM.
SDRAM SDRAM vs SDRAM
Older computers used SDRAM. This type of memory worked well in the old days, but they are limited when handling graphics and multimedia functions. SDRAM is not that fast when it comes to random accesses which are becoming common in programs like Windows Vista.
SDRAM has only one channel for transferring data which limits its speed when compared with DDR RAM where you can have four or more independent channels for data transfer.
Another difference between the two types of computer memories is that DDR uses a single channel instead of SDRAM’s single plane architecture – meaning that each plane contains 16-bit rams or 8-bit rams.
If we take into account both factors (the number and width of the buses) then we’ll see that DDR’s capabilities will be doubled when compared with SDRAM due to the fact that it has two independent 32-bit buses or four independent 16 bit data paths.
SDRAM is limited when handling graphics and multimedia functions and doesn’t transfer data quickly enough to keep up with modern computer demands. It isn’t very fast when it comes to random accesses, which are common in programs like Windows Vista. This means that newer computers need a different type of memory – one that can handle all of these tasks without slowing down the entire system, such as DDR RAM.
