Shoutbox

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Originally posted by ZrednaZ
I'll just go ahead and have a shot at explaining what RAM is as well.

Ok, so imagine that you're writing an essay, but you have a limited volcabulary. So you get a dictionary (this being the computer harddrive) and start writing the essay using this. But you quickly realize that you keep looking up the same words again and again, so you devise a new solution: Writing down your commonly used words in a quickly-accessable notebook (this being the comptuer RAM).

But wait... suddenly your notebook starts to fill up, so you decide to put some sheets of paper from the notebook back into the dictionary (let's just say underneath the front cover). This was supposed to illustrate what the harddrive's page file does... It's simply a slow backup solution for the RAM. So if you're browsing the net in Internet Explorer and then open a game, the game will need so much RAM that Windows will have to free up some RAM by swapping Internet Explorer into the pagefile.

Comprendes?

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It's called SWAP. Nice explanation though

Since we're all giving explanations I'll try and explain it in a technical way people can understand..

(NOTE: Some things may not be exactly right, I'm trying to keep it extremely simple...)

Everything is text. From text files to Word documents to images to the MSN Messenger executable to what is sent down that modem. You can assume that text is letters of the alphabet, punctuation etc. There are also 31 characters which you cannot 'see' and have special meaning. There are 255 characters in all. I will refer to it as "binary text".

If you open an image file in notepad, you will see binary text.
If you watch what is being sent down your modem, you will see it is simply binary text. There is no magic when it comes to computers, everything can be understood.

Now. Your hard drive stores every file on your computer. And remember, it's simply binary. When you run a program (a .exe) Windows has to read the contents of the file (remember it's all readable bytes (byte = 1 character)) and execute it. Windows can execute the binary, this is how it runs applications.

Right now you're probably looking at this post through your browser. This text you're reading has to be stored somewhere. While it is being stored on your hard-drive for caching purposes, it's actually right this moment in RAM.

RAM can do the same as a hard-drive: store data (binary..). The difference is that it's very fast to access its data. Also, when you turn off your computer its contents are all deleted. When you close your browser, this text will be removed from RAM as it is unnecessary, you don't need to read this post anymore.

Hmm, well, I tried.. I hope it helps. Ask whatever questions (directed at the people who learnt something from this) if you want...

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Originally posted by PlusFan
It's called SWAP. Nice explanation though

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I believe the word 'swap' is already mentioned in there somewhere! (or 'swapping', but what the heck)...

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Originally posted by Segosa
The difference is that it's very fast to access its data. Also, when you turn off your computer its contents are all deleted.

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On a side note, there's actually supposably a new generation of RAM on its way (or so I read). One that doesn't forget its data upon power loss... like flash ram I guess, only seriously faster, thus meaning that you'll be able to have your computer up and running in a matter of seconds. I couldn't find any webpages to document this, though. Can't wait to see what the future will bring.

//////Zred

That's all I can think to explain for now, if you need any more definitions just post

Blah, you turn on your computer, windows starts up, you get the boot screen, it's loading all the necessary files and settings for windows to operate from the harddisc to the RAM. Finishes loading. You get in, you run some programs, the RAM fills up with those progs. You close them the ram gets emptied a little. You run more, the RAM is filled quite alot, your harddisc then takes some of your programs bits and pieces and stores them temporarely. You close those programs. You harddisc deletes the temporary files. Your RAM gets cleared a little. You then shutdown your computer. Your settings that were loaded are saved to the harddisc for use next time. Then the computer takes away all the necassary files for windows to run back out of the RAM, it's empty, your computer goes off/you turn it off when prompted.