So you never thought you’d be getting in the details of acronyms or computer jargon that you couldn’t care less for, don’t be intimidated. Here’s an easy guide for you to enjoy and learn the basics of your PC and remove the “technologically challenged” sticker from your cubicle.

While your computer processes information, it requires data to work on. This data needs to be stored in the computer because the computers refers to its memory (data storage) when required. Some data might be required on a regular basis and some might be required for say a particular process only. Therefore depending on the type of data, the computer stores it in different types of memory – the long term or short term. Long term memory inside the computer is in the form of ROM (Read Only Memory – a storage through which data can only be accessed and cannot be edited or deleted; this type of memory is used for storing important system files that should never be altered) or in the for of CDs, DVDs etc. (as the data entered remains even when the computer is turned off.

Short term memory of a computer is like the assisting storage space where that computer can store data that needs to be processed, work on it and produce results. This is like the computers rough space. The data stored in the short term memory or
the Random Access Memory (RAM) vanishes when the computer is turned off.

Since every program work on uses RAM, the more the RAM the better the efficiency of your computer. More RAM assists in loading larger applications in the computer or working on more programs at a time. RAM capacity is measured in terms of MB (Megabytes), with a typical computer consisting of 64 MB or 128 MB. The RAM of your computer can be upgraded to 256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB, given your system can support it.

RAM – different types and some more jargon explained

Most computers are equipped with DRAM (Dynamic RAM). As soon as the power is turned off or the computer is shut down the data in the DRAM vanishes. Then there is the SRAM (static RAM), which is larger than DRAM and is not refreshed like DRAM. However, on power turn off even this memory is lost.

Since SRAMs and DRAMs are highly volatile, many new computers are equipped with a newer memory version, the flash memory. Flash memory is the memory chip that doubles up as the hard drive for your computer.

Random Access Memory – the road ahead

The big challenge for computer manufacturers and research scientists is to develop a non volatile RAM. There have been some developments like Nantero’s Nanotube with 10 GB memory but a more practical version for common PCs remains awaited.

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