Memory capacity
The total volume of all modules of the RAM kit.
Knowing this parameter and the number of planks in the set, you can estimate the volume of one plank. This information can be useful for assessing compatibility with a specific PC: any motherboard has a limit on the maximum volume of each individual bar.
Now on the market there are kits with such a volume of memory:
4 GB,
8 GB,
16 GB,
24 GB,
32 GB,
64 GB and even
128 GB. The combination of several sticks allows you to sell sets of
8 GB (2 sticks of 4 GB),
16 GB (2 sticks of 8 GB),
16 GB (4 sticks of 4 GB),
32 GB (2 sticks of 16 GB),
32 GB (4 8 GB sticks),
48 GB (2 24 GB sticks). 64 GB kits are represented by the following sets:
64 GB (2 sticks of 32 GB),
64 GB (4 sticks of 16 GB) and
64 GB (8 sticks of 8 GB). 128 GB RAM mainly consists of
4 sticks of 32 GB or
8 sticks of 16 GB. And
256 GB and
96 GB (2 sticks of 48 GB each) are not so popular
Memory modules
The number of individual modules included in RAM kit. One module occupies one slot on the motherboard, so to install the entire kit, the number of free slots must be equal to or greater than the number of modules.
If there is an even number of modules in the set, they can be paired. This mode significantly increases the speed, but is not supported by all models of motherboards, so in each case this point should be clarified separately.
Now on the market? there are modules supplied in such quantity:
one modules,
set of 2 modules,
set of 4 modules,
set of 8 modules.
Memory rank
The number of ranks provided in the memory bar.
The rank in this case is called one logical module — a chipset with a total capacity of 64 bits. If there is more than one rank, this means that several logical ones are implemented on one physical module, and they use the data transmission channel alternately. A similar design is used in order to achieve large amounts of RAM with a limited number of slots for individual brackets. At the same time, it should be said that for consumer computers, you can not pay much attention to the memory rank — more precisely, peer-to-peer modules are quite enough for them. But for servers and powerful workstations, two-, four- and even eight-rank solutions are produced.
Note that other things being equal, a larger number of ranks allows achieving larger volumes, however, it requires more computing power and increases the load on the system.
Clock speed
The amount of information that a memory module can receive or transmit in one second. The speed of the memory and, accordingly, the price of it directly depend on the bandwidth. At the same time, this is a rather specific parameter, which is relevant mainly for high-performance systems — gaming and workstations, servers, etc. If the RAM module is bought for a regular home or office system, you can not pay much attention to bandwidth.
Cooling
Type
of cooling provided in the design of RAM.
—
No refrigeration. The lack of special cooling is typical for memory modules with low and medium power — they do not emit so much heat that it needs to be specially removed.
— Radiator. A device in the form of a metal structure with a characteristic ribbed surface — this form increases the area of \u200b\u200bcontact with air, which, in turn, improves heat transfer. The simplest type of cooling system is inferior in efficiency to a radiator with a cooler and even more so to a water circuit (see below), but it does not create noise, does not consume excess energy and does not require additional power or tubes. And the mentioned efficiency is enough even for quite powerful RAM modules.
— Radiator with cooler. Radiator
cooling(see above), supplemented by a block with a fan (fans) for forced air circulation. This add-on significantly increases the efficiency of the heatsink; it can be used even in fairly powerful RAM sets. On the other hand, the fan creates noise during operation and significantly increases power consumption.
— Water cooling. Cooling in the form of a liquid heat exchanger connected to the water cooling circuit of the computer system. A distinctive external feature of such cooling are two characteristic pipes. Water systems are very efficient and suitable even for the mo
...st powerful and “hot” sticks, but they are difficult to connect and require expensive external equipment, and therefore they are mainly used among top RAM models, in which such cooling is in principle indispensable. Note that some of these models allow operation “dry”, without water, but this is not recommended — failures may occur at high loads.
— Liquid-air. In accordance with the name, this option involves the use of two types of cooling at once — air (radiator) and water. See above for both, but it is worth noting that in this case water cooling can be provided in a somewhat “truncated” form — not in the form of pipes for connecting to a common cooling circuit, but in the form of a sealed capsule with a heat-conducting liquid. In terms of efficiency, such systems, of course, noticeably lose to classical liquid ones — but they do not require complex connections; and the capsule somehow improves the efficiency of the radiator, and it looks unusual.