Computerhilfen.com: Memory Types

SIMM (single in-line memory module): A SIMM (single in-line memory module) is a module containing one or several random access memory (RAM) (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) chips on a small circuit board with PINs that connect to the computer (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) motherboard. (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-m-Motherboard.html) Since the more RAM (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) your computer (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) has, the less frequently it will need to access your secondary storage (for example, hard disk or CD-ROM); PC owners  sometimes expand RAM (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) by installing additional SIMMs. SIMMs typically come with a 32 data bit (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-b-BIT.html) (36 bits counting parity bits) path to the computer (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) that requires a 72-pin connector. SIMMs usually come in memory chip multiples of four megabytes.

The memory chips on a SIMM are typically dynamic RAM (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) (DRAM) chips. An improved form of RAM (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) called Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) can also be used. Since SDRAM provides a 64 data bit (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-b-BIT.html) path, it requires at least two SIMMs or a dual in-line memory module (DIMM).

DIMM (dual in-line memory module): A DIMM (dual in-line memory module) is a double SIMM (single in-line memory module). Like a SIMM, it's a module containing one or several random access memory (RAM) (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect it to the computer (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) motherboard. (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-m-Motherboard.html) A SIMM typically has a 32 data bit (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-b-BIT.html) (36 bits counting parity bits) path to the computer (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) that requires a 72-pin connector. For synchronous dynamic RAM (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-r-RAM.html) (SDRAM) chips, which have a 64 data bit (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-b-BIT.html) connection to the computer, (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-c-Computer.html) SIMMs must be installed in in-line pairs (since each supports a 32 bit (http://www.computerhilfen.com/explanation-b-BIT.html) path). A single DIMM can be used instead. A DIMM has a 168-pin connector and supports 64-bit data transfer. It is considered likely that future computers will standardize on the DIMM.