A+ Mike Meyers CH4

What is DRAM and how does it function?

DRAM (Dynamic Random-Access Memory) is a type of memory where each cell holds a one or zero, functioning like a spreadsheet with finite rows and columns.

How is a DRAM chip described in terms of its structure?

A DRAM chip can be described by the number of rows and columns it contains, such as a 1M×8 chip which has 1,048,576 rows and 8 columns.

What is needed to fill a 64-bit data bus using DRAM chips?

To fill a 64-bit data bus, you would need eight 1M×8 DRAM chips since each chip provides only 8 bits of data.

What are the characteristics of SDRAM?

Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM) is tied to the system clock, allowing for efficient data requests between the CPU, memory controller, and RAM.

What is the common pin size for SDRAM DIMMs in desktop systems?

The most common pin size for SDRAM DIMMs in desktop systems is 168 pins.

What does the speed of RAM refer to, and how is it measured?

The speed of RAM is measured in MHz (DDR speed rating) or MBps (PC-speed rating) and must match or exceed that of the system.

What is the advantage of Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR RAM) over regular SDRAM?

DDR RAM is faster than regular SDRAM because it doubles the throughput.

What are the pin configurations for DDR DIMMs in desktop and laptop systems?

Desktop PCs use 184-pin DDR DIMMs, while laptops use either 200-pin SO-DIMMs or 172-pin micro-DIMMs.

What is dual-channel DDR and what does it require?

Dual-channel DDR improves performance by using DIMMs in pairs, requiring motherboard and memory controller support, and identical DDR DIMMs.

What are the benefits of DDR3 compared to earlier RAM types?

DDR3 offers higher speeds, more efficient architecture, and around 30% lower power consumption.

How does DDR4 improve upon DDR3?

DDR4 raises performance and capacity, offers lower power consumption, and uses a 288-pin DIMM incompatible with previous RAM slots.

What advancements does DDR5 bring over DDR4?

DDR5 increases performance, capacity, and power efficiency, with maximum DIMM capacity quadrupled and potential bandwidth doubled.

What is the difference between single-sided and double-sided RAM modules?

Single-sided RAM modules have chips on one side, while double-sided modules have chips on both sides.

What does latency refer to in RAM, and why is it important?

Latency is the time lag between a memory request and the data being sent

lower latency means faster RAM performance.

What is Error Correction Code (ECC) RAM?

ECC RAM can fix single-bit errors on-the-fly but is slower than non-ECC RAM due to the overhead of the correcting code.

What is registered (buffered) RAM and where is it typically used?

Registered RAM has an additional register to buffer between the DIMM and memory controller, found in high-end systems.

What is virtual memory and how does it relate to system RAM?

Virtual memory is a portion of the hard drive used as an extension of system RAM, set aside as a page file or swap file.

What is disk thrashing and what causes it?

Disk thrashing is excessive hard drive activity due to insufficient RAM, causing the system to frequently swap data between RAM and the page file.

What is the minimum RAM requirement for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows?

Windows 32-bit versions require a minimum of 1 GB, while 64-bit versions require at least 2 GB

Windows 11 requires a minimum of 4 GB.

Why is it recommended to match RAM modules in a system?

Matching RAM modules in technology, capacity, speed, and manufacturer reduces the chance of problems and incompatibility.

What information does the Serial Presence Detect (SPD) chip provide?

The SPD chip supplies information about the RAM, including size, speed, ECC or non-ECC status, and whether it is registered or unregistered.

What steps should be taken to install SO-DIMMs in a laptop?

To install SO-DIMMs, remove the laptop's panel or keyboard, slide the SO-DIMM into the slot, and ensure the laptop is unplugged and battery removed.

What are common symptoms of bad RAM?

Symptoms include system lockups, page faults, and error screens

consistent faults at the same hexadecimal value indicate bad RAM.

What is a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) and what does it indicate?

An NMI results in a crash screen like the Blue Screen of Death and is often caused by buggy application code rather than bad RAM.

How can you test for bad RAM without hardware testing devices?

You can swap a suspected bad RAM stick with a known-good stick to see if the system operates correctly.

Which of the following is a valid package size for DDR5 SO-DIMMs? A. 204-pin B. 240-pin C. 262-pin D. 288-pin

D: 288

If the LED for your hard drive stays on most of the time, your computer is suffering from _, a sure sign you need to add more memory.

disk thrashing

A special kind of memory module for laptops is called a(n) _.

SO-DIMM

Memory that makes two data accesses during each clock tick is called _.

DDR SDRAM

A(n) _ is an interruption the CPU cannot ignore.

NMI

Unlike regular DRAM, _ enables error checking and correcting.

ECC RAM

The time lag between when the memory controller starts to fetch a line of data from RAM and when the RAM actually starts to deliver the data is known as _.

latency

Systems automatically detect new RAM by polling the module's _ chip.

SPD

_ uses a portion of the HDD or SSD as an extension of your physical RAM.

virtual memory

Memory chips are soldered to a small circuit board called a(n) or a(n) .

stick, module

How might an NMI manifest on a Windows system?A. Blue Screen of DeathB. Spinning Pinwheel of DeathC. Interrupt of DeathD. NMIs only happen on macOS systems.

A. Blue Screen of Death

Silas has an AMD-based motherboard with two sticks of DDR3 RAM installed in two of the three RAM slots, for a total of 8 GB of system memory. When he runs CPU-Z to test the system, he notices that the software claims he's running single-channel memory architecture. What could be the problem? (Select the best answer.)

A. His motherboard only supports single-channel memory architecture.B. His motherboard only supports dual-channel memory architecture with DDR2 RAM, not DDR3.C. He needs to install a third RAM stick to enable dual-channel memory architecture.D. He needs to move one of the installed sticks to a different slot to activate dual-channel memory architecture.

A. His motherboard only supports single-channel memory architecture.

If you upgrade your memory but notice that Windows Settings does not reflect the additional memory, what should you do?A. Remove the RAM and try to reinstall it.B. Restart the computer.C. Return the memory because it's probably bad.D. Go to Setup and configure the memory to reflect the new amount.

A. Remove the RAM and try to reinstall it.

What does a non-maskable interrupt cause the CPU to produce?A. The blue screen of deathB. A parity errorC. Excessive heatD. An incorrect memory count

A. The blue screen of death

What does the CPU use to access the system's RAM?A. The system busB. ReadyBoostC. The address busD. The expansion bus

C. The address bus

What is the best way to determine the total capacity and specific type of RAM your system can handle?A. Check the motherboard book.B. Open the case and inspect the RAM slots.C. Check the Device Manager.D. Check the System utility in the Control Panel.

A. Check the motherboard book.

Which of the following PC speed ratings matches up with DDR5-5200 RAM?A. PC5-38400B. PC5-57600C. PC5-51200D. PC5-41600

D. PC5-41600

Which of the following is a valid package size for DDR5 SO-DIMMs?A. 204-pinB. 240-pinC. 262-pinD. 288-pin

D. 288-pin

What package does DDR3 SDRAM use for desktop PCs?A. 30-pinB. 168-pinC. 172-pinD. 240-pin

D. 240-pin

Which of the following is a valid package size for DDR4 DIMMs?A. 172-pinB. 184-pinC. 240-pinD. 288-pin

D. 288-pin

What happens if you mix RAM sticks of different speeds?A. Your computer will work fine as long as it uses dual-channel architecture.B. Your computer may slow down.C. Your computer will work fine if all the memory modules are slower than the speed of the motherboard.D. Your computer may lock up every few seconds or provide corrupted data.

D. Your computer may lock up every few seconds or provide corrupted data.

Why is SDRAM faster than regular DRAM?A. It makes two processes per clock cycle.B. It runs synchronously with the system clock.C. It uses dual-channel architecture.D. It has fewer pins, resulting in fewer corrupt bits.

B. It runs synchronously with the system clock.

What is true about double-sided DIMM?A. It has memory chips on the front and back.B. It can be installed forward or backward.C. It is twice as fast as a single-sided DIMM.D. It has half the capacity of a quad-sided DIMM.

A. It has memory chips on the front and back.

What is the minimum requirement for RAM for 64-bit Windows 10?A. 512 MBB. 1 GBC. 2 GBD. 4 GB

C. 2 GB

What happens if you add two RAM sticks to your PC and one has a bad SPD?A. When your system boots, it will recognize both RAM sticks but will not register any special features (such as ECC) of the stick with the bad SPD.B. When your system boots, it will only register the presence of the RAM stick with the good SPD.C. When your system boots, it won't register the presence of the RAM stick with the bad SPD until you configure the RAM settings by using the Setup utility.D. When you try to boot the system, you will get a POST error message and the system will not boot.

D. When you try to boot the system, you will get a POST error message and the system will not boot.