what exactly does ram do?

Answer 1

Random Access Memory (RAM) is the temporary memory your computer uses to store files that are currently in use. The more RAM you have, the better. For example it will always be better for multitasking/running many programmes at once.

Hope this will help,
Eric C

Answer 2

Computers have a big problem (and have done for a long while). The problem is this - the processor runs really fast, but permanent storage runs really slowly. Ideally what you would like to do is be able to do is read instructions and data from permanent storage as fast as the processor can handle it. The difference in speed between the two makes that virtually unworkable. Ram acts as a slightly faster form of storage that holds instructions and data between the permanent storage and the processor.

In fact the full picture is even worse than that as there are several different types of ram that work between the hard disk and the processor. They would be:
Processor registers (work at processor speed, no issues)
L1 Cache (typically processor speed, no issues)
L2 Cache (1/2 processor speed, some issues)
Main memory (the RAM modules) (1/5 processor speed some issues)
Disk cache (memory in the hard drive) (varies by drive, lots of issues)
Disk (1/1000 to 1/10000 processor speed depending).
Be warned the numbers above involve a lot of hand waving and hidden assumptions. Real world systems will vary.

So ram acts as a temporary storage area for programs and data to compensate for the fact that hard disks are very, very slow compared to what the processor is capable of.

Answer 3

ram stores data and holds it before the cpu can access it. think of it as a staging area for the cpu. your ram and cpu communicate and the cpu tells the ram what data it needs.
It's also temporary storage. permanent storage is handled by the hard drive. the ram works with the hard drive to que up data that the cpu will need in the near future. the more ram you have the more things you can hold in temporary storage the faster your computer will run, up to a point. there are limitations in ram speed and how much ram an OS can use, for example windows XP 32bit can only see and use 3.5GB of ram, so there is no need to have 8GB.

Answer 4

RAM = Random Access Memory. This type of memory is "short term" meaning when you turn the power off everything in it is gone. This type of memory is incredibly fast when it comes to moving data around. When you load a program from your hard drive or CD it "executes" in RAM. When you close the program the RAM is typically free'd up to be used again. This is often confused with the type of memory that your Hard drive servers as, which is long term memory. When you power off your computer the data on a hard drive remains. Compared to RAM the data manipulation speed of a hard drive is a very small fraction of its speed.

Answer 5

ram is like this computer memory that can be accessed easily. you don't even have to work with the bytes. it stores important stuff into your computer and you can usually find them in a form of a chip. ram means random access memory. i dont know why its called 'random,' but i THINK its because it can take any random file directly from a chip/cell and you can access it at any time. if you need an example, let's say you had a different type of microsoft word...RAM would process and run the program for you and store it somewhere safe for the next time you'll want to use it. this means it can take any type of hard drive and use this 'program' of yours as storage.

Answer 6

RAM is the ''bottleneck'' between your computer activities and your actual computer capabilities. It separates what you want to do (on your computer) from what your computer is able to do.
For instance you want to download a huge program.
You know your 'puter has 80 million gigs, more than enough memory.
so you attempt to download and it takes 12 hours (or it fails all together).
The culprit was RAM.

Say you're playing a game.
The game keeps failing (freezing, blanking etc.).
Same as above.
The info you ''wanted'' couldn't get to where it belonged (memory) quick enough.
The lack of adequate RAM foiled your attempts.

Answer 7

It acts as fast temporary storage for your system as it executes calculations. Usually for data storage between CPU, and permanent storage like your HDD drive. Most Operating systems will load component drivers into RAM as well.

Answer 8

Random
Access
Memory

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAM.html

any clearer??