ram

[newbee]

I know RAM stands for Random Access Memory but is RAM tangible. I mean is RAM actually chips on the motherboard that data flows through? Also, is ROM and BIOS the same thing or is the BIOS information that is stored on ROM? Is ROM chips on the motherboard? I am new at computers so forgive me for my questions

[Steve]

Hi Newbee,

Is RAM tangible? Ummm...yep. Check this out for a little background info. THIS (http://pcguide.com/ref/ram/index.htm)

HERE (http://www.crucial.com/index.asp) is some pretty good info on RAM. Check your computer manual and when you feel confident, unplug it, take off the cover and search out your RAM. Pull it out, look at it with your glasses on, (oh wait a minute, that's me) and put it back in. Comp. 101. Well worth the time.

"Also, is ROM and BIOS the same thing or is the BIOS information that is stored on ROM? Is ROM chips on the motherboard?" Ummm... yep. Check THIS (http://pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/func.htm) out for some background info. When you boot your computer, when the screen that shows the memory count (RAM) comes around, press the pause key. You'll find all sorts of good info including BIOS info. Take the info, plug it into Google (http://www.google.com/) and you'll get even more good info.

Hope this helps. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Peace and Love, brothers and sisters. Peace and Love

[newbee]

Thank you Steve, I appreciate your help

[rond36]

This is a picture of a BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) chip on a motherboard. Yours may look similar to this one.
http://www.neostore.com/store/products/bios-chip/neo_5v-t.jpg There are two types of memory on a BIOS chip the first of which is EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) commonly called flash ROM this is used to store the BIOS program that tells the hardware how to interact with the software this is the part that gets reprogrammed when you flash your BIOS. The second type is CMOS ROM (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Read Only Memory) This type of memory stores the user settings that can be set in BIOS setup. EEPROM doesn't need battery backup to retain data but CMOS does this is why when you remove the battery on your motherboard the BIOS user settings are erased but not the BIOS program and the default settings are entered into the BIOS settup

This is a picture of a 512MB PC 133 SDRAM DIMM. Yours may look similar or you may have more than one, maybe two or three Depending on how much RAM you have installed they come in various sizes from 32MB to 1024MB
http://image.fp.outpost.com/art/product/box_shots/3027269.box.GIF
For an explanation of SDRAM visit this link (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/ram/tech_SDRAM.htm)

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WindowsBBS.com (http://www.WindowsBBS.com/index.php?referrerid=115) Is back online, check it out

[newbee]

Originally posted by rond36:
This is a picture of a BIOS (Basic Input and Output System) chip on a motherboard. Yours may look similar to this one.
http://www.neostore.com/store/products/bios-chip/neo_5v-t.jpg There are two types of memory on a BIOS chip the first of which is EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) commonly called flash ROM this is used to store the BIOS program that tells the hardware how to interact with the software this is the part that gets reprogrammed when you flash your BIOS. The second type is CMOS ROM (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Read Only Memory) This type of memory stores the user settings that can be set in BIOS setup. EEPROM doesn't need battery backup to retain data but CMOS does this is why when you remove the battery on your motherboard the BIOS user settings are erased but not the BIOS program and the default settings are entered into the BIOS settup

This is a picture of a 512MB PC 133 SDRAM DIMM. Yours may look similar or you may have more than one, maybe two or three Depending on how much RAM you have installed they come in various sizes from 32MB to 1024MB
http://image.fp.outpost.com/art/product/box_shots/3027269.box.GIF
For an explanation of SDRAM visit this link (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/ram/tech_SDRAM.htm)




Thank you rond36, I appreciate the picture

[Beno]

Newbee,

For those sort of questions you are asking about compnents, you can always go to these website to get a good layman's term defn.
www.webopedia.com (http://www.webopedia.com) www.whatis.com (http://www.whatis.com) www.howstuffworks.com (http://www.howstuffworks.com) (very good!)

put these sites in your favourites list and refer to them when you have a problem.

Beno

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"Don't stop till you get enough"