SDRAM, or Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory, is a type of RAM in which memory is synchronized with the computer’s internal system bus via the use of a clock system. While SDRAM requires that data must wait for a predetermined number of clock signals before it is sent to the memory array, new data can be interpreted during this time and all data is sent as one packet, allowing for higher data speeds. This process is the foundation of pipelining and has revolutionized file access speeds in both personal and commercial computers worldwide.

 

How SDRAM Works

SDRAM relies on clock cycling and pipelining to synchronize data from a computer’s system bus with its storage device. In regular DRAM, information from the system bus is automatically sent to the storage device and must be processed before the next set of information is received. In SDRAM, information from the system bus is stored until the clock cycles a predetermined number of times as new sets of information are received and are then sent to the computer’s storage device simultaneously.

SDRAM

 

Applications

SDRAM can be found in most modern computers because it provides much higher memory access speeds than regular DRAM. Because of this, SDRAM systems are often implemented by commercial users who have large amounts of data to be processed on a regular basis. However, SDRAM can also be used by personal users in order to increase the speed and performance of their home computers.

 

Advantages

SDRAM is advantageous because it provides fast access to data and ensures that new operations can be completed if older operations are still being processed. By holding data for a predetermined number of clock cycles, SDRAM ensures that all data is sent and processed together. Despite its increased speeds, SDRAM models are cheaper than regular DRAM models due to their small size and inexpensive material.