Intel® Core™ Processors
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Help Me Choose - Memory

Random access memory (RAM) is the workhorse behind the performance of your system. RAM temporarily stores information from your operating system, applications and data in current use. This gives your processor easy access to the critical information that make your programs run.

The amount of RAM you have and the memory architecture of your system helps determine how many programs can be executed at one time, how much data can be readily available to a program and helps determine how quickly your applications perform and how many applications you can easily toggle between at one time.

  1. What is RAM?

    Your computer memory is otherwise known as RAM, which stands for random access memory.

    • Temporarily stores the flow of data.
    • Remembers frequently used programs, applications, and documents.

  2. What is DRAM?

    Dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is a type of memory that is typically used for data or program code.

    • Requires continual power to maintain data. Common type of access memory for personal computers (PCs), workstations, and servers.

  3. Benefits

    All else being equal, a system with more memory can:

    • Deliver faster performance on web sites, applications, etc.
    • Handle more open files simultaneously
    • Open larger files quicker
    • Work with more open applications simultaneously
    • Play games

Primary usage along with the memory

Before you decide how much memory to add to your new computer, first consider how you plan to use your computer. If you’ll primarily be sending email and browsing the internet, then a basic memory configuration will work. But if you’ll be playing games, working with multimedia or performing other intensive tasks, you should consider adding more memory.
Memory Size Performance Level
8GB or 4GB + 16GB Intel® Optane™ Acceptable performance with office productivity applications & basic apps - ( Reading websites, searching the internet, sending email, social networking, streaming music or videos from the internet, playing simple PC games, viewing photos, using CDs or DVDs, word processing, building spreadsheets and other office tasks.)
12GB or 8GB + 16GB Intel® Optane™ Working with large databases, complex photo editing and high-definition (HD) video editing can be supported.
16GB or 8GB + 32GB Intel® Optane™ Adequate performance with large files and mainstream apps, Working with large databases, complex photo editing and high‐definition (HD) video editing can be supported. Good for high end PC gaming and graphics design.
32GB or 16GB + 32GB Intel® Optane™ Good performance for multi-tasking with relatively large files & demanding apps.
64GB or 16GB + 32GB Intel® Optane™ Great performance for large files & multitasking with high-end CAD, animation, analysis software and other demanding apps.

FAQ

A DIMM — or dual in-line memory module — is a series of random access memory chips mounted on a small circuit board. DIMMs are installed in sockets on your computer's motherboard.
DDR5 SDRAM stands for “double data rate type four synchronous dynamic random access memory.” Using DDR5 SDRAM helps you switch between applications, open documents and complete daily tasks faster.
A powerful processor only allows applications to run as fast as the computer’s memory capacity allows. If memory can’t keep up with the processor, then the processor ends up with nothing to process. With multichannel memory, each available memory channel duplicates the overall amount of available memory bandwidth. This allows the memory load to be evenly distributed between available channels, which in turn means higher processing speed. Triple-channel memory is the latest advance in multichannel memory, and as the graphics and processing demands of games and business applications continue to increase, triple-channel memory will be a vital component in a top-notch computing experience.
The speed of the memory you purchase or add to your computer is measured in megahertz. Most computers have either 2400 MHz to 2933 MHz memory capacity, which is very efficient in handling modern computer applications. By upgrading your memory speed, you will also be preparing your computer to handle future memory-intensive applications.
Intel® memory is a system acceleration solution for the 7th Gen and 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor platforms. This solution comes in a module format and by placing this new memory media between the processor and a slower SATA-based storage devices ( HDD, SSH or SATA SSD), you are able to store commonly used data and programs closer to the processor, allowing the systems to access this information more quickly and improves overall systems performance.
Intel® memory is a unique technology that bridges a gap between ‘memory’ and ‘storage’. Like RAM it sits within the PC memory hierarchy. By placing commonly used data and programs closer to the processor, Intel® memory allows the systems to access this information more quickly and improve overall system responsiveness. Intel®  memory cannot replace DRAM entirely. However, these two memory technologies complement each other within the system. The Intel® memory module can be added to DRAM to increase systems performance.
Yes! Intel® memory can be used to accelerate and type of SATA-based storage media, including SATA SSDs. However, the performance benefit of adding Intel® memory will be greater on slower storage devices like an HDD.
You have choices based upon your requirements. Typically, if you need high capacity storage, you will choose an HDD. SSDs are often lower in capacity and tend to be more expensive. Paired with a HDD, Intel® memory delivers increased responsiveness of an SSD with the high capacity of an HDD.
The main difference between 32GB and 16GB is the number of applications that can be accelerated. The 32GB module is ideal for power users who often use a variety of intensive applications, such as prosumers and gamers. It is also recommended if you play more than one game at a time.
The second time an application or file is used, it is accelerated and you will experience a huge benefit. On the third launch is when the full effect of Intel® memory kicks in. Note: Intel® memory prioritizes frequently used applications and files thus, infrequently used files and applications will fall out of cache.
There is no clear cut answer as to the number. This is highly dependent on the size of the game and architecture of the software you are using, as well as other software being used and the configuration of your platform.
Game play will not be that different between an SSD and an HDD based systems since the games are loaded into DRAM during play.
Intel® Core™ Processors
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