Notes on the physical RAM

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Physically, RAM consists of small electronic chips which are mounted in modules (small printed circuit boards). The modules are installed in the PC’s motherboard using sockets — there are typically 2, 3 or 4 of these. On this motherboard there are only two, and that’s a bit on the low side of what is reasonable.

Figure 128. RAM modules are installed in sockets on the motherboard. In the background you see the huge fan on a Pentium 4 processor.