Memory vs Storage: What are They and How Do They Differ?

Two of the most confusing terms when it comes to computer lingo are ‘memory’ and ‘storage’. Often, people will use one of these terms, when they are referring to the other. The confusion is often understandable; both memory and storage are measured in bytes. This is because whilst both memory and storage are similar in that they are both places to hold your data, the two do very different things with it.

Random Access Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM) and the hard drive are the two computer components that are referred to by the terms memory or storage. The ‘memory’ in your computer is the RAM; a part of your computer which is only used once it is powered on. Your computer stores all of its processes in RAM. If you’re running a software program right now, it’s in RAM. If you’re reading this on a computer, this is also in RAM. In short, anything that’s currently going on with your computer whilst it’s on is stored in RAM. The more RAM that your computer has, the more it’ll be able to do at the same time. That’s why whilst some computers can run multiple things at the same time with little bother, whilst others crash at the mere idea of opening a second tab.

Hard Drive Disk

On the other hand, the term ‘storage’ refers to your computer’s hard drive disk. Unlike RAM, your hard drive stores the things that your computer isn’t ‘thinking about’ right now, such as your past documents, files and photos. Your hard drive is a permanent type of storage, and anything which is stored in there will be so until it is deleted. Hard drives can be unplugged or even removed from your computer and will still contain the exact same information that they did when they were in use. More hard drive storage will allow you to store more files and documents on your computer, however, this feature will rarely make any difference when it comes to computer performance.

Which to Upgrade?

If your computer has been running slowly lately and you’re wondering whether a memory or storage update will help to improve the situation, knowing which one to upgrade to is definitely important. If your computer is running out of space and you are unable to save any more files on it, this is the only time when you should think about upgrading the storage space. On the other hand, upgrading the RAM of your computer can significantly help to improve its performance by allowing it to run more programs at the same time without slowing down. You can purchase RAM memory for all types of computers and laptops.

Many people get confused with the terms memory and storage when it comes to their computer. But, whilst the two are similar, they also have a lot of differences in terms of how they affect your computer’s performance. Understanding what memory and storage are and how the two work is essential if you are hoping to update or improve your computer.