RAM vs ROM vs EPROM
In: Technology
RAM is a kind of memory that a computer can “read” and “write”. That means it can store data on it, then retrieve that data later. Usually RAM is considered very fast, and it is often “volatile”, meaning if it loses power the data goes away. That means it’s just temporary storage.
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. The computer can’t write to it. The data inside of it is part of the circuitry and can’t be changed. It’s also pretty fast like RAM, but since it can’t be changed it’s only useful for things that won’t ever change. Cartridges for game consoles usually put the game code on a ROM chip, which is why emulator files for them are called “ROMs”.
EEPROM stands for something I’m too lazy to go look up. The ROM is still Read Only Memory, but it’s a bit of a lie. If you put an EEPROM in a machine called a “programmer”, it can write new data to the EEPROM. However, in the computer where the EEPROM is meant to be used, there is usually no capability to write it. So it’s still read-only inside the computer, even though with some work you could reprogram it to have new data. (I think the reason it usually can’t be reprogrammed by the computer is it takes a higher voltage to write to it than the voltages computers tend to use?)
EEPROMS are most often used in hardware labs where people are planning on using a ROM chip in the future but are still working on the program for that chip. Development cartridges for game consoles often used to have EEPROM chips on them so the developers could update the game code as they wrote it.
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