However, it is thousands of times faster than these devices. In other words, information can be stored and retrieved thousands of times faster in RAM than these other devices. Well, RAM has one weakness, an Achilles Heel if you will. You see, RAM is a bunch of computer chips located deep inside the boxy part of your computer. In order for chips to store information, they must have electricity.
RAM is useless for long term information storage.
RAM is critical to your system. Whenever you run a program, it is copied into RAM first, and then performs its function. The system does not freeze up or shut down. That way, if you need more RAM, the next program is copied FROM the hard drive BACK INTO this special area. Some of you may be wondering why I'm going into this lengthy explanation.