All Categories
History
This section provides an overview for ram as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 17 ram manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ram companies as of December, 2024: 1.Silent Power Electronics GmbH, 2.SK HYNIX INC., 3.Microchip Technology Inc..
Table of Contents
RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of semiconductor memory that can read and write.
There are two main types of RAM: SRAM (static RAM) and DRAM (dynamic RAM).
SRAM stores data based on the logic value of a flip-flop circuit, while DRAM stores data based on the presence or absence of charge in a capacitor. However, both are volatile memories whose stored contents disappear when the power is turned off.
Recently, with the development of mobile devices and the IoT, the demand for non-volatile RAM is also increasing. Nonvolatile RAM such as ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), phase change memory, and resistive RAM are expected to become the next generation RAMs.
ROM (Read Only Memory), which is often confused with RAM, refers to read-only memory.
RAM is used in a wide variety of digital devices such as PCs, smartphones, digital cameras, and game consoles, and is an essential component that allows the CPU (central processing unit) to process programs and data in a fast and efficient manner.
RAM is used for a wide variety of purposes. The most common use is to run the operating system (OS) and application programs. It loads programs and data, allowing the CPU to quickly access the information it needs.
The larger the size of RAM, the more it can run multiple programs simultaneously and handle large amounts of data. It is also used as cache memory in servers to provide fast and efficient data access.
RAM is also used for graphics and video processing. Graphics cards are equipped with RAM to enable fast image processing and video playback.
RAM is also an essential component of gaming. Games are rendered by fast processing power and faster processing of graphics cards; the larger the RAM, the more precise and complex graphics processing can be performed.
Recently, the demand for RAM has increased rapidly, especially in the areas of gaming and virtual reality (VR). These applications require fast, high-capacity RAM.
It is expected that higher performance RAM will continue to be developed in the future, increasing computer processing speed and graphics expressiveness.
SRAM generally uses a flip-flop circuit calibrated with six transistors as the basic memory cell, and one bit of data is recorded in each flip-flop circuit. When writing data, the flip-flop circuit is enabled by setting the word line potential High, and the data (H or L) from the bit line is given to the circuit. When the word line is set Low, the written data is stored and can be retained as long as the supply voltage is applied.
When reading data, after the bit lines and inverted bit lines are precharged, the word line is set High to enable the flip-flop circuit, and the potential corresponding to the stored data is transmitted to the bit lines and inverted bit lines. A sense amplifier installed at the end of the bit line and inverted bit line monitors the potential difference and outputs the determined data.
A DRAM generally consists of one transistor and one capacitor as the basic memory cell, and one bit of data is recorded in each capacitor.
When data is written, the capacitor is charged when the word line potential is High and the transistor is turned ON and the bit line is High. The DRAM data is determined as 1 when the capacitor is charged and 0 when there is no charge.
After a write operation, when the word line is low, the transistor is turned off and the charge in the capacitor is retained.
When reading data, the word line is set High and the transistor is turned ON. The potential of the bit line changes according to the presence or absence of charge in the capacitor, and the sense amplifier installed at the end of the bit line senses the minute potential difference and reads the data.
DRAM is characterized by the fact that the charge stored in the capacitor leaks and decreases with the passage of time. Therefore, a refresh operation is required to read data and rewrite it at regular intervals.
SRAM (Static RAM) and DRAM (Dynamic RAM) are semiconductor memory technologies used to temporarily hold data. Since these technologies have different characteristics, it is important to make the appropriate choice depending on the application and requirements.
Choose SRAM or DRAM based on the following aspects:
SRAM is faster than DRAM; it is used in applications where high speed is important, such as CPU cache. DRAM, on the other hand, is relatively slow, but is suitable for general main memory applications.
SRAM consumes less power than DRAM. SRAM is suitable for applications where low power consumption is important (e.g., embedded systems and IoT devices).
DRAM offers higher capacity and lower cost than SRAM. Choose DRAM when you need to handle large amounts of data (e.g., PCs and servers).
SRAM can retain data as long as the power is on, but DRAM needs to be refreshed at regular intervals. If data retention stability is important, SRAM is suitable.
SRAM is more reliable than DRAM and is more resistant to environmental conditions and manufacturing process variations. SRAM is suitable for applications where reliability is critical (e.g., military, space, and industrial applications).
DRAM is more common than SRAM and costs less due to its higher production volume. Choose DRAM when budgets are constrained or when large amounts of memory are needed.
SRAM is often chosen for applications where high speed, low power consumption, data retention stability, and reliability are important. DRAM, on the other hand, is suitable when large-capacity and inexpensive memory is required.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Microchip Technology Incorporated was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona. The company is a developer and manufacturer of control solutions for global markets including the automotive, industrial, communications, human-machine interface, and connectivity industries. The company’s products include microcontrollers, field-programmable gate array products, MOSFET and radio frequency products, and both wired and wireless communications products. The company’s services include wafer foundry and assembly services, test subcontracting manufacturing services, development tools for enabling system designers to program microcontrollers and processors, and timing system products.
Incorporated in 1965, Analog Devices, Inc. designs, manufactures, tests, and markets integrated circuits (ICs), software, and subsystems that leverage analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. The company provides data converter products, power management and reference products for power conversion, driver monitoring, sequencing, and energy management applications in the automotive, communications, industrial, and high-end consumer markets. In addition, the company provides digital signal processing and system products for high-speed numeric calculations. It serves clients in the industrial, automotive, consumer, instrumentation, aerospace, and communications markets.
Kingston was established in 1987 as a manufacturer of memory and storage solutions having its headquarters in California. The company produces RAM memory for Desktop PC, laptops, or servers and Solid State Drives (SSDs) for the same along with USB flash drives that provide mobile storage and are available in encrypted and standard security formats. There are also SD and microSD flash memory cards and Readers embedded NAND and DRAM solutions and components for industrial-level electronic manufacturing and they also provide storage solutions to Data centers, cloud services, edge computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Everspin Technologies Inc., established in 2008 and based in Chandler, Arizona, is a manufacturer and supplier of Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) and Spin-transfer Torque MRAM (STT-MRAM). The company’s product portfolio includes toggle MRAM technologies, serial peripheral interfaces, and parallel interface MRAM. These products find applications in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and factory automation. The company is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, with manufacturing sites in China and Taiwan. It also has global sales offices in Israel, Japan, and Canada.
Founded in San Clemente, California in 1997, NetSource Technology, Inc. is an independent stocking distributor of electronic components and global procurement services, providing comprehensive supply chain solutions to OEMs and contract manufacturers worldwide. NetSource Technology serves the aerospace, automotive, IoT, medical, mobile device, and telecommunications industries and related companies. NetSource Technology specializes in locating hard-to-find, obsolete, end-of-life and highly allocated components with long lead times, supporting customers throughout the complete supply chain lifecycle.
Renesas Electronics Corporation was established in 2002 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas is a global research, design, and manufacturer of semiconductors used in industries spanning automotive, consumer electronics, the internet of things, power & energy, and industrial sectors. Renesas manufactures both analog and digital products. Analog products include amplifiers, audio & video devices, data converters, PLC, and switches & multiplexers. Digital products include microcontrollers, memory components, sensors, wireless connectivity products, and others. Renesas also offers design resources such as kits, development tools, partner programs, and design tools.
Winbond, established in September 1987 and headquartered in Taichung, Taiwan, is a manufacturer and distributor of DRAM and flash memory products. The company's product range includes mobile DRAM variants like low power DDR4/4X SDRAM, specialty DRAM such as DDR3 SDRAM, and code storage flash memory offerings like octalNAND flash and authentication flash. These products are used in devices requiring rapid memory access and data storage. It serves industries such as automotive, industrial, communication, computer, and consumer electronics. Furthermore, the company offers memory customization, technical support, and product longevity assurance.
Nanya Technology, founded in 1995 in Taiwan, China is a manufacturer of semiconductor memory and specializes in making Dynamic Random Access Memory. The company with advanced manufacturing techniques and unique DRAM solutions has streamlined the semiconductor market requirements. Infusing green technology and AI manufacturing technologies, they make standard DRAM, low power DRAM, KGD, MCP and modules that are used in sectors such as computing, mobile devices, networking, and consumer electronics. They are able to meet the evolving needs of the 5G era market and enhance productivity of various smart-connected devices and equipment.
Twilight Technology, Inc., established in 1996 and headquartered in Anaheim, USA, is a manufacturer of IC packaging and testing services. The company specializes in footprint conversions, RoHS compliance, and custom packaging and provides solutions for the military, aerospace, and commercial sectors. Its capabilities include nitrogen die banking and obsolescence management, ensuring continued support for components facing limited availability. The company also offers standard and custom replacements for obsolete semiconductors, utilizing original or compatible die to maintain form, fit, and function. It offers prototyping and manufacturing services and employs cutting-edge technology and CAD software in its products.
Infineon Technologies AG (Infineon) is headquartered in Neubiberg, Germany. Infineon designs, develops, manufactures, and markets semiconductors and related system solutions worldwide. Infineon’s automotive segment produces microcontrollers, discrete power semiconductors, IGBT modules, industrial microcontrollers, power and radar sensor ICs, SiC diodes, MOSFETs voltage regulators, comfort electronics, infotainment, powertrain, and security products. Industrial Power Control segment provides bare dies, discrete IGBTs, and driver ICs among other components. Power & Sensor Systems segment offers gas and pressure sensors, MEMS microphone chips, control ICs, and GaN power switches among others.
Micron is an American manufacturer of data storage and computer memory products that was established in 1978. Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, the company primarily produces NOR and NAND flash memory for data drives or embedded systems, dynamic random access memory (DRAM) for computers or servers, and ultra-bandwidth memory models for graphics rendering or artificial intelligence applications. Its products are used in data centers, cloud computing, smart devices, and infotainment systems. Micron has served several notable clients, including Dell Technologies Inc., the Panasonic Corporation, and Amazon Web Services Inc.
Samsung Semiconductor is a Korean manufacturer of memory chips originally founded in 1974 as Samsung Semiconductor & Telecommunications Co. before merging with parent company Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.'s semiconductor business unit in 1988. Based in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, the company produces various memory chips for use in computers and smart devices, including low-power double data rate (LPDDR), NAND flash, and DRAM chips. It also offers large-scale integration (LSI) products such as display drivers, processors, and image sensors for integrating components or functionalities into a single chip. Samsung Semiconductor operates globally, with facilities and sales offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.
SK hynix Inc., founded in 1983 as Hyundai Electronic Industrial Co. Ltd., is a Korean manufacturer and supplier headquartered in Icheon, Gyeonggi, offering semiconductor devices. The company's product portfolio includes dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips, compute express links (CXLs), and solid-state drives (SSDs). The company also provides NAND storage, multi-chip packages (MCPs), and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors. These components are utilized across diverse sectors, including automotive, data centers, and networking applications for data processing. The company further develops Memory forEST (for Environment, Society, Tomorrow), a future initiative to provide more environmentally sustainable solutions for the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.
Shenzhen Shengyu Electronics Technology Ltd., founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is an electric component distributor that is ISO 9001 certified. The company stocks several components, including switches, capacitors, and resistors, which it sources from multiple manufacturers like Seiko Instruments, Inc., Renesas Electronics America, and Nuvoton Technology Corporation America. Depending on the size and configuration of the customer’s components, the company provides a full range of packaging services. It accepts single or multiple-part quotations, and its website allows customers to search hundreds of products ranging from ICs to computer accessories.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silent Power Electronics GmbH |
37.8%
|
| 2 | SK HYNIX INC. |
8.9%
|
| 3 | Microchip Technology Inc. |
7.7%
|
| 4 | Kingston Technology Company, Inc. |
7.4%
|
| 5 | Analog Devices, Inc. |
5.3%
|
| 6 | Micron |
4.6%
|
| 7 | ChangXin Memory Technologies, Inc |
4.2%
|
| 8 | Everspin Technologies Inc. |
4.2%
|
| 9 | Samsung Semiconductor |
4.0%
|
| 10 | NetSource Technology, Inc. |
2.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ram page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
5 | 50.0% |
|
Taiwan
|
2 | 20.0% |
|
Japan
|
1 | 10.0% |
China
|
1 | 10.0% |
Germany
|
1 | 10.0% |
