What is high density ram?

[Nessal]

I noticed that high density ram is much cheaper...but what is it? How does it affect performance?

 

[batmanuel]

It uses larger memory chips, so you use less chips on a stick to get the same amount of memory, thus saving a bit on manufacturing costs. It generally doesn't affect performance (assuming the memory timings are the same between the high and low density sticks), but it can potentially affect the RAM's compatability with some mother boards. I think it was mainly just an issue with high density SDRAM DIMMS on certain older boards, though, I haven't heard of any modern boards that have major issues with high density DDR DIMMS.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

In the old PC133 memory age, one moment ram price was extremely high, cheap memory module makers use 32Mx4 type ram chips to make cheaper 256MB module. Intel chipsets only support 16Mx8 type ram chips for 256MB module. 256MB module using 32Mx4 type ram chips don't work in Intel chipset motherboard or just half of it (128MB) is usable. Pricewatch vendors call such ram "high density". It doesn't mean the chip is higher density (size) than regular one. A regular 256MB module using 16Mx8 type ram chips is same 16 chips as a so called "high density" 256MB module using 32Mx4 type ram chips.