It's basically where your computer puts data it's going to be working on shortly
but not quite yet. It's an intermediate stage between your processor's memory (really fucking quick, but tiny) and the HDD (really fucking slow, but cavernous). The more RAM you have, the more stuff the machine can store there, meaning less time waiting for the HDD and so quicker loading/response times.
( Kroney, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:29, 2 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

Got that Nakers?

( tangledupinblue hairy badge with moving eyes, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:30, Reply)

bit like having a double clutch gearbox

( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:30, Reply)

gearbox handbag
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:33, Reply)

No, not really.

( Kroney, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:35, Reply)

oh
What i meant, is it's holding the next gear/bit of data ready to be used so that changes are "instantaneous"
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:36, Reply)

OK, I see what you mean.
That's kind of the idea, yes.
( Kroney, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:43, Reply)

\o/
TECH WIZARD!
( Naked Ape call me Caitlyn, Wed 9 Jan 2013, 16:56, Reply)