What does "synchronous" mean in relation to RAM?

In the context of RAM, "synchronous" refers to memory operations that are coordinated with the system clock. This means that memory operations, such as reading from or writing to the RAM, occur in synchronization with the cycles of the clock signal. The synchronization allows for predictable timing of the operations, which enhances the overall performance and efficiency of the memory system.

When RAM is synchronous, it can take advantage of the clock signal to organize and optimize how data is accessed and processed. This coordination helps ensure that the memory can keep pace with the CPU and other components, leading to smoother and faster performance compared to asynchronous types of memory, where operations can happen independently of the system clock.

In contrast, the other options describe characteristics that are not applicable to synchronous RAM. For instance, operations performed independently of the system clock refer to asynchronous memory, while the description of memory being divided into chips relates more to how memory modules are architecturally constructed rather than their operational synchrony.