A delay in transmitting data between a computer’s RAM and its processor. Since RAM is not necessarily fast compared to the computer’s processor, RAM latency can occur, causing a delay between the time a computer’s hardware recognizes the need for a RAM access (initiates a request for data) and the time the data or instruction is available to the processor. If the CPU requests data that is not stored in the cache, then it will have to wait for the RAM to retrieve the data, opening the door to latency problems.
Also see latency.
