Memory ECC or Not

  • Thread starter Thread starter J.Clarke
  • Start date Start date
J

J.Clarke

I currently have a 128mb non-ecc in my computer. I'm thinking of
getting a 256mb and wanted to find out if it should be ecc or not.
The price difference is small so cost isn't an issue just wanted to
know if it would be more reliable or not.
Click to expand...

It will be more reliable, but whether you need more reliability depends
on what you're doing. There's also a very slight performance penalty.

But it may be a moot point--does your motherboard support ECC? It's not
all that common on desktop boards.
 
I currently have a 128mb non-ecc in my computer. I'm thinking of getting a
256mb and wanted to find out if it should be ecc or not. The price
difference is small so cost isn't an issue just wanted to know if it would
be more reliable or not.

Thanks,
 
I currently have a 128mb non-ecc in my computer. I'm thinking
of getting a 256mb and wanted to find out if it should be ecc or not.
Click to expand...

Normally not.
The price difference is small so cost isn't an issue just
wanted to know if it would be more reliable or not.
Click to expand...

The motherboard needs to support ecc for you to be able to use it.

Likely it doesnt.
 
I currently have a 128mb non-ecc in my computer. I'm thinking of getting a
256mb and wanted to find out if it should be ecc or not. The price
difference is small so cost isn't an issue just wanted to know if it would
be more reliable or not.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

It's supposed to be helpful. Will catch some memory errors. Also is
supposed to help take a bit of the load off the memory electrical
system. ECC function can be switched off if you're really concerned
about speed. Will then work the same as non-ecc memory, so if the
price is ballpark, and you're motherboard supports it, I'd try it.
 
It's supposed to be helpful. Will catch some memory errors.
Click to expand...

If any actually occur.
Also is supposed to help take a bit of the
load off the memory electrical system.
Click to expand...

Mindlessly silly.
ECC function can be switched off if you're really concerned about speed.
Click to expand...

You dont even know that the motherboard
can use ECC memory. Most cant.
 
Previously Mike said:
I currently have a 128mb non-ecc in my computer. I'm thinking of getting a
256mb and wanted to find out if it should be ecc or not. The price
difference is small so cost isn't an issue just wanted to know if it would
be more reliable or not.
Click to expand...

1. All memory needs to be ECC for this to work.
2. Your mainboard needs to support ECC. Currently this
is common in server and dual-processor boards but not
in mainstream boards.

For non-server reliability assurance I would advise you to
just run memtest86 (-> google) for some hours with the
BIOS settings yiou are going to use the machine with.
It finds nearly everything, exceopt for the occasional
cosmic particle that flips a bit every 10 years operation
time per GB or so. If you need to prortect against this also,
go for ECC mainboard and memory.

Arno
 
Arno Wagner said:
getting a
time per GB or so. If you need to prortect against this also,
go for ECC mainboard and memory.
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone. Since I already have a non-ecc chip in my system I'm going
to stay with non-ecc. Though from what I can tell from both crucial and
dell it looks like my board allows for ecc.

Mike
 
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