Wrong memory

  • Thread starter Thread starter BobV
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BobV

I bought ECC memory for my Asus A7V8X-MX. Then read in the manual that it
requires nonECC.
Seems to be running fine for a couple months now.
Should I invest in nonECC memory?.......BobV
 
BobV said:
I bought ECC memory for my Asus A7V8X-MX. Then read in the manual that it
requires nonECC.
Seems to be running fine for a couple months now.
Should I invest in nonECC memory?.......BobV
Click to expand...

If the motherboard manual says to use non-ECC, and you're seeing that
ECC works fine...my educated assumption is that the motherboad is
simply not wired to pay any attention to hardware ECC.

Now, I'm not entirely sure how these work on the board level and how
ECC modules differ in pinout than non-ECC, but I'm guessing that
you're fine in sticking with what you have and that the motherboard is
just ignoring whatever added value ECC brings on the module (i.e. you
wasted a little some money for ECC memory, but that's all).
 
BobV said:
I bought ECC memory for my Asus A7V8X-MX. Then read in the manual
that it requires nonECC.

Seems to be running fine for a couple months now.
Should I invest in nonECC memory?.......BobV
Click to expand...

No. ECC memory simply has an extra bit per byte to hold the ECC
syndrome. If those bits are missing or ignored the system simply
uses the remainder.

When you get another machine or MB simply ensure the chipset is
ECC capable, and then use that memory in it. Then you will
finally have a reliable memory system. All memory in an ECC
system needs to be ECC capable.
 
CBFalconer said:
No. ECC memory simply has an extra bit per byte to hold the ECC
syndrome. If those bits are missing or ignored the system simply
uses the remainder.
Click to expand...

Is it possible you're confusing parity RAM and true ECC RAM?

Parity ram has the extra parity bit for the detection of bit errors.
ECC as I understand it has enough extra bits to detect multi-bit
errors, and to correct single bit errors.

I did a quick search to find a link to more info, and this page
appears to explain the difference:
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~piccard/mis300/eccram.htm

The original poster is probably enjoying the benefits of on the fly
correction of single bit errors, but his motherboard is quietly
ignoring any reports of multi-bit errors because it lacks support for
this functionality of ECC.

Best Regards,
 
Thanks for the inputs. I will pay closer attention to the mobo dope next
time and save a few bucks if it doesn't require ECC.........BobV
 
Todd H. said:
Is it possible you're confusing parity RAM and true ECC RAM?
Click to expand...

Not as currently manufactured. Parity ram has the ability to
write each parity bit separately (along with the corresponding
byte) and can serve as ECC RAM. However ECC ram simply has the
extra bits, which extend the 64 bit word to 72, and all are read
or written together. It could function with only 7 spare bits,
but that would be harder to manufacture.
.... snip ...

The original poster is probably enjoying the benefits of on the fly
correction of single bit errors, but his motherboard is quietly
ignoring any reports of multi-bit errors because it lacks support for
this functionality of ECC.
Click to expand...

Highly unlikely. Most cheaper MBs simply ignore the extra bits,
and all MBs known to me will not arm the ECC system unless all
memory has the extra bits available.
 
BobV said:
Thanks for the inputs. I will pay closer attention to the mobo
dope next time and save a few bucks if it doesn't require ECC.
Click to expand...

You are drawing the wrong conclusion. Make sure the mb can handle
ECC.

Please don't toppost. Your answer goes after the quoted material.
 
CBFalconer said:
You are drawing the wrong conclusion. Make sure the mb can handle
ECC.
Click to expand...

If you read his original post, it's on his mobo and apparently working
fine.

Best Regards,
 
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