ECC or non ECC memory

[crapback]

You need the ECC ram. Your computer goes faster when it has more TLA's in the specs.

Seriously though, if you can get the ecc sticks cheap enough and you want them, buy them. They won't make a bit of difference.

 

[thisbenjamin]

If you're running a server that has a SLA, or if you're rocking massive databases on SQL, Borland (ok ha!) or Oracle.

 

[joe_cool]

For the MB to use ECC RAM it will probably require ALL of the RAM to be ECC. So don't mix types.

 

[sonci]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crapback /img/forum/go_quote.gif You need the ECC ram. Your computer goes faster when it has more TLA's in the specs. Seriously though, if you can get the ecc sticks cheap enough and you want them, buy them. They won't make a bit of difference.

Yeah, its bad when I see on Everest, chip kill supported but disabled..

 

[Shike]

Let's ask Crucial what they think eh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crucial ECC vs. non-ECC — What do I Have and Can I Mix? When adding new memory, you should match what is already in your system. Adding non-ECC memory to an ECC system will disable the error-checking and correcting ability of your memory modules. While your system may still operate, the enhanced features of the ECC modules will no longer be active in your computer. You can determine if your system has ECC by simply counting the number of black memory chips on each module. ECC (and parity) memory modules have a chip count divisible by three or five. This extra chip detects if the data was correctly read or written by the memory module. If the data wasn't properly written, the extra chip will correct it in many cases (depending on the type of error). Non-ECC (also called non-parity) modules do not have this error-detecting feature. Any chip count not divisible by three or five indicates a non-parity memory module. Using ECC decreases your computer's performance by about 2 percent. Current technology DRAM is very stable, and memory errors are rare, so unless you have a need for ECC, you are better served with non-parity (non-ECC) memory.

So, odds are unless you're doing missions critical work with enough usage that an EXTREMELY rare error will actually pop-up there's no reason for it. Your usage isn't going to be nearly as intense, as long, or handling as much data as a corporation.

Here's another article that's more in-depth from Crucial that actually talks numbers.

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xnor /img/forum/go_quote.gif linuxworks, I understand what you mean, but we aren't talking about servers here so our advice is not bad.

server: a system that stays up a long period of time and does not get frequently shut down.

music players (computers) fit into that catagory. file servers (smb, nfs) also do if they are left on for long periods of time.

the longer you leave your system on, the more you would benefit from auto-error correction.

people are arguing against a machine being more stable for almost no extra cost (ram is not expensive these days). I cannot understand the hate against error-CORRECTING ram.

no matter if you think your machine is perfect or not, why on earth would you argue against things that keep errors out?

wow. just wow.

 

[Arainach]

Quote:

no matter if you think your machine is perfect or not, why on earth would you argue against things that keep errors out?

For the same reason that I don't reccomend everyone buy a Ferrari - it's a waste of money and not needed. Non-ECC RAM is very good right now. If you put in ECC RAM, then when you want to add more in the future, you'll have to add ECC too, and it gets expensive fast.

 

[xnor]

It's not hate, but no recommendation either.

If you think that a music playing computer classifies as server...

ECC cannot keep errors out, it just tries to.

 

[somestranger26]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif registered does not enter into it. ecc is the tech that matters; how it gets done is not relevant.

And we're the ones that don't know what we're talking about? Registered DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE, I can almost guarantee all the ECC ram in these servers you deal with are using buffered RAM. It improves system stability on servers since it helps to prevent memory errors and eases the controller's load when a large amount of DIMMs are running off the same controller; this is the case in most servers.

 

[Ntropic]

I'd like to interject for a moment and say that this thread got stupid, fast.

It's a home-use desktop computer that isn't running mission critical applications. If it wasn't, do you think you'd be using a BeQuiet! PSU? No, you'd be using redundant power supplies from somebody like FSP, a RAID setup, and maybe migrate to rackmount cases. How important is 5 minutes of downtime (at most!) for the typical person's home server?

If ECC DDR is the same price as non-ECC DDR, then get whatever. If it's more expensive, don't get it. If it's cheaper, get it. Simple as that.

 

[b0dhi]

^ where's the upvote button...

 

[jhanby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxworks /img/forum/go_quote.gif server: a system that stays up a long period of time and does not get frequently shut down. music players (computers) fit into that catagory. file servers (smb, nfs) also do if they are left on for long periods of time. the longer you leave your system on, the more you would benefit from auto-error correction. people are arguing against a machine being more stable for almost no extra cost (ram is not expensive these days). I cannot understand the hate against error-CORRECTING ram. no matter if you think your machine is perfect or not, why on earth would you argue against things that keep errors out? wow. just wow.

EDIT : oops didn't read the original post

EDIT 2: one last thing. If you are running an Enterprise Server (like we do) running a very large and critical SQL database (like the one I mantain) you obviosly put ECC ram in it. This is because one small error can cause huge ramifications, put servers (live and backup) down and risk my job.

For a home computer which will be playing music, surfing the web maybe playing games, that same error might cause the game to crash or even a BSOD, but thats just a restart and its back up and running.

 

[sonci]

The fact that I started a thread, doesnt mean I'm a newbie, usually I search before, but if you search, yo'll find that ECC slows down the pc at no real benefit, while it was pointed out here that it doesnt do that much

I have a TYAN Tomcat S2865, support up to 4gig of ECC nonREG, Ati rage XL, no audio onboard, no spidf, no firewire, no sli, most solid capacitors, EPS12V power, so perfect board just for audio (in theory)..

 

[linuxworks]

Slashdot | Google Finds DRAM Errors More Common Than Believed

"A Google study of DRAM errors in their data centers found that they are hundreds to thousands of times more common than has been commonly believed. Hard errors may be the most common failure type. The DIMMs themselves appear to be of good quality, and bad mobo design may be the biggest problem."

I guess you nay-sayers can refute google?

 

[linuxworks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhanby /img/forum/go_quote.gif For a home computer which will be playing music, surfing the web maybe playing games, that same error might cause the game to crash or even a BSOD, but thats just a restart and its back up and running.

...except when you're ripping or copying files.

and then, bit errors sneak into your data files and unless you check, you'll happily be copying and keeping bad files.