ECC memory

[Jerboy]

What I know:

ECC memories have extra 8 bits on top of standard 64bit for parity use. ECC ensures databits accuracy is very good and often used on servers.

It is said that ECC is totally unnecessary on home workstations.

It couldn't be that it's ok to have memory errors on home machines, so I really don't understand why only servers benefit from them.

What happens when you don't use ECC on server and what advantage does ECC gives server?

 

[smp]

hehehe

I think you're right .. but you're bound to get faq'd

 

[Daxxax]

For one if a server crashes a business could lose thousands of dollars maybe even more and lose critical data IE:account information, database info and a whole host of other things. So it's much more important to a company to have solid hardware that is up and running 99.9 percent of the time then for me or you to crash during a game of Quake. I think that ECC was more important four or five years ago then it is now though. Memory Technology has gotten alot better and if you buy from a good Manuf. like Crucial for example you'll probably be OK if it's ECC or not. Anyone else have any good reasons?

 

[RSMemphis]

ECC is a nice thing when you have your computer on 24/7. Bit errors are a rarity, so for normal desktop use, there is no strong reason to use ECC.

Even then, I have a server here that has been running 24/7 for several months now (no reboot), and is still going strong.
No ECC in it, although that is to change next week.

 

[Jerboy]

<< ECC is a nice thing when you have your computer on 24/7. Bit errors are a rarity, so for normal desktop use, there is no strong reason to use ECC.

Even then, I have a server here that has been running 24/7 for several months now (no reboot), and is still going strong.
No ECC in it, although that is to change next week. >>



But they do improve stability for 24/7/365 computer to achive higher on-days without crash right?

 

[dullard]

<< But they do improve stability for 24/7/365 computer to achive higher on-days without crash right? >>



That is what the ECC is meant to do. If you have a computer without ECC and you get a memory error, the machine crashes. If you had ECC then you probably won't crash.

There are three reasons that ECC isn't used in home computers:
1) It usually costs a few dollars more.
2) Some people say it is 1%-3% slower, yet never show any benchmarks or any other type of proof. This is highly debated since there is no benchmarks.
3) Memory errors are rare - so people are willing to risk an occasional crash.

 

[Jerboy]

<<

<< But they do improve stability for 24/7/365 computer to achive higher on-days without crash right? >>



That is what the ECC is meant to do. If you have a computer without ECC and you get a memory error, the machine crashes. If you had ECC then you probably won't crash.

There are three reasons that ECC isn't used in home computers:
1) It usually costs a few dollars more.
2) Some people say it is 1%-3% slower, yet never show any benchmarks or any other type of proof. This is highly debated since there is no benchmarks.
3) Memory errors are rare - so people are willing to risk an occasional crash. >>




I heard memory error occurs whenever alpha particle strikes the memory cell causing it to set to zero or one. I'm gonna have to go find a Alpha ray source so I can test it out .