How do I know if my computer supports ECC RAM?

[bX510]

I bought a ram off ebay by mistake and I am not sure if EC RAM would work on my old sony vaio.

 

[Quiksilver]

use pc wizard and check the memory tab and see if ECC is supported?
http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

 

[Aznguy1872]

So if a motherboard doesn't support ECC memory then the comp wouldn't even post right?

 

[bX510]

Is ECC bad?

 

[Aznguy1872]

Its not bad but ECC memory are better for servers.

 

[bX510]

Error Correction Capability : None

Does that mean... It does not support it? Or does it mean... I don't have a stick of ram in there with ECC ?

Also, can I put ECC ram into my desktop?

 

[JustaGeek]

Just put it in, if the number of pins, voltage, frequency and timings are the same and/or supported by the chipset.

In the worst case scenario it will not post.

 

[bX510]

What does it will not post mean?

 

[JustaGeek]

Will not boot - you will see the black screen and nothing will happen when you turn on the computer.

If that's the case, just put the old memory back in.

But make sure that the pin layout (200 pins with the notch for either DDR or DDR2 memory), voltage, frequency and timings are the same.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
But make sure that the pin layout (200 pins with the notch for either DDR or DDR2 memory), voltage, frequency and timings are the same.

Actually, SO-DIMM's come in two different pin counts: 144 pin and 200 pin. Of course, it seems that he has a desktop VAIO, so it's either gonna have 168 pin SDRAM, 184 pin DDR, or 240 pin DDR2.:laugh: