Need help picking out ECC memory (older server)... completely lost

[k1114]

So I have this low power server box:

* Supermicro P4SCE (details: http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/P4/E7210/P4SCE.cfm)
* P4-M 1.4 (solely because it's low power)
* 512mb + 256mb DDR266 (non-ecc, unregistered, unbuffered, etc - normal)
* 2GB flash module
* Old 300w power supply.

I want to upgrade the memory, but I want to do it with as few sticks and as little money as possible. Standard DDR sticks are pretty pricey these days, but ECC registered stuff is pretty cheap! (often under $10/gb). Here is what I can't understand:

* Is ECC registered and unregistered different? I can't seem to find any unregistered ECC listed...
* Can ECC and non-ECC be mixed?

Any insight is appreciated

 

[dac7nco]

Registered ECC takes less load on a memory controller. The "register" is in-between the memory chips and the MC. Registered/Buffered memory is usually used when you have a great deal of memory, and can be a bit slower (Fully-buffered DIMMs are a different animal, but ignore that). That Supermicro board will take ECC 184-pin DIMMs up to 1GB in size, registered or not; You may not mix ECC with non-ECC memory, or hilarity will ensue.

Daimon

 

[Emulex]

yeah that memory is so old i threw a ton of that junk out 512meg can't do anything with 8 slots of 512 meg

 

[k1114]

Ok, I found it:

http://www.intel.com/assets/pdf/datasheet/300798.pdf

This chipset supports ECC, but not registered. I'll just stick to standard non-ECC.

 

[Emulex]

if given the opportunity always choose ecc. if you like machines with uptimes of 2-4 years very small price to pay for alot of warm fuzzies.

all xeon's these days require ecc