what is registred ECC ram used for? more inside..

[GratefullySaved]

Hey all,

I just bought two sticks of 512 MB SDRAM ECC Registered RAM for $9.95 a piece - but am not sure they'll work in my mobo... I can return the RAM no problem, and bought the last two sticks they had, so I had to act fast on this smoking deal hoping it will work out. No biggie if it doesn't.

My question: what is "registered" RAM, how does it differ in terms of compatibility with motherboard (I've heard this is for servers only, is that true?), and will this RAM work in an Nforce 2 mobo if I were to save the sticks for a future system I may build? Also, is there a way of discerning the speed, PC100 or PC133 etc, from the link I purchased it from... (http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/productdetail.asp?sku=406947&SourceID=k15506)

Thanks so much, I really hope I'm onto another great deal...

GS

 

[mechBgon]

Hmm...

This memory is designed for the following Compaq systems: ProLiant BL e-Class 10e server blade; ProLiant CL380; ProLiant DL320; ProLiant DL360; ProLiant DL380; ProLiant ML330 667/733/866/933/1GHz.; ProLiant ML330 Generation 2; ProLiant ML330e 800/933; ProLiant ML350 600/733; ProLiant ML350 Generation 2; ProLiant ML370 667/733/866; ProLiant ML530 6/800

Upgrade Type     Proprietary

That doesn't look particularly encouraging. Anyway, Registered ECC memory is not commonly used in desktop computers, but rather servers or workstations that will have large amounts of memory. This will definitely not work in an nForce2. Nice buy for someone with one of the ProLiants in question, though.

 

[John]

Check the FAQ to learn more about Registered & ECC memory

P/N 128279-B21-A is PC133

will this RAM work in an Nforce 2 mobo

Unfortunately it will not work.

 

[mastertech01]

Its probably keyed differently even, if its proprietary.

 

[GratefullySaved]

Wow you guys are fast! ha ha

Thanks for the help and the FAQ. Interesting read. Are server mobo's any more than regular boards then? I do heavy Photoshop work and would love to build a 2 GB to 4GB RAM workstation if I can swing it from my personal "fun" budget. Otherwise I'll stick to my macs and their 768 MB RAM. Amazing what they can handle, but I'd love to triple the RAM for about twenty large posters I'm working on.

Any recommendations on a good cheap server mobo that can handle this RAM?

 

[mechBgon]

I doubt that kind of board will fit anything other than the Compaq server case it's intended to go with. No AGP slot, for starters.

You could try shopping for a Compaq server on E bay if you think you want one, but somehow I think you're better off with, say, an nForce2 board, an AthlonXP 2400+ and three Crucial 1Gb PC2100 DDR dimms (plus a beefy power supply unit) and an 18Gb 15000rpm Cheetah 15k.3 for a scratch disk when the RAM finally does run out.