Why is ECC ram so much more expensive?

[tuprox]

I have been doing some checking on RAM prices for a number of servers that I have. The RAM is ECC and it is 2-4x more expensive than the non-ecc sticks of the same speed/capacity. I'm talking about PC 3200 400Mhz 4GB sticks and PC 5300 2GB sticks. They came out of an IBM x3850 server and a Dell Poweredge 1950 respectively. It is really outrageous the difference in pricing and I really don't know how ECC is better. I guess it has something to do with random errors from voltage/current fluctuations or stray "radiation".

Do most servers utilize ECC RAM or more expensive servers or what?

 

[anikhtos]

I have been doing some checking on RAM prices for a number of servers that I have. The RAM is ECC and it is 2-4x more expensive than the non-ecc sticks of the same speed/capacity. I'm talking about PC 3200 400Mhz 4GB sticks and PC 5300 2GB sticks. They came out of an IBM x3850 server and a Dell Poweredge 1950 respectively. It is really outrageous the difference in pricing and I really don't know how ECC is better. I guess it has something to do with random errors from voltage/current fluctuations or stray "radiation".

Do most servers utilize ECC RAM or more expensive servers or what?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220525 70$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134875 95$
something like 33% more
well all the memory you posted is ddr2
so it will be rather expensive to find compared to ddr3
also server memory is not only ecc
it is also registered and fully buffered so many more characteristics than plain memory
well closed computers sell memory outrageous
check apple prices they are in the sky

 

[exdeath]

It does cost a little more for the extra RAM chip and processor/register chip and more thorough testing and certifying.

But that's not the high price difference you are seeing. The majority of the cost is artificial product differentiation and arbitrary profit markup. Businesses write blank checks for equipment for millions, they don't argue about a few thousand dollars. So companies that cater to those markets take advantage of it to make easy money by marking up the price A LOT. If you just bought a $50,000 server, you aren't going to notice paying $1500 for a stick of $150 RAM.

The same reason a length of exhaust pipe that says "Corvette" or "Cadillac" on the box costs 4 times more than the same exact piece of pipe that comes in a "Camaro" box.

If something says "Server" or "Xeon" on the box, bend over.