Re: ECC vs Non ECC Ram?
What's the difference? I think that ECC is more expensive new but apparently no one wants it used. The bid prices reflects this.
Ecc ram has a single bit error detection and correction engine built into it. If a single bit flips, it detects it and puts it back on the fly. It also has a 9th parity bit per byte for this detection. If more severe errors occur, it signals the mainboard and the system is stopped immediately. The mainboard needs to be able to be configured for ecc ram to effectively use it. Server mainboards normally use it.
Non-ecc ram (64 bit) has 8 bits per byte. If an error occurrs, you don't know until the system loses it's mind. Random things can occur.
If you put non-ecc ram in an ecc system, it just doesn't configure ecc. If you put ecc ram in a non-ecc system, it just doesn't configure ecc.
If you want me to work on a random problem in your server running non-ecc ram, you're on your own, I'm buns and elbows.
hope it helps
John
