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fra z

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi,

ECC and non ECC memory, RAM - I've got an X99 board that supports both ECC and non-ECC RAM. Is ECC (registered) only for use with XEON processors? - or is it somehow possible to use i7 on X99 with registered RAM?

Non ECC RAM is fine and that is what I've got currently but if it is possible then greater size of RAM is possible which may benefit some situations.

This is more asking is it possible?
 
#2 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by fra z View Post

Hi,

ECC and non ECC memory, RAM - I've got an X99 board that supports both ECC and non-ECC RAM. Is ECC (registered) only for use with XEON processors? - or is it somehow possible to use i7 on X99 with registered RAM?

Non ECC RAM is fine and that is what I've got currently but if it is possible then greater size of RAM is possible which may benefit some situations.

This is more asking is it possible?
Click to expand...
Quote:
ECC memory is a type of system memory that can detect and correct common kinds of internal data corruption. Note that ECC memory support requires both processor and chipset support.

...

Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processors typically do not support ECC memory. ECC memory is usually used on servers and workstations rather than on desktop platforms mainly because of the price premium of ECC memory and chipset support. Check with your desktop board manufacturer to see if your board has ECC memory enabled.
Click to expand...
Source: Intel's Website

Other than stating that the X99 board you have supports ECC, we don't know what CPU you are using and you can find out whether or not it supports ECC memory by Googling it. I checked a handful and everyone I checked doesn't not support ECC. At work we use commercial available servers that use both Xeons and ECC. Is there any reason why you need ECC RAM?
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Hi,

Maybe i7's don't support ECC, that's what Intel website states most times. Another forum mentions hit and miss, eg sometimes it works, other times not.

Only reason for ECC at any point in time is a greater quantity of RAM

I do have one dual socket board that will ONLY work with ECC or so it says on Asus website - So when I get some ECC I'll try it out on a test bench with some X99 boards -
thumb.gif
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by fra z View Post

Hi,

Maybe i7's don't support ECC, that's what Intel website states most times. Another forum mentions hit and miss, eg sometimes it works, other times not.

Only reason for ECC at any point in time is a greater quantity of RAM

I do have one dual socket board that will ONLY work with ECC or so it says on Asus website - So when I get some ECC I'll try it out on a test bench with some X99 boards -
thumb.gif
Click to expand...
ECC is just for error correcting. I can't say off hand about the density of the memory on an ECC vs non-ECC. Though if they come in larger sizes then it is most likely due to the fact that they are used for servers. As VMs become more and more prevalent and replacing physical systems it is more cost effective from an energy, resource, and licensing perspective to cram as much RAM and Cores in these systems as you can. In theory there should be no difference in capacity between the two, the difference will most likely come down to the market and business's requirements.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Hi,

The non ECC DDR4 is 16 GB max per stick (some may do greater if the boards support it. ECC is available in maybe 32 or 64 so 8 x 32 = 256 GB & 8 x 64 = 512 - Not that that would be needed LOL
smile.gif


Od course ECC is available in 16 GB too (I think)
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by fra z View Post

Hi,

The non ECC DDR4 is 16 GB max per stick (some may do greater if the boards support it. ECC is available in maybe 32 or 64 so 8 x 32 = 256 GB & 8 x 64 = 512 - Not that that would be needed LOL
smile.gif


Od course ECC is available in 16 GB too (I think)
Click to expand...
A server that we have, which is almost a decade old and it has 192 gigs. Database and Hypervisors use a lot of RAM in the corporate world.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by fra z View Post

Hi,

ECC and non ECC memory, RAM - I've got an X99 board that supports both ECC and non-ECC RAM. Is ECC (registered) only for use with XEON processors? - or is it somehow possible to use i7 on X99 with registered RAM?

Non ECC RAM is fine and that is what I've got currently but if it is possible then greater size of RAM is possible which may benefit some situations.

This is more asking is it possible?
Click to expand...
So. There are three types of RAM sticks you will find out there that are ECC.

ECC Unregistered (UDIMM):
This will work in X99 boards if they have the traces set up on the board physically (not sure if any other components are needed).
You will need a Xeon CPU to use the ECC unregistered RAM. This type of RAM does ECC checking.

ECC Registered (also known as Buffered) (RDIMM):
I'm pretty sure RAM with registers will not work in X99 boards, as they are different electrically from unregistered and unbuffered sticks. With this, control lines are buffered on each memory chip, placing less electrical load on the CPU controller, but resulting in hot sticks ;-).
I'm betting these don't work on X99 boards, even though I think the X99 controller could theoretically handle regiestered RAM. (No evidence, just a guess).
Regardless, this will need a Xeon chip with the ECC controller enabled.

ECC Fully Buffered (FB-DIMM):
This is like a beefed up version of Registered, with data lines being buffered on the memory stick itself as well as the control lines, and so offloads even more of the memory management from the CPU memory controller. I believe this is what allows higher capacity sticks and more total RAM to be used on a single server system compared to desktops and workstations (also, these suckers run super hot!). I bet these don't work on X99 either.
Regardless, this will need a Xeon chip with the ECC controller enabled.
 
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