ECC RAM failure data - jre

[Steven Vollom]

On Thursday 26 February 2009 06:21:12 john_re wrote:
> Do you use ECC RAM? Do you have any data about failure rates?
>
> I'm evaluating this for a system with 8GB DRAM, &
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_random_access_memory#Errors_and_error_
>correction says
> "Tests[ecc]give widely varying error rates, but about 10-12upset/bit-hr
> is typical, roughly one bit error, per month, per gigabyte of memory.
>
> In most computers used for serious scientific or financial computing and
> as servers, ECC is the rule rather than the exception, as can be seen by
> examining manufacturers' specifications."
>
>
> So, for that data 8GB DRAM is about 8 errors per month, ie about
> one per 3-4 days.
>
> What rates do you have?
I have just built a system much like you describe, and it also is 8gb of ram.  
A question came to mind, is the machine you are considering capable of 
handling ECC ram.  Most motherboards will not accept it.

I really don't have an answer to your question, however, recently, on my other 
computer I discarded a stick of ram that was causing problems.  By removing 
the bad memory, I fixed the problem, however it did not make that many errors, 
still I was advised to get rid of it.  I was told that memory that has any 
errors is bad memory.

As far as my new computer is concerned, only a few motherboards other than 
server motherboards use ECC ram.  Both the motherboard and the ram are 
generally quite pricey.  I spent a yeas plus bidding on motherboards just to 
get one that I could afford, and it was $170.  As for the ram, when I bought 
mine, it cost $798 a stick for 2gb sticks.  Right now, the memory I have is a 
lot cheaper, but still more expensive than the new faster regular ram.  

What I have is DDR2 SDRAM at 667mhz 240 pin and made by AXIOM.  Current 
technology is much faster, and non-error correcting is still less expensive 
than that like mine.  If your primary concern is for accuracy, then ECC is 
probably what you need.  Also, I couldn't find a motherboard that could handle 
more than 8gb of ECC that wasn't a server board.  My motherboard is an ASUS 
M3N-HT Deluxe.  It's main customer was gamers.  I don't play games, but that 
feature was a reason for getting this motherboard for most buyers, I was told.  

It has the software and physical capability to speed up any chip on the board, 
I think.  I know it can increase the speed of the processor and memory like 
mine.  In fact I am going to increase my 667mhz to at least 800 after I get my 
system stabilized.  I have been told that is the minimum for my ram.  And DDR3 
is way faster than DDR2, I am told.

If you are aware of the things I am talking about, I have wasted your time, 
however, if you haven't looked into that aspect, you would probably find it a 
lot cheaper to purchase and use regular DDR3, and replace it as needed than 
purchase ECC ram.  I am not trying to discourage you, it is just I have been 
struggling with getting my computer running, and because my computer is not a 
server, it has been trouble solving those problems due to the ECC ram.

The experts who advised me about errors in RAM said not to tolerate any errors 
at all.  I am not an expert.  I just have personal experience to share.  And 
when you made mention of 8gb.  That is what my board can use and what  I have.

If you want to talk more about it, contact me off line, because it really isn't 
a topic for this particular forum.

Steven