Week 3 - RAM (ECC and Non ECC Ram)

Week 3 - ECC and Parity (Non-ECC RAM)

As we were doing a bit of research for highly-rated memory brands, I came across the term ECC memory. I thought it was interesting as I had never heard about such a title, so I looked further into it. This curiosity really came into play when I was looking at PCPartPicker and when I was viewing memory models from various websites (such as Newegg) and came across the term. I also found that in Chapter 4, there was a segment on ECC ram also mentioned. So, I figured I would explain ECC ram in comparison to ECC ram. 

So what exactly is ECC ram? ECC stands for Error Correction Code. This variation of ram is responsible for detecting and correcting errors with the memory as it implies. Most specifically, ECC ram is able to correct a single-bit error of ram, but not a double-bit error of ram. ECC ram is helpful because oftentimes, DRAM has such high speeds and functioning that occasionally the RAM chip will give faulty data. In the business world, handling multiple memory sets and making sure the memory doesn't send bad data is crucial. This is why ECC memory exists, to essentially keep the memory up and self-sustaining to prevent small errors from causing business issues. Because even the smallest bit of errors can have serious consequences. ECC ram is also referred to as non-parity RAM. When shopping for ECC ram, there are registered kits and buffered kits. The terms mean the same thing, so they are interchangeable. They refer to a small register on memory sticks that buffer between the memory controller and DIMM. The responsibility of the register is to help the circuitry in the event electrical problems arise.

Also beneficial as ECC ram can be, it does have its drawbacks. For starters, ECC ram requires specialized motherboards to help the memory run effectively. For the average consumer, you will not want to spend a large sum on a motherboard just to utilize ECC ram. Unless you have specific needs for the long-term sustainability of memory, it just isn't worth it. It is uncommon to see ECC ram on regular desktop computers. The other reason why not to utilize ECC is that it has overall slower speeds compared to parity RAM. Because of this, parity RAM can take a higher priority on clock speeds and overclocking capabilities.