RAM confusion ECC or not??

catford

I have installed some extra memory in a pc and it's not being recognised--is it because it's ecc and the existing memory is non ecc?
What is the difference between a 64bit ram and 72 bit ram--apart from 8 -is it the physical size?

spakkker

111111111111

Lorian

ECC memory is usually for servers

espresso

You need to use memory that is compatible with the motherboard. ECC ram has Error Correction Circuitry making use of the extra parity bit.

isofa

You actually shouldn't have a problem, unless in the BIOS it is set to detect and use ECC, therefore causing a problem with the non-ECC chips.

I'd say it's more likely that you've got the wrong type of RAM/DIMM/RDRAM/RIMM depending on what sort the machine is and the RAM the motherboard uses.

Although many sites, such as Crucial (check your RAM at www.crucial.com/uk) say you can't mix ECC and non-ECC, in 95% of cases you won't have any problems at all. ECC RAM will just function as non-ECC RAM when installed alongside it, as long as there aren't any specific settings in the BIOS.

I have a mixture of ECC and non-ECC in one of my systems, all functioning as non-ECC, and it works perfectly.

ECC-RAM isn't just for servers, many top end workstations use it.

Lorian

isofa wrote: »

ECC-RAM isn't just for servers, many top end workstations use it.

Which is why I said usually

isofa

Lorian wrote: »

Which is why I said usually

Yes but it wasn't a very helpful post for the OP was it?! Many, many desktops and workstations use or specify ECC-RAM, just like many low end servers don't.

BUt then neither was spakkker's but he's just edited it to "111111111111".

:rotfl:

Lorian

Being pedantic won't help either, it just puts people off posting.

I've worked in IT support for a long time, i KNOW the difference.

isofa

Lorian wrote: »

Being pedantic won't help either, it just puts people off posting. I've worked in IT support for a long time, i KNOW the difference.

Ahh the Christmas spirit...If you KNOW the difference, perhaps you could have given some pointers about why it isn't working in his PC? :rolleyes:

I was stating a fact, computing is a very exact science, that's not being a pedant. For the record, many of us are well versed and qualified in associated subjects.

Not sure how a detailed post with lots of information will put off a poster, but there you go. Each to their own.

Now, enough of this lunacy and back to helping the OP.

If you don't find any luck with the current RAM, or info from Crucial, there are a couple of very good sellers on eBay, BlueAnteater is one, I can't remember the other, but a good search with decent feedback will soon bring them up.

Happy Christmas.

CHR15

Is this a help forum or an e-Willy waving contest???

esuhl

I've had many a problem with RAM in the past - generally the problems were because the RAM wasn't seated (firmly inserted & connected) properly. It might be worth trying the RAM in different slots to see if it helps...