What is the difference between ECC and non-ECC RAM?

If you are unsure whether you have ECC or non-parity, count the number of small, black, IC chips mounted on one of your existing sticks of memory. If the number of chips on one side is even, as in 4 or 8, you have non-ECC. If the number of chips on one side is NOT even, as in 9, you have ECC.

Is ECC RAM better than non-ECC?

At the cost of a little money and performance, ECC RAM is many times more reliable than non-ECC RAM. And when high-value data is involved, that increase in reliability is almost always going to be worth the small monetary and performance costs. In fact, anytime it is possible to do so, we would recommend using ECC RAM.

How do I know if my RAM is ECC or Non-ECC?

For SDRAM or DDR memory, just count the number of small black chips on one side of your existing memory modules. If the number of chips is even then you have non-ECC. If the number of chips is odd then you have ECC.

What is RAM DIMM?

Short for unbuffered (or unregistered) dual inline memory module, UDIMM is a type of volatile memory chip, used mostly in desktop and laptop computers. It is a conventional type of RAM. Modern DDR memory chips are a type of UDIMM.

What is DIMM used for?

DIMM is a module that contains one or several random access memory (RAM) chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect it to the computer motherboard. The DIMM stores each data bit in a separate memory cell. DIMMs use a 64-bit data path, since processors used in personal computers have a 64-bit data width.

Is unbuffered RAM bad?

Unbuffered RAM is more suitable for desktops, laptops etc. because it is less expensive. On the other hand, unbuffered RAM does not provide much reliability on stored data. It is also not very stable.

What is a non ECC RAM?

When adding new memory, you should match what memory you already have in your system. Adding non-ECC memory to an ECC system will disable the error-checking and correcting ability of your memory modules. Non-ECC (also called non-parity) modules do not have this error-detecting feature.