Memory Question

I am going to upgrade my memory in my Dell XPS T 500 from 128 to...well I'm not sure yet. Maybe 512, maybe the full max of 768. It all depends on price. My question is this:

My current 128 memory chip is ECC. If I put in more memory along with the 128 (say another 512) these should be ECC as well, right? Can't mix and match from all I have read.

I have also read that ECC memory is slower than non ECC (non pairity). Any truth to this?

So maybe the thing to do is spring for 3 256MB non ECCchips (which usually run $5-$10 less than ECC). Comments?

Just why does ECC run slower? Cause it needs to run error checks? Any benefit to that?

Thanks again in advance for the feedback. I always get great info from this place.

Rick

 

Can't mix and match.
ECC will slow things by a very small amount. I have been running non-ECC for a year without the slightest problem. ECC is less necessary now that better quality memory is available. Be sure your mb supports both or there may be no decision to make.

 

There is non-parity, ECC and Registered memory. ECC and Registered are usually used in mission-critical applications like servers. Non-parity, well, it's for systems where accuracy is not as important, like gaming, for instance.

Personally, I'll never run anything less than ECC again. I am considering an upgrade to a board that supports Registered (one step up in reliability from ECC). After all, how many microseconds have you really saved if you are occasionally spending minutes or even hours recovering from corrupted data and/or lost partition tables--and it does happen.

 

Upon further investigation I have discovered that my my machine actually has non ECC memory. (8 chips inline intead of 9)). I have been running this since I bought the box almost 4 years ago and have never had a single memory issue. My MB will accept both types.

As Alex pointed out, it seems like ECC and registered memory is more critical in server situations and since that doesn't apply to me I think I'll go with the less expensive non ECC. As much as I would like to spend the extra $$$ I need to stay budget conscious. We'll see how it it works out. Found some 256MB PC100 SDRAM sticks at URL=http://www.dalco.com]Dalco.com[/URL]
for $37 each. Not bad!!!

I'll post back with results. Thanks again for your input.

Rick

 

Why not go PC133?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=TC1-MEM-256-3

 

Also try http://www.crucial.com

Their site will tell you exactly what will work on yur specific computer and is guaranteed.