ECC RAM

ECC RAM is designed especially for servers that rely upon data verification. ECC stands for error correcting code. The key benefit of using ECC RAM is that it provides top-notch stability to a system. The drawback is that it will decrease system performance by one or two percent.

Old memory uses parity to check for data errors. Parity does not, however, correct data errors when they are found. ECC takes error checking a step further by not only checking for errors, but by correcting most of them on its own using a specifically created algorithm. This increased level of "fault tolerance" makes ECC RAM an ideal choice for computer systems vital to infrastructure.

Correcting Errors with ECC RAM

ECC RAM can correct one bit of data for every 64 bit block of memory. This happens completely unseen by the user, but system chips can produce a report detailing the errors that have been corrected. This is useful to detect recurring problems that may point to larger internal issues, such as damaged hardware. ECC RAM cannot correct multiple bit corruption in a 64 bit memory block.

ECC is rarely if ever used in home computers for a variety of reasons. For one, ECC RAM is more expensive than non-ECC. More importantly, ECC is just not necessary in a home PC. Windows systems simply do not see a noticeable increase in stability when running ECC RAM.