To ECC or not to ECC

Blair Israel · 04-21-2008, 08:06 PM

I've been trying to buy some RAM. From what the Dell people tell me, for my ancient Dell Dimension 8250, I need PC800 RDRAM 40ns Non ECC. I would like to boost my system as high as I can with 2x512 MB.
Question: is there any leeway? Can I use ECC?

Perhaps a better question: Is this 5 year old system worth the investment?

**Fox** · 04-21-2008, 08:14 PM

ECC's actually slower than regular parity checking, and it's probably not supported by the laptop if it says that it requires non-ECC ram.

I would just get the regular RAM instead; I don't think there's much if any advantage to it.

Blair Israel · 04-22-2008, 03:35 AM

I'm not asking about the advantage of one versus the other, I just want to find out if I can use ECC for my desktop or not, if ECC's all I can find. It seems to be more available and cheaper than the non. You say it's "probably not supported"?

**Underclocker** · 04-22-2008, 07:43 PM

Only non-ECC is supported according to this website: http://www.memory-up.com/memory_find...?modelid=12225

**Fox** · 04-22-2008, 08:18 PM

You said you wanted to 'boost your system' as high as you can. If ecc ram isn't as fast as non, then that's not a boost, is it?

I don't know why you're giving me attitude over this, I just told you what I thought based on the information you gave me.

So to further answer your question, I don't think it's worth the investment for any machine this old, to upgrade the ram. SDRAM is too expensive and too slow to be worthwhile.

**Underclocker** · 04-22-2008, 08:56 PM

His board uses RD RAM, which is even more expensive than SD RAM lol. Try AU$50 for 2x128Mb... So no, not worth it.

**Fox** · 04-22-2008, 09:03 PM

Oh god, I hadn't even realized this. Yeah, for the price it would take to upgrade to 512MB of RDRAM, you could get yourself a good new motherboard, and be well on your way to the ram and processor for that board as well.

Blair Israel · 04-23-2008, 05:22 AM

Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input. Sorry, no attitude meant earlier. Just trying to clarify. I'll check out that site. I think I only have 256 MB total in my system now in two chips. Thought I would add two more 512's. The best price I'm finding is about $175 for 2x512 on eBAY. Thought it would be cheaper.

**Fox** · 04-23-2008, 02:55 PM

Yep, that's real steep. You're in luck though, if you do plan on upgrading - my basic system- a 2GHz dual core intel, motherboard, and 2GB PC2-800 ram cost me about as much as 2 512MB sticks of that ram. The only problem I can see you running into is that the power supply might not be compatible with the new motherboard, and if you have an AGP graphics card, it wouldn't fit in a PCI-express motherboard.

04-21-2008, 08:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Blair Israel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: southeast US Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	To ECC or not to ECC I've been trying to buy some RAM. From what the Dell people tell me, for my ancient Dell Dimension 8250, I need PC800 RDRAM 40ns Non ECC. I would like to boost my system as high as I can with 2x512 MB. Question: is there any leeway? Can I use ECC? Perhaps a better question: Is this 5 year old system worth the investment?

04-21-2008, 08:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC ECC's actually slower than regular parity checking, and it's probably not supported by the laptop if it says that it requires non-ECC ram. I would just get the regular RAM instead; I don't think there's much if any advantage to it. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

04-22-2008, 03:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
Blair Israel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: southeast US Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	Re: To ECC or not to ECC I'm not asking about the advantage of one versus the other, I just want to find out if I can use ECC for my desktop or not, if ECC's all I can find. It seems to be more available and cheaper than the non. You say it's "probably not supported"?

04-22-2008, 07:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Underclocker Just passing by. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 824 OS: XP Pro SP3 x86 My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC Only non-ECC is supported according to this website: http://www.memory-up.com/memory_find...?modelid=12225

04-22-2008, 08:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC You said you wanted to 'boost your system' as high as you can. If ecc ram isn't as fast as non, then that's not a boost, is it? I don't know why you're giving me attitude over this, I just told you what I thought based on the information you gave me. So to further answer your question, I don't think it's worth the investment for any machine this old, to upgrade the ram. SDRAM is too expensive and too slow to be worthwhile. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

04-22-2008, 08:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Underclocker Just passing by. Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 824 OS: XP Pro SP3 x86 My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC His board uses RD RAM, which is even more expensive than SD RAM lol. Try AU$50 for 2x128Mb... So no, not worth it.

04-22-2008, 09:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC Oh god, I hadn't even realized this. Yeah, for the price it would take to upgrade to 512MB of RDRAM, you could get yourself a good new motherboard, and be well on your way to the ram and processor for that board as well. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!

04-23-2008, 05:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
Blair Israel Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: southeast US Posts: 3 OS: windows xp	Re: To ECC or not to ECC Thanks everyone, I appreciate your input. Sorry, no attitude meant earlier. Just trying to clarify. I'll check out that site. I think I only have 256 MB total in my system now in two chips. Thought I would add two more 512's. The best price I'm finding is about $175 for 2x512 on eBAY. Thought it would be cheaper.

04-23-2008, 02:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fox TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 7,752 OS: XP Pro, CentOS My System	Re: To ECC or not to ECC Yep, that's real steep. You're in luck though, if you do plan on upgrading - my basic system- a 2GHz dual core intel, motherboard, and 2GB PC2-800 ram cost me about as much as 2 512MB sticks of that ram. The only problem I can see you running into is that the power supply might not be compatible with the new motherboard, and if you have an AGP graphics card, it wouldn't fit in a PCI-express motherboard. __________________ Antec Neo Power 500W, ABIT IP35-E, Intel E2180@2.66Ghz, Corsair XMS2 2x1GB DDR2-800, PNY 8800GT, 320GB Seagate * lazy college student alert *- If I've inadvertently ignored a thread, please Let me know about it Have I helped you solve your problem? Donate to Techsupportforums Klart Skepp!