Another staple of the Reddit thread wars is the debate between paying extra for some sweet ECC memory vs standard off the shelf memory modules that you find in most desktop computers. In this short article I hope to shed some clarity on this issue, and put your mind at ease.
What is ECC RAM?
ECC stands for Error Correcting Code, and is essentially like a computed parity bit on RAID systems. If, for some reason there is a random bit flip in any of the flash modules on a memory stick, this ECC bit will correct for the error before sending it to the computer.
On the surface this seems like a great idea… and it is! However, for home environments, I strongly believe it is absolutely not worth it.
ECC memory in home environments
Most home servers are built under a budget, or by recycling an old PC (a great way to have a server and save the environment at the same time). Most consumer level motherboards and processors do not support ECC memory, not to mention the 10–20% cost overhead for ECC modules. Thus, by getting ECC RAM you are throwing out a motherboard, and a CPU (along with any old RAM you may have had).
The quality of consumer memory has gone up immensely from even 5 years ago so the chances of having a catastrophic RAM failure are very small. Even if you do, you will have backups to save the day. You do make backups… right? (psst… even if you have the greatest server with ECC RAM, you should have backups).
If you have the budget and are building a system from scratch, then absolutely go for it! There is nothing wrong with buying ECC RAM.
So, do I need ECC RAM?
No! You do not need ECC RAM. However you absolutely need good, functional RAM.
I strongly strongly recommend getting memtest86 (free version is enough), putting it on a bootable pendrive and testing your memory for at least 24 hours. I stress… testing your RAM, ECC or not, is critical. Ask me how I know :(
I have been running standard off-the-shelf Corsair memory modules for the last 5 years straight (24x7 operations) with absolutely no issues.
Disclaimer:
This article was written with home environments in mind. If you are a business, this does not apply to you.
I am not an IT professional. I am not tech support. I am a college student with a server. You are ultimately responsible for any commands you run on your system.
If you have any questions, leave a comment. Enjoy!