Non-ECC RAM on an ECC motherboard?

[Fr3d]

I'm looking at getting something like a Supermicro X7DVL-E i5000V for a new server, however, every single socket 771 motherboard I've found wants DDR2 ECC Registered and/or Fully Buffered RAM, which is two to three times (or a lot more) the price of normal "desktop" (non-ECC, unregistered, unbuffered) DDR2 :(

If I got some standard DDR2, like 2x2GB Corsair TwinX XMS2 PC2-6400, would it work in the above motherboard (or a similar board)?

[Budious]

I believe the pin count is different, because you basically have 9 bits for every byte, the extra bit for parity. The ram slots also have a second notch to prevent regular modules from being inserted.

[Fr3d]

  Budious said:

I believe the pin count is different, because you basically have 9 bits for every byte, the extra bit for parity. The ram slots also have a second notch to prevent regular modules from being inserted.

Are you sure? The spec says:

  Quote

Six 240-pin DIMM sockets

I also found this photo of ECC DDR2, which looks the same as normal DDR2 (apart from the extra chips in the middle): http://picasaweb.google.com/opteron.delive...403549514366994 (direct image link).

[Budious]

Well, in the case of the board you are linking to, I believe you can only use FB-DIMMs (buffered memory). If the board support unbuffered ECC, then you could substitute standard non-ECC unbuffered memory in it's place.

[Fr3d]

  Budious said:

If the board support unbuffered ECC, then you could substitute standard non-ECC unbuffered memory in it's place.

Something like this then: Tyan Tempest i5100X (S5375) ?

  Quote

Memory

• Eight (8) 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets

• Supports Registered ECC DIMMs

• Maximum of 32GB DDR2-533/667

[Budious]

  Quote

Up to 8 ranks (8pcs single rank

DIMM or 4 pcs dual rank DIMM

modules)

The specifications and design of that board are bit misleading, you get 8 slots but unless they are all single bank modules, you can't utilize all of them.

Why are you in the market for a high-end board? A consumer workstation or high-end enthusiast would probably have similar features for standard memory and performance differences between 771 XEON and 775 Quads are negligible.

[Fr3d]

  Budious said:

The specifications and design of that board are bit misleading, you get 8 slots but unless they are all single bank modules, you can't utilize all of them.

Why are you in the market for a high-end board? A consumer workstation or high-end enthusiast would probably have similar features for standard memory and performance differences between 771 XEON and 775 Quads are negligible.

Single bank? Meaning single-sided? They still make that stuff?

It's for a new 1U co-located server I might build (or buy pre-built; I'm speccing/pricing up the build route before deciding). And sure, one 771 Xeon is probably more-or-less the same as the equivalent 775 Core 2 Quad, but two 771s? ;)

[Budious]

  Fr3d said:

I'm looking at getting something like a Supermicro X7DVL-E i5000V for a new server, however, every single socket 771 motherboard I've found wants DDR2 ECC Registered and/or Fully Buffered RAM...

Ok, well I had the impression from your OP that you were in the market for a single socket solution.