Memory Upgrade - ECC or non-ECC?

[Redeye]

I wish to up the DDR memory on my XP Home Edition driven computer, from 1 gb to 2 gb. The motherboard is an ASUS K8V-MX, and system spec (as scanned by CRUCIAL) is:

 

DDR Upgrade for the ASUS K8V-MX

 

Memory:

DDR PC3200, DDR PC2700

 

Memory Type: DDR PC3200, DDR PC2700, DDR (ECC)

Maximum Memory: 2GB Slots: 2

Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200, DDR PC2700 with a maximum of 1GB per slot.

 

CRUCIAL also quoted me £100+ to supply 2 x 1gb DDR, ECC !!!

Looking on eBay, I saw several sellers of (used) 1gb DDR, ECC,but they stated these were for servers only, home computers use non-ECC. I emailed a couple of these sellers, who both said I should be looking at non-ECC.

Why, then, did the CRUCIAL scan tell me ECC? And where can I find a cheaper source - I'm almost halfway to a new computer at that price? Basically, I don't understand the difference between ECC & non-ECC: I thought ECC was buffered & non-ECC was unbuffered, but I was told ECC can also be unbuffered?

Confused of Scarborough !

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

ECC (Error Correcting Code) RAM checks for errors in the transfer of data. This type of RAM has an extra chip on the module to facilitate this extra function.

Non-ECC does not have the extra chip.

 

If in doubt then Non-ECC is the way to go as motherboards that support ECC will undoubtably support Non-ECC too.

But m/boards that support only Non-ECC are not compatible with ECC Modules.

 

This specification for your motherboard suggests that it is compatible with both ECC and Non-ECC

K8V-MX Specs

[Redeye]

Thanks for that, Ken: looking at the motherboard specs that you kindly provided the link for, it states that it has 2 expansion slots - but mine doesn't !

However, the 'Leader of the Opposition' has OK'd the purchase of a new compy - she

too is fed up with the sluggish performance of this one - now some 10 years old!

Kind regards, R.

[KenB]

The expansion slots shown in the specs are an error.

They(expansion slots) refer to PCI and PCIe slots - for Video Cards etc.

[BeeCeeBee]

I have had a look at that MOBO in the US site "newegg" and it shows as discontinued. But in the comment section there was one person who commented that he had the motherboard for a long time and that it is durable. That comment was dated 2007. So while Ken is absolutely correct and the expansion slots have no relationship to the memory slots it may be time to just say goodbye to it.

 

Under normal usage 1GB is sufficient to get decent performance out of XP Home and upping it will certainly improve performance but not to the point that you may expect or want.

 

So, if you have the "permission" and you have the money, shop while the shopping is good. :)

[Redeye]

Thanks to you both for taking the time to assist. New compy here we come ! R

[KenB]

Good Luck with the new machine :)