www.pegasos.org

Hardware - ECC RAM

rogerius - Apr 24, 2005 - 14:54
Post subject: ECC RAM
Hello everybody!

I thought this is the right place to ask: can i use (Kingston) ECC DDR RAM for PegasosII ?

Thanks for the help!
gunne - Apr 24, 2005 - 15:58
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hi rogerius

I have not tried with ECC Ram myself, so cant answer right of.

I also would like to ask you for what reason you would like to use ECC Ram ?

The Northbridge, Marvell, used in the Pegasos II supports ECC Ram.

There is no special configurations in the firmware to make when such kind of memory is used that I know about.

As when coming to Linux, there is a site with information about this with management interface for ECC Ram to find here:

Link

For MorphOS there is no such interface that I know about.
rogerius - Apr 24, 2005 - 16:35
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hello!

So. I'm just about to get my Pegasos and have to get other parts too.. The price (here, Hungary) is almost the same for the ECC and NON-ECC rams. I wanted to know if there is any advantage for ECC rams in the Pegasos system. That's it.

Sincerely: Rogerius
gunne - Apr 24, 2005 - 17:11
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hi

Yes, I understand.

I have not found the reason for trying with such kind of memory, as there is no software to use I know about that makes any special advantages or benefit of it. But if there is anybody else that have anything to contribute with here, you are of course more then welcome to tell.

However the northbridge chip in the Pegasos II supports ECC Ram.

Recommended memory to use with the Pegasos II is DDR266, PC2100 (for the specifications), however DDR333 and DDR400 works also.

I cannot think of any special advantages using ECC Ram, and the Pegasos II is a very good and stable machine. However again, if anybody else have anything here to say about this with any special benefit by using ECC Ram, please do.
ironfist - Apr 24, 2005 - 17:13
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
<b>Rogerius</b>:
I doubt you will get any improvements from using ECC. If the Pegasos
would have supported them we would all know about it.

<b>Gunne</b>: In case you don't know - ECC stands for Error Correction. The
motherboard and firmware takes care of this automatically - if it was
supported. No special software is needed.
gunne - Apr 24, 2005 - 17:47
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hi ironfist

ECC stands for, Error Correction Code.

Maybe you didn't look at the website (LinuxECC) I linked to ?

I remember also having read at some places, that some people claim there is no advantages in using ECC memory over all if the software can handle this in itself.
dholm - Apr 24, 2005 - 18:05
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
The application at that website is just to identify which module is causing an error (if any). The firmware should handle the error correction automatically if ECC is supported, just like ironfist said.
rogerius - Apr 24, 2005 - 18:32
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Ok. Got to clear things. As far as I know ECC in case of a RAM module means Error Correction Circuit. This kind of RAM not just recognizes the errors, but corrects them (parity bits). I think it means the ECC RAM module itself handels the errors.
In this case is there any problem using ECC RAM with Pegasos?
gunne - Apr 24, 2005 - 19:05
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hello

Yup.

I did read a lot around a lot of variuos places about this with registered and ecc memory a while back. Think it was two year ago now.

And I did found a lot of discussions about this in many variuos aspects.

However I then came to the conclusion, thats no idea to use it, or doing any tests with it neither.

For the Pegasos 1 and also for the AmigaOne hardware, which both uses the articia northbridge chip, it is recommended to use registered memory with or without ecc by the manufacturer of the hardware & nortbridge.

But I stand for what I wrote, that I do not think it is any benefit to find by using ecc memory with the Pegasos II. Perhaps it might the opposite instead, (little slower memory access could perhaps be the result), but Im without knowing, as I dont know anybody that have done any tests with this.

Also I remember reading that some people did claim there is no benefit (instead the opposite) in using ecc memory over all, if the software handles this in itself. So from this I then came to the conclusion that you should look into what kind of software you have the aim in running, and from that aspect find out if it is a benefit to use ecc memory in the system. However I still find it unclear if it is any benefit to use it with Pegasos II.

Edit:

The webpage with the software (LinuxECC) says: Develop an ECC management interface for the Linux kernel. This will include ECC configuration control as well as error reporting. (I have not tested this software myself).

rogerius:

If you not are any developer, or you do not have any special interest into it, I would like to suggest you to go for ordinary non-ecc memory, DDR266. It works very fine. Ok ? Smile
ironfist - Apr 24, 2005 - 19:54
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
<b>Gunne</b>: I guess you prefer people using standard
memory modules that breaks so you can sell more, ey?

--> Smile <--
gunne - Apr 24, 2005 - 20:48
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
ironfist:

Heh... yeah I think I will always have my back back, no matter what I say or do, or how to say.... Wink

Btw...

I also forget to say to rogerius.

Welcome to pegasos.org !
ironfist - Apr 25, 2005 - 03:21
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
On a more serious note, ECC is mostly used on high-end
workstations and servers. Cheap motherboards never
support them.
rogerius - Apr 25, 2005 - 09:31
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hello everybody!

Thanx for all the ideas and help. I will go with non-ecc, that's not going to make trouble for sure. I just thought someone tried using ecc rams and have some experience.
dholm - Apr 25, 2005 - 18:36
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Image
gunne - Apr 26, 2005 - 07:51
Post subject: RE: ECC RAM
Hi

rogerius:

Best luck with your Pegasos !
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