Mark M wrote:

CBFalconer wrote:

Nothing uses parity checking today - that requires writing
individual 9 bit bytes. Expanded to a 64 bit wide word (for
the various Pentia etc.) the parity or ECC bits both fit in an
extra 8 bits, i.e. a 72 bit wide word. If todays systems have
no ECC they have no checking of any form. ECC is actually no
harder to handle on wide words.

Memory configurations that can use parity can use ECC, the
reverse is not true.

Exception - some embedded systems with smaller memory paths
may use parity.


Does the motherboard have to support ECC?

Or can you always put a stick of ECC memeory where there had been
non-ECC memory before?

The motherboard has to support it, otherwise at best the additional bits
that support ECC will be ignored.

I find it highly annoying that Intel etc have decided that "consumers" don't
need this and so not implemented it in most of the available chipsets.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)