DavidOverton.com
This site is my way to share my views and general business and IT information with you about Microsoft, IT solutions for ISVs, technologists and businesses, large and small.  
Microsoft says PCs may need DRAM upgrade (to ECC RAM)

I have looked at many system crashed and often ended up concluding that RAM is at fault (random causes of BSODs is a very good pointer to this).  It now appears that single bit errors is being considered as a major system failing.  obviously, when spec'ing a server or computer perhaps you should consider ECC RAM as a standard to improve reliability.

For about four years Microsoft has been collecting data through its Online Crash Analysis (OCA) tool that reports system crashes to a Microsoft Web site. About 18 months ago it began sharing OCA data and the white paper with systems and chip makers. According to one source, the report said single-bit error rates in DRAM are now among the top ten causes of systems failures

Source: EETimes.com - Microsoft says PCs may need DRAM upgrade

Technorati Tags: ,

Posted Wed, May 23 2007 8:16 AM by David Overton

Comments

Tim Long wrote re: Microsoft says PCs may need DRAM upgrade (to ECC RAM)
on Thu, May 24 2007 2:18 AM

I tend to agree. I'm a closet system builder and I've learned the hard way that cheap RAM is utterly false economy. When I buy DRAM now, I insist on seeing a brand name on it and a lifetime warranty. Generally I go for Kingston, but anything branded with a warranty will do.

I would definitely use ECC memory for a server. In fact, until recently my workstation had ECC memory, but I recently replaced it with standard memory, mainly because it is getting long in the tooth and PC133 memory is hard to find nowadays.

One of my hobbies is astronomy and I use a specialised CCD camera to take photos of very dim and distant objects. Every now and then an image turns up with what looks like a little "tear" in it. These are caused by cosmic ray hits and it's amazing how much effect they can have on a semiconductor - so it's not difficult to imagine the same thing happening to PC memory.

Add a Comment

(required)
(optional)
(required)
Remember Me?

(c)David Overton 2006-23