RDRAM ECC vs. Non-ECC Memory -- Can they be mixed (in separate slots)?

I am upgrading a computer that uses RDRAM (Rambus) memory. One pair
of slots on the motherboard is filled, and I have found matching RDRAM
on E-bay. The only thing is, I'm not sure whether what it's the
computer now is Error-Corrrecting, and also not sure if the chips I
want to buy are error correcting.

Assuming everything else matches (same bus speed and refresh rate), is
it okay to have one pair of memory chips that are error-correcting,
and another pair that are not? Would the motherboard care either way?

(My best guess is that the current configuration is probably not
error-correcting, so then the question would be, is it okay to add a
second pair of memory chips that are error correcting?)

Thanks in advance for all replies.

Steve O.


"Spying On The College Of Your Choice" -- How to pick the college that is the Best Match for a high school student's needs.
www.SpyingOnTheCollegeOfYourChoice.com

"Steven O." <> wrote in message
news:...
> I am upgrading a computer that uses RDRAM (Rambus) memory. One pair
> of slots on the motherboard is filled, and I have found matching RDRAM
> on E-bay. The only thing is, I'm not sure whether what it's the
> computer now is Error-Corrrecting, and also not sure if the chips I
> want to buy are error correcting.
>
> Assuming everything else matches (same bus speed and refresh rate), is
> it okay to have one pair of memory chips that are error-correcting,
> and another pair that are not? Would the motherboard care either way?

Usually not, but consult your mainboard manual. Note, however,
that the ECC feature will not be operational if any of the memory is
non-ECC.

-- Bob Day
http://bobday.vze.com

Hi, Bob. Thanks for replying. Unfortunately, due to the way I worded
my questions, and the brevity of your reply, I'm a little unclear on
your answer. Did you mean:

(a) "Usually not" -- The motherboard will NOT care, and the ECC and
non-ECC memory probably WILL be happy together, or

(b) "Usually not" -- It is NOT okay to have ECC and non-ECC together,
that is, they probably WILL NOT be happy together.

Thanks in advance for clarification. As for the manual -- if either
the manual or Gateway tech support had been helpful, I would not be
poking around here for answers. (I did try them both....)

Regards,
Steve O.

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 00:32:30 GMT, "Bob Day" <>
wrote:

>"Steven O." <> wrote in message
>news:.. .
>> I am upgrading a computer that uses RDRAM (Rambus) memory. One pair
>> of slots on the motherboard is filled, and I have found matching RDRAM
>> on E-bay. The only thing is, I'm not sure whether what it's the
>> computer now is Error-Corrrecting, and also not sure if the chips I
>> want to buy are error correcting.
>>
>> Assuming everything else matches (same bus speed and refresh rate), is
>> it okay to have one pair of memory chips that are error-correcting,
>> and another pair that are not? Would the motherboard care either way?
>
>Usually not, but consult your mainboard manual. Note, however,
>that the ECC feature will not be operational if any of the memory is
>non-ECC.
>
>-- Bob Day
>http://bobday.vze.com
>


"Spying On The College Of Your Choice" -- How to pick the college that is the Best Match for a high school student's needs.
www.SpyingOnTheCollegeOfYourChoice.com

"Steven O." <> wrote in message
news:...

> (a) "Usually not" -- The motherboard will NOT care, and the ECC and
> non-ECC memory probably WILL be happy together, or

This is usually the case.

DS