256 GB of memory available. ECC protection included or excluded?
256 GB of memory available. ECC protection included or excluded?
I'm thinking about boosting my gaming PC's memory to 256 GB. It's a Threadripper 3960x running on an ASUS ROG Strix TRX40-E, and I have a few choices: G.SKILL RIPJAWS V 256GB with 8x32GB, a 3600MHZ DDR4 KINGSTON SERVER PREMIER KSM32ED8/32ME at 32GB, and ECC DDR4 at 3200MHZ. Of course, this is expensive, so I need another perspective. Are ECC options really necessary at this level? Would it be feasible to run ECC RAM at 3600 MHz? Does using ECC actually prevent compatibility issues between sticks, or would mixing them complicate things? I'm curious about the trade-offs here.
If you're already investing heavily, I'd opt for ECC. I wouldn't attempt to exceed the RAM's maximum as defined by its specs. ECC is built for reliability, and pushing it beyond limits can cause instability. To my knowledge, ECC doesn't improve compatibility with other modules. Although it's not widely reported, I have 128GB of RDIMM ECC in my server—all eight units bought separately (same model) and they function seamlessly together. It's unusual to find identical models that still work well these days.
ECC could slow things down slightly, yet reduce errors. With DDR5 it’s already part of the design, so it really depends on your requirements. Most servers likely rely on ECC, but its impact might vary based on your needs. Also, consider whether the benefits justify the expense.
It's clear you've experienced variability in performance across different builds. Yes, the speed might need adjustment—like reducing a 3200mt/s RAM to around 2667mt/s for optimal results in your specific setup.
I've been checking more closely and came across a claim about using all eight RAM slots in TR Gen 3 capping the supported speed at 2666 MHz. I'm curious if that could explain the problems I'm experiencing with my system. It currently has eight non-ECC sticks running at 3600, and it's generally stable until certain issues arise.
CPU memory controller supports only 3200mt/s (3rd generation). You may keep XMP active, manually set it to 3200, and run some tests—normal operation might cause odd problems. In the timings settings, you can turn off "power down mode" to avoid throttling when the system is idle. Edited October 21, 2021 by ShrimpBrime added for clarity.