Linus Torvalds criticizes Intel's approach to ECC market segmentation.
Linus Torvalds criticizes Intel's approach to ECC market segmentation.
Linus Torvalds criticizes Intel's approach to ECC memory in the industry. He notes that Intel keeps ECC compatibility mostly for their Xeon models, with very few options in the Core series, mainly for embedded devices. He acknowledges bit-flip errors occur but expects them to rise with increasing density. He believes mainstream adoption of ECC is long overdue. For more details, you can check the 2009 Google paper or the referenced links.
-Updated to CPU, Motherboards and Memory - This doesn't meet Tech News Posting Guidelines. A complaint about specific company marketing tactics on an archived email thread isn't considered a reliable news source. If such articles were frequently cited, @jonnyGURU would likely be the top reference.
ECC has been difficult to locate for quite some time. It wasn’t widely adopted until recently, and RAM has become more affordable now. Keep an eye out for ECC memory as it becomes standard.
Intel's market segmentation means ECC isn't widely adopted on standard desktops. You can find it on certain workstations, but only with specific processors like the Xeon and compatible motherboards. Because of limited mainstream adoption, ECC remains mostly confined to the server market. For mass production, keeping costs low per DIMM is crucial. The last desktop I built with ECC was an AMD Phenom II, which is still in use by a few people. I haven't experienced any Windows crashes or kernel panics there.
I've used systems for years with standard memory and no blue screens either. That doesn't really support the case for ECC. The main drawback for gamers is the performance drop—most people just switch off. ECC is built for redundancy, and most setups come with default speeds like 1067mhz or 1200mhz. High-speed RAM isn't typical with ECC modules. The extra cost comes from the added hardware, which raises the price. These factors make ECC ideal for servers and workstations needing reliability, not for gaming rigs. I've seen some K8N-DRE boards with memory issues due to CPU problems, not ECC. Also, running Windows Server would help utilize ECC better, but it's not suited for desktops. Some desktops support ECC at a higher cost, but it sacrifices performance. It's a trade-off I wouldn't choose for gaming.
Kernel panics stem from faulty drivers or hardware issues like bit flips, but they can also be triggered by power supply problems affecting components. This issue highlights the importance of scaling in design—segmenting memory types could have led to more affordable ECC RAM. You might even find high-performance ECC options available. However, the gaming segment remains untouched because most users don’t treat Xeon processors as a gaming platform. Performance isn’t driven by PC gaming demands, which keeps costs down. It’s worth noting that ECC speed is limited by the system’s architecture, and the OS doesn’t influence it. The kernel treats ECC as a generic feature, unrelated to persistent memory like Optane. Licensing requirements apply for certain configurations, but not all users treat their PCs as gaming rigs. Some opt for stability over the premium price of fault-tolerant hardware. Still, AMD’s approach seems reasonable compared to Intel’s practices.
You're right about the market positioning. Emphasizing reliability and stability will be key. Highlighting performance in demanding environments can help justify the investment. The pitch could focus on real-world applications where uptime matters, rather than just theoretical benchmarks.