RAM Help
RAM Help
I’m thinking about getting an i5 13600k later. I wanted to check if that’s a good choice. Since I’ll be upgrading servers and mostly use my PC for gaming, do I really need 32GB? I think 64GB would be better for now. Regarding RAM, it should be fine, but using second-hand RAM could save you money. Any advice would be appreciated!
I mostly purchase PC components used, haven’t faced many issues. I tend to compare ECC and non-ECC options. Usually ECC RAM functions in non-ECC settings on boards and processors lacking ECC support, though it’s not certain.
Unbuffered ECC can operate outside ECC mode. Registered memory types, such as the affordable ECC found on eBay, won’t perform in consumer CPUs. Used RAM generally works, as most kits I own currently do. This particular unit is registered memory and won’t function with a 13600K.
Usually unbuffered ECC dimming functions on standard motherboards even without ECC support. For proper utilization of ECC memory, you need the W680 chipset such as Asus W680-ACE or Supermicro X13SAE. The maximum capacity is 192GB for DDR5, though registration remains unsupported.
Is this related to a specific setup involving ECC RAM? The reason this particular listing functions is because it uses registered DDR3 with the chip integrated, and the part numbers on the sticks show M393, which indicates registered ECC on Samsung devices. It doesn’t depend on the board type—whether it's a server or a single-sided stick—but there’s no special feature beyond that. If this was achieved mainly for testing OCs or hwbot scripts, it should work with most consumer systems unless the stick itself has additional hardware modifications.
From my online research, it seems uncertain whether this is functional. It doesn't appear to be a standard server board. Intel's HEDT platforms have closely resembled server designs, with only minor differences in chipset details. Several X58 boards are noted for BIOS updates that include ECC support, but no Core i7 model I'm aware of supports it. The i7-975 in question also doesn't appear to be compatible.
Thanks for the assistance. I’ll search for some non-ecc or unbuffered ecc solutions—I’ve been used to handling servers and mostly relied on buffered ones.
I mostly purchased nearly the entire used PC, excluding the storage and power supply. I wasn’t sure if RAM was included. Thanks!
Which X58 boards are suitable and which BIOS updates are needed? Asus is not an option, so stick with earlier Giga X58 BIOS versions. Make sure the BIOS supports 1:1 uncore memclk without breaking stability. For my Giga X58 AUD3, this means I could possibly use an Xeon W for ECC support while keeping a decent IMMC to handle some ECC modules.
Generally, used RAM isn't significantly cheaper than buying new, making it less appealing unless you're looking for a specific budget. Many kits I've received were premium models or bulk purchases, which allowed flexibility in pricing. For typical consumer use, the value doesn't justify the cost. I've seen people install over 500GB on boards like SR2, and most X58 boards should work with registered memory if you have a Xeon. However, for RAM overclocking, registered DIMMs have limited potential, so sticking to unbuffered ones is usually better unless you need extra capacity.