Yes, non-ECC RAM can function in an ECC RAM motherboard setup.
Yes, non-ECC RAM can function in an ECC RAM motherboard setup.
Varies by system; some require ECC memory for startup, while others don’t mind. For older Xeon E5 models, ECC is usually necessary to power up.
You're facing a tough choice. It seems you're either settling for subpar Chinese boards or opting for a used unit nearing the end of its life. X79 doesn't really fit the current market. For high performance, a modern i3 with excellent single-core speed and low power usage can match up well in multi-threaded environments. It's more practical for servers where many threads are beneficial, but even then, there are superior alternatives available.
She opted for budget models like b350/450 and x370/470 to save money. Used zen and zen2 also work well, effectively targeting these older single-core systems at roughly comparable or lower prices. The best deal isn't found on the x79; x99 offers a reasonably affordable 16+ core Xeon like the e5 2683 v4 ES. Also, ECC DDR4 chips under 2666mhz are inexpensive and frequently match the cost of standard DDR3, though they're still a bit pricier than ECC DDR3.
Generally, if the system needs Registered (Buffered) ECC memory (RDIMM), you can't use un-buffered DDR4 (UDIMM). However, if the platform demands un-buffered ECC, you may use un-bufferred non-ECC DDR4, though this is usually limited to certain models like e3 Xeons. If you're interested in older systems, RDIMMs are relatively affordable on the used market.