Yes, Xeon X5660 and X58 motherboards support standard RAM without ECC.
Yes, Xeon X5660 and X58 motherboards support standard RAM without ECC.
Yes, the Xeon X5660 and X58 motherboards support standard RAM. They are compatible with regular DDR modules, including non-ECC RAM, as long as the RAM sticks meet the required specifications for your board. Just ensure the RAM is compatible with your system's specifications.
I own an older rack server in my home (similar series, dual Xeon 6-core, now with 128GB of ECC memory). When I purchased the RAM separately, during testing I used some sticks I had on hand. It passed the test. I was able to set up a non-GUI version of Ubuntu, which appeared to function properly. Of course, results might differ. **No graphics or CPU-based graphics present.**
Check if Windows 10 functions with that CPU and note any BSOD reports.
Running the X5670 on X58 works well without ECC memory issues. Keep VT-d disabled. On your P6X58D Premium, it may crash at startup if VT-d is enabled—otherwise it performs reliably.
Previous DIMMs didn’t perform well for me, but standard ones have functioned smoothly. I’ve never faced problems with 8GB DIMMs either, though it might just be that they’re well-suited for this setup. Even some unusual boards such as SR-2s or their Classified X58 models handle 8GB DIMMs without trouble, and any potential issues would likely come from specific hardware.
I have 8GB DIMM modules that tend to be grumpy, but they’re G.Skill Ripjaws X. I’ve never seen them function with any Nehalem-based CPU, yet they perform reliably on Sandy and newer chips. Most of the registered DIMMs are x4 units, which clearly require a server chipset to operate properly.