Does Non ECC RAM are really bad?

[NamJam]

I want to ask you something as how erratic will it be to use the Non Ecc Ram? I have gone through some threads which tells me to use the non-ecc RAMs which I don't consider as a good recommendations. Is there somebody who can provide me real information about the Non-Ecc Ram? And what are the pros and cons of the these types of RAMs? I have heard that Non-ECC rams are not reliable for use.

[Hardwareman]

I have collected some informations about an ECC and NON ECC ram and it states that ECC RAM works without problems on a motherboard that does not support ECC and if the user is in need to use an ECC then NON ECC won't be working. So I using an ECC RAM is always safe to use if you are attaching the same on your home PC. Usually Non Ecc RAMs are recommended to use on the Servers.

[Killen]

ECC (Error Correction Code or Error Checking and Correcting) Memory DRAM error correction code. This memory supports itself managing bit errors in memory (checking parity bit). It is in the form of strips and Dimm is only useful on a server. Detection and correction of errors without stopping the processor. Unless I am mistaken you can not mix ECC and non ECC.

[T.J.]

Non-Ecc RAM is completely superior enough for almost all applications which has been used in most of the desktop computers but it is necessary for your motherboard to have support for such RAMs. Actually ECC RAMs are those people who runs huge FEA/CFD simulations that lasts for weeks or more than that. Another fact which I have came to know that an ECC RAMs does not runs as fast as that of normal RAMs due to its extra parity bits which can block you while overclocking.

[RoninBlade]

Now you must be knowing that an ECC rams are having some extra parity bits to check as compare to the NON ECC one. So I think buying the Non Ecc is anyday better for the home computer system which does not need that extra parity bit checking. And even an ECC RAMs are more expensive then that of the Non Ecc RAMs. And using an ECC Rams on the motherboard which does not support for the same then that particular motherboard would be running that RAM as NON ECC only by ignoring those extra parity bits.

[Rawko]

ECC (Error Correction Code or Error Checking and Correcting) Memory DRAM error correction code. This memory supports itself managing bit errors in memory (checking parity bit). It is in the form of strips and Dimm is only useful on a server. Detection and correction of errors without stopping the processor. Unless I am mistaken you can not mix ECC and non ECC (see the manual of your CM is posted in)