Memory errors

[Him]

What causes memory errors? Do they have to come striaght from the factory with errors, or can they develop due to bad equipment or something? If the latter, what is the best way to avoid them? Just get good parts?

 

[Elbatrop1]

Cosmic rays cause memory errors And thus, ECC RAM was created.



http://www.memorysuppliers.com/eccwhatisita.html
http://www.linuxsa.org.au/pipermail/linuxsa/2002-October/047099.html

 

[Chankama]

Yes.. And cosmic rays have other err.. "more close to home" side effects too.. If you are a guy that is.. :-\.

I wouldn't waste my $$ on ECC though. Even though it's useful for reliable systems..

And yeah. bad parts, transient errors like the ones caused by cosmic rys, overheating and damaging stuff, trying to clock the module faster than it can handle - can give u junk, etc.

 

[Him]

Damn, supernovas, aint that something. I didnt know alpha particles and things like that bothered RAM. Damn, brings a whole new level to RAM that I didnt know about.

Looks like maybe I should invest in some lead underwear, too.

 

[Chankama]

Looks like maybe I should invest in some lead underwear, too.

haha.. You figured it out ..