*BSD News Article 74267


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From: stephenk@netcom.com (Stephen Knilans)
Subject: Re: HELP: Can I mix memory speeds
Message-ID: <stephenkDutwB2.52D@netcom.com>
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
References: <31E07EA8.66E140D7@henge.com> <31E6880E.408D@nome.net> <4s7rae$m3a@symiserver2.symantec.com>
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 06:21:02 GMT
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Sender: stephenk@netcom.netcom.com
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In article <4s7rae$m3a@symiserver2.symantec.com> tedm%toybox@agora.rdrop.com writes:
>In <31E6880E.408D@nome.net>, Ramon Gandia <nsrfg@nome.net> writes:
>
>[memory explanation deleted]
>
>>It is best to buy EDO.
>
>No No No!!!
>
> EDO memory is non-parity.  If your MB supports parity, it is best
>to buy parity memory.  (unfortunately, the toy versions of the Triton chipset
>don't)
>
>Stealing Paul Vixie's words:  "Using non-parity memory on a Unix system is
>like hanging a `kick me' sign on your backside"


This is a REALLY stupid statement!  The chance o a memory error is ALWAYS the
same, REGARDLESS of the O/S!  Also, a crash in UNIX could be so disastrous,
that the small chance of preventing corruption may not be worth the more 
likely format damage.

Personally, while I DO see a GOOD reason to have ECC, and have parity on 
devices where it is RECOVERABLE(such as disk drives)(though these have OTHER
methods to verify data as well), I think parity is probably over blown.

MANY people have had computers WITHOUT parity or tests, and have had NO 
problems.  I had several with BOTH, with NO problems!  NOW, though my 
pentiums LACK parity, they have tests, and NO problems!

ALL of the corruption problems I have had on UNIX based systems had NOTHING
to do with memory errors.  In fact,most of those systems DO have parity.