Quick, but maybe not simple question.  When system Profiler reports "Error Correction Type," is this reporting that ECC is enabled, or only that the RAM supports ECC?  I want to be certain that ECC is fully enabled on my system and not just that it has the capability.

 

Thanks,

craigr 

Someone else may have a more accurate answer, but I believe it's just what the DMI reports, as the manufacturer filled it in.  A more definitive answer would be to reboot and start the Memtest tool, which will show you exactly what it is and its capabilities.

Someone else may have a more accurate answer, but I believe it's just what the DMI reports, as the manufacturer filled it in.

That is what I am afraid of.

 

A more definitive answer would be to reboot and start the Memtest tool, which will show you exactly what it is and its capabilities.

I don't think the later versions of Memtest include this capability.  I was looking for ECC info in Memtest and didn't see it.  It seems strange that memtest dropped this feature.  Am I wrong?

 

craigr

I don't think the later versions of Memtest include this capability.  I was looking for ECC info in Memtest and didn't see it.  It seems strange that memtest dropped this feature.  Am I wrong?

It certainly has changed!  I thought there used to be something like a column that indicated ECC on or off, but could have been thinking of caching.  Perhaps ECC info only shows up if it's on.

The problem is that the memory is reported as Hynix ECC in Memtest, but I think  that is just the DMI.  In System Overview my RAM shows up as having "Total Width: 72 bits; Data Width: 64 bits" which would be ECC.  However, under System Overview it also reports the memory as "Error Correction Type: None."

 

In my BIOS the memory is reported as "non-ecc" and I don't know why.

 

This is frustrating.  I don't know if ECC is enabled or which info to trust 

 

craigr

Your post shows that your motherboard is a SuperMicro C7Z87 ... is that correct?

 

If so, that's a Z87-based board, NOT a Cxxx server class board.    It does NOT support ECC memory.

 

 

Your post shows that your motherboard is a SuperMicro C7Z87 ... is that correct?

 

If so, that's a Z87-based board, NOT a Cxxx server class board.    It does NOT support ECC memory.

 

Actually, that used to be true, but a BIOS update allows for ECC support now.  It only supports "Unbuffered ECC or non-ECC."  I think that if the MB didn't support ECC that the system would not post at all?

 

craigr

Here is the current manual:

http://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/results.cfm

 

Page 1-7

Page 1-3

Page 1-4

 

Or maybe Supermicro just made it "support" ECC in the sense that the board will work with Unbuffered ECC but not utilize the ECC?  Seems strange that in the BIOS it says anything about ECC than and that my RAM is "non-ECC."

 

This is wonderful 

 

Thanks for your help,

craigr

 

I used this method and it worked for me, Supermicro X9SCL-F, but this method is only an indicator that ECC is working properly, not that is it not working.

 

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/How-to-Check-ECC-RAM-Functionality-462/#UbuntuLiveCD-ecc_check_c

 

If it works you’ll get a result similar to this:

 

5004-5007h: 0 0 60 0

5008-500Bh: 10 0 61 3

 

A 3 in the last column indicates that this program does detect ECC and that it is working, one line per channel, I only have one dimm.

 

 

I'm fairly certain that the SuperMicro board's "support" of ECC modules simply means it will WORK with ECC modules installed => NOT that it will support ECC.    Simple fact is that the Z87 chipset does NOT support ECC, so I don't see how they could provide that support on the board ... although I suppose it is possible to engineer some additional chipset extensions.    [Just doesn't seem likely]

 

As I noted above, you need a server-class board that uses a Cxxx chipset to get ECC support.  (and, of course, you have to use a CPU that has ECC support as well -- but you already have that)

 

 

or AMD and an Asus or Asrock board  but at this point probably cheaper to just get the right intel board.

I'm fairly certain that the SuperMicro board's "support" of ECC modules simply means it will WORK with ECC modules installed => NOT that it will support ECC.    Simple fact is that the Z87 chipset does NOT support ECC, so I don't see how they could provide that support on the board ... although I suppose it is possible to engineer some additional chipset extensions.    [Just doesn't seem likely]

 

As I noted above, you need a server-class board that uses a Cxxx chipset to get ECC support.  (and, of course, you have to use a CPU that has ECC support as well -- but you already have that)

I think you are correct.

 

I can still return my C7Z87, though I got it for a really good price.  What all Supermicro boards will work with my existing hardware that support ECC?  I'm having trouble sorting through the options with "Cxxx chipsets"...  So far I have found the X10SLL-F and X10SLA-F.  Are there any others?  I wish there were any easy way to find Supermicro baords that support my CPU and ECC memory that actually utilize the ECC capability.

 

Thanks again for your help 

 

craigr

I used this method and it worked for me, Supermicro X9SCL-F, but this method is only an indicator that ECC is working properly, not that is it not working.

 

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/How-to-Check-ECC-RAM-Functionality-462/#UbuntuLiveCD-ecc_check_c

 

If it works you’ll get a result similar to this:

 

5004-5007h: 0 0 60 0

5008-500Bh: 10 0 61 3

 

A 3 in the last column indicates that this program does detect ECC and that it is working, one line per channel, I only have one dimm.

Thanks for this.  I had found this link in my search to test ECC and was planning on trying.  But since my BIOS actually reports no ECC I think it's highly unlikely that ECC is enabled.  Add to that the chipset does not actually utilize ECC function and I think I just don't have ECC capability on my present hardware.

 

Best,

craigr

or AMD and an Asus or Asrock board  but at this point probably cheaper to just get the right intel board.

I just migrated away from AMD because of many reasons including the high power consumption.  I have been building PC's for more than 20 years and I think Asus used to be a good brand, but mos everything I have gotten of theirs over the past 10 years has been junk or just one step above junk.  I've considered getting an Asrock board, but the price savings over Supermicro is negligible so I will most likely stick with the better brand.

 

Thanks for you input though.

 

craigr

O fthe two Supermicro boards I have found, the X10SLL-F would be my preference due to the expansion cards layout.  It seems Provantage has the cheapest price I can find so far.  Anyone know of a cheaper place or other board options with my existing hardware?

 

http://www.provantage.com/supermicro-mbd-x10sll-f~7SUPM424.htm

 

craigr

O fthe two Supermicro boards I have found, the X10SLL-F would be my preference due to the expansion cards layout.  It seems Provantage has the cheapest price I can find so far.  Anyone know of a cheaper place or other board options with my existing hardware?

 

http://www.provantage.com/supermicro-mbd-x10sll-f~7SUPM424.htm

 

craigr

 

That's an excellent choice; a good price; and supports ECC memory and your current CPU.

 

Which version of memtest are we using?

 

http://www.memtest86.com/features.htm

 

also

 

http://www.memtest86.com/support/ver_history.htm  note that ECC code was removed in version 4.0 but was re introduced in version 5.0

 

also note that there have been many updates since 5.0 and looking at unraid release notes it looks like we are at 5.0.1 version of memtest. Might be time for an update

Which version of memtest are we using?

 

http://www.memtest86.com/features.htm

 

also

 

http://www.memtest86.com/support/ver_history.htm  note that ECC code was removed in version 4.0 but was re introduced in version 5.0

 

also note that there have been many updates since 5.0 and looking at unraid release notes it looks like we are at 5.0.1 version of memtest. Might be time for an update

I looked back through old unRAID releases, to see if I could find a Memtest v3, but we jumped from v2.11 to v4.0 at unRAID v4.5-beta13.  ECC detection was added during the Memtest v3's, removed in v4.0.  Perhaps somewhere online there's a Memtest86 v3.5.

I think it was removed because it wasn't a reliable test => it showed "On" or "Off" based on whether or not it detected it in the BIOS ... but this wasn't a reliable check.    It could show "Off" and yet ECC could still be working just fine.

 

For whatever reason, there simply doesn't seem to be a simple utility to confirm ECC.  It's safe to say, however, that if you have (a) a motherboard that supports ECC;  (b) ECC modules; and © a CPU that supports it; that you're protected.   

 

Which version of memtest are we using?

 

http://www.memtest86.com/features.htm

 

also

 

http://www.memtest86.com/support/ver_history.htm  note that ECC code was removed in version 4.0 but was re introduced in version 5.0

 

also note that there have been many updates since 5.0 and looking at unraid release notes it looks like we are at 5.0.1 version of memtest. Might be time for an update

I looked back through old unRAID releases, to see if I could find a Memtest v3, but we jumped from v2.11 to v4.0 at unRAID v4.5-beta13.  ECC detection was added during the Memtest v3's, removed in v4.0.  Perhaps somewhere online there's a Memtest86 v3.5.

 

But why wuoldn't we just move to the latest, free Memtest v6??

 

Oh and I recall a time I specifically ran an unraid memtest to confirm (maybe unreliably) ECC functionality. So at some point there was an unraid supplied memtest with ECC check. Well, in truth who knows maybe I even grabbed v3 on my own, but I don't recall doing that.

But why wouldn't we just move to the latest, free Memtest v6??

Memtest v6 does detect ECC, but ONLY runs on systems with UEFI.  The ISO you download detects if the system does not have UEFI, and boots Memtest86+ v4.3.7 instead, which does not have ECC support.

 

Oh and I recall a time I specifically ran an unraid memtest to confirm (maybe unreliably) ECC functionality. So at some point there was an unraid supplied memtest with ECC check. Well, in truth who knows maybe I even grabbed v3 on my own, but I don't recall doing that.

I checked very carefully, we have never had a v3 version included with unRAID.  We had 1.70, 2.01, and 2.11 for quite awhile, before jumping to v4.0 then 4.10 then 4.20, and now 5.01.

Fair enough. At least v5 supports some ECC checking from what I'm reading at least.

 

Ironically for me, according to this post http://www.passmark.com/forum/showthread.php?4470-MemTest86-ECC-RAM-error-reporting-status they've tested with the same hardware I have (mostly)

O fthe two Supermicro boards I have found, the X10SLL-F would be my preference due to the expansion cards layout.  It seems Provantage has the cheapest price I can find so far.  Anyone know of a cheaper place or other board options with my existing hardware?

 

http://www.provantage.com/supermicro-mbd-x10sll-f~7SUPM424.htm

 

craigr

 

That's an excellent choice; a good price; and supports ECC memory and your current CPU.

 

I ordered the board.  Wound up getting it on eBay from Newegg though.  Price was much closer after Provantage shipping and I had 10% off gift cards for eBay.

 

This will only leave me with one open expansion slot.  I hope I don't need more slots in the future...

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

craigr

I used this method and it worked for me, Supermicro X9SCL-F, but this method is only an indicator that ECC is working properly, not that is it not working.

 

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/How-to-Check-ECC-RAM-Functionality-462/#UbuntuLiveCD-ecc_check_c

 

If it works you’ll get a result similar to this:

 

5004-5007h: 0 0 60 0

5008-500Bh: 10 0 61 3

 

A 3 in the last column indicates that this program does detect ECC and that it is working, one line per channel, I only have one dimm.

Got the new motherboard.

 

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ cd /home/ubuntu/Desktop
ubuntu@ubuntu:~/Desktop$ sudo ./ecc_check
5004-5007h: 10 0 61 3 
5008-500Bh: 10 0 61 3

 

Looks like everything is in order now

 

Thanks guys,

craigr