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Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.hardware,comp.os.ms-windows.win95.misc,comp.os.os2.setup.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!munnari.OZ.AU!news.hawaii.edu!ames!agate!howland.reston.ans.net!ixnews1.ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!stephenk 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$m3a@symiserver2.symantec.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 06:21:02 GMT Lines: 36 Sender: stephenk@netcom.netcom.com Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.hardware:45060 comp.os.ms-windows.win95.misc:161548 comp.os.os2.setup.misc:17460 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:24057 In article <4s7rae$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.