What's the difference between Desktop and Server RAM

[Loyx]

Hi folks,

I'm wondering what is the difference between the desktop RAM and the server RAM. I only see that the price is more elevated in the server RAM. Why? Speeds are equal! :confused:

I'm building a powerful webserver/mediaserver (this means 24/7) to handle video and I need at least 16GB of DDR2. What kind of RAM should I buy?

I need a reason to buy that server RAM cos I can save a lot of $....

[Serra]

I'm not really sure what you mean by "Server RAM". Do you mean FB-DIMMS? Because servers are not defined by what kind of memory or processor they have - you could very well have a server running a Pentium 2.

If you do mean FB-DIMMS, it's because they operate differently and require additional materials/logic to build. They're also generally well binned.

But you could just as well use a system which doesn't use FB-DIMMS and use regular DDR2 which is cheap as dirt right now, depending on how your "server" is to be configured (for example, I don't believe AMD Opteron-based systems can use FB-DIMMS at all).

[ExodusC]

This is a pretty simple definition, but I hope it answers your question. FB-DIMMs, or "server memory" generally offer error correction on the memory itself. What this means is that if something does go wrong in the memory for some reason or another, (a bit is flipped when it shouldn't) the memory can detect and correct this error without the rest of the server having to do anything.

It's really only used for servers used in places like datacenters where you need 100% accuracy and cannot risk having a crash or any downtime.

Honestly, you probably don't need FB-DIMMs, normal desktop memory should work fine for what you want to do.

[nn_step]

generally speaking ECC

[Lloyd]

I need a reason to buy that server RAM cos I can save a lot of $....


well it depends on your motherboard - most server boards you can only use FB-DIMMS or ECC Registered RAM, so you have to use it. My old dual Xeon for example, i bought some standard ECC RAM for it, the xeon had a hissy fit and refused to boot. I actually needed Registerd ECC ram, so server boards are very picky indeed.

And i can't think of a desktop board that can take 16GB anyway, so i think a server board would be your only option.

[Loyx]

Thank you so much guys... probably I'll buy these memories...

http://www.directron.com/kr667d2d8f52gi.html

I think that are good enough... ;)

[Hockster]

Depends on your motherboard choice.

[Lloyd]

Yeah what motherboard are you getting?

[Loyx]

I like this barebone... xD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816152081R

What do u think about it?