SDRAM ECC Setting

Common Options : Disabled, Check Only, Correct Errors, Correct+Scrub

Quick Review

This BIOS feature is the extended version of the DRAM Data Integrity Mode BIOS feature. It is found in newer chipsets that support more than just simple ECC (Error Checking and Correction)

The first mode is Disabled, which disables the memory controller's ECC capabilities. If you are not using ECC memory modules, you must select this option.

The Check Only mode forces the memory controller to only check for errors. The memory controller will detect and report single- and double-bit errors but it will not correct them. This mode offers minimal performance degradation but doesn't improve data integrity at all.

If you select the Correct Errors mode, the memory controller will not only check for and detect single- and double-bit errors, it will also correct single-bit errors. This mode has a higher overhead. The plus side is it improves data integrity by seamlessly correcting single-bit errors.

The final ECC mode is Correct+Scrub. With this mode enabled, the memory controller will not only detect multiple-bit errors and correct single-bit errors, it will also write the corrected single-bit value back into memory! However, the scrubbing operation results in even more overhead.

Generally speaking, the Check Only mode isn't particularly useful because it only offers error checking and reporting. Users of ECC memory modules should focus mainly on the Correct Errors and Correct+Scrub modes because they actually improve data integrity by correcting single-bit errors. Of course, if you are using normal, non-ECC memory modules, you must select the Disabled mode!

For more information on how ECC works, please refer the DRAM Data Integrity Mode BIOS feature.

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