DRAM types (or: Why Use Memory with Parity?)

[silverhairb]

Is there any advantage memory with parity vs. no parity?

To put this in context, I just upgraded a 3660 replacing all the old DRAM memory (160meg, non-parity) with 256meg with parity. Its what I could easily get my hands on.

Only difference I notice is that the router seems subjectively slower to boot due to memory parity initialization.

Is there actually a need for, or for that matter an advantage to using, memory with parity in today's environment, or is this just a throw-back to earlier days?

[the other] Bill

 

[baddos]

While memory errors are a lot lower than they used to be, they still happen. Having parity means it should be able to recover from them instead of having to drop the data.

Parity can also slow memory writes as well, so it's not just the boot time affected. This is usually not very much.