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I would like to build a storage server (based on GNU/Linux or FreeBSD) which will be on all the time. To prevent data corruption (which is unlikely to happen as I never had such a problem, but better be safe than sorry) I would like to use ECC RAM.

Although not as good as EDD (?) (which is way more expensive) and provides additional protection. ECC seems to correct only single bits errors.

ECC registered RAM is only usable with workstation / server boards such as intel xeon lga1366 or amd interlagos/magny-cours/valencia g34 or c32. ECC Unbuffered is usable on intel xeon lga1155 or amd am3+ on asus boards.

The second option will be way much cheaper on the processor and motherboard side, and I doubt I will need more than 16GB of RAM (4x4 GB ECC Unbuffered are the largest affordable sticks).

The doubt I'm having is (mainly concerning asus am3+ board): is ECC-unbuffered RAM as good as ECC-registered RAM (from the point of view of safety and reliability) ? Or is it a worse choice. I don't care much for the speed.

More details: server will use a server case with up to 24 x 3.5'' drives and should consume as little as possible. LGA1155 seems to be in that sense a better bet (TDP ~ 20-95W) versus the others (>80W) for twice the price. Any suggestion is welcome. Let's say less than 120W at idle (~ with 10 hard disks out of 24).

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Asking on SuperUser will get you SuperUser answer. Ask on ServerFault will get you ServerFault answer. Get my drift? – hydroparadise Jan 24 at 17:34
The FAQ states hardware questions can be made on superuser ... – user51166 Jan 24 at 17:54
@hydroparadise Check the FAQ - we allow all hardware questions. – Simon Sheehan Jan 24 at 20:15
Sry, I thought that was assumed. Was only making mention that from the OS side there could be different considerations in how ECC is addressed because this will utlimately become a server application. – hydroparadise Jan 24 at 22:11
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Well, if you use only 16GB RAM - which is not a server RAM range - you will be fine with pretty standard any desktop RAM/sys.

If it is only a storage server, you won't even need that much CPU performance.

Like you said, go with Sandy bridge, it will give you a cool, performant and reliable system.

Speaking of 16GB RAM ranges, you don't have to worry about ECC stuff.

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Thank for your quick reply. I though above 4GB RAM you would need ECC. It's sure for 256GB RAM or half a TB of RAM ECC is a MUST. But I though 16GB was kinda the limit ... Anyway it's strange ... a Xeon 4C/8T Sandybridge costs 100$ less (at my place) than an equivalent desktop CPU. Total cost is ~ the same. No drawbacks on ECC here. Are you sure that ECC is not needed ??? – user51166 Jan 24 at 17:57
@user51166 100% sure. 16GB is like the standard nowadays on mid/high end rigs. – bamboon Jan 24 at 17:59
The fact it is the defacto standard doesn't necessarily mean that it's reliable enough. Already read about cases on the internet where all data on disk became corrupted on the HDD not because of the SATA controller, but because of the bad (non-ecc) RAM. – user51166 Jan 24 at 18:12
@user51166 Tell the guy who said that, that non-ECC definitely was not his problem. – bamboon Jan 24 at 18:17
That rassures me since I already have a home server to do other (less important) things. However I am going to use ECC ram for the NAS. But: is REGISTERED > UNBUFFERED ? Will be reliability compromised using UNBUFFERED over REGISTERED ? Is REGISTERED safer ? I know I'm talking about a change of one bit flipping once every week but still ... The problem about whole drive currupted is surely due to a bad stick not the random bit flip caused by comic rays ... where non-ecc RAM corrupts everything, ECC RAM will perform a shut down or reboot ... – user51166 Jan 24 at 18:25
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