ECC unbuffered vs registered

[tvanreeven]

I've been buying parts for a budget workstation I want to build for 3D rendering. So far I've got an Intel X79 motherboard and a Xeon E5-2670 V2.

 

So I was on the search for RAM and somehow I can get 32GB of ECC memory for way less than standard 32GB memory. The CPU and motherboard both support ECC but it could be possible the motherboard does not support buffered/registered ECC.

 

My questions:

1. Can I use buffered ECC memory on a motherboard that says it supports ECC?(somewhere on internet it said it might not support buffered ECC, only unbuffered)

2. Is there a difference in performance from buffered ECC compared to unbuffered?

3. Would anyone still recommend buying standard RAM?

 

 

Motherboard specs for reference:

Intel X79 Socket 2011 Motherboard   Features: Motherboard - ATX - Socket 2011 - DDR3 - Intel X79 Chipset - SATA 3Gb / s - USB 2.0 - Lan This is a new socket 2011 motherboard comes with an I / O shield, SATA cables and manual.

Packinglist:

1 x Motherboard
1 x Data cables 
1 x I/O shield    
1 x Driver-cd
 

CPU	Supports the  Intel® Core™ series processors  for LGA 2011 / Intel® Xeon series processors for LGA 2011
Chipset	Intel® X79 Express Chipset
Memory	Supports DDR3 1600/1333/1066 memory, including ECC ram
	Dual Channel architecture support up to 32GB by 4 DIMM slots
Audio	Realtek ALC662 6 Channel Audio Codec
LAN	Realtek 8111E 100M/1000M LAN Controller
Expansion Slots	2xPCI Express X16 slot (Pci-e 3, Supports Crossfire/SLI) ; PCI Express X1 slot
I/O Connectors	2xSATA 6Gb/s connector; 4xSATA 3Gb/s connector
	1xfront panel connector
	1xCOM port
	1xfront audio connector
	6xUSB 2.0/1.1 port; 2xUSB 3.0 port;
	1xPS/2 port
	1xRJ-45 port
	1xaudio jacks
Form Factor	245 x 245mm

[Windows7ge]

The knowledge I have on the difference between Unbuffered vs registered memory is either on the motherboard or on the module itself registered memory is suppose to be more power efficient using specific circuitry according to what I've been told. What other differences it has I'm unsure of.

[mariushm]

Registered is mostly on server grade processors with suitable motherboards. 

 

Workstation are regular processors can usually only use ECC Unbuffered memory (Ryzen and older AMD processors, some Intel series)

[tvanreeven]

4 minutes ago, mariushm said:

Registered is mostly on server grade processors with suitable motherboards. 

 

Workstation are regular processors can usually only use ECC Unbuffered memory (Ryzen and older AMD processors, some Intel series)

Well, the Xeon E5-2670 is a server grade processor so that will probably work... The question I think is; will the motherboard support it...

Ofcourse I could buy standard RAM but somehow ECC memory is cheap af

[SpaceGhostC2C]

You'll need the motherboard model number, as there are a handful X79 motherboards by Intel.

[tvanreeven]

36 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

You'll need the motherboard model number, as there are a handful X79 motherboards by Intel.

That's just it, it doesn't have a model nr. Or anything. Just Intel X79... but I just checked a few other X79 motherboards and most of them clearly state that they only support unbuffered memory. So I guess registered/buffered memory isn't going to work.

[SpaceGhostC2C]

3 minutes ago, tvanreeven said:

That's just it, it doesn't have a model nr. Or anything. Just Intel X79... but I just checked a few other X79 motherboards and most of them clearly state that they only support unbuffered memory. So I guess registered/buffered memory isn't going to work.

Yeah, I can't read anything there. But Intel seems to have 3 such boards:

http://ark.intel.com/products/series/70396/Intel-Desktop-Boards-with-Intel-X79-Express-Chipset

And the only one I've looked into is unbuffered ECC only:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/desktop-boards/000006989.html

[tvanreeven]

13 minutes ago, SpaceGhostC2C said:

Yeah, I can't read anything there. But Intel seems to have 3 such boards:

http://ark.intel.com/products/series/70396/Intel-Desktop-Boards-with-Intel-X79-Express-Chipset

And the only one I've looked into is unbuffered ECC only:

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/desktop-boards/000006989.html

It probably won't work... Ill just stick to standard memory. Thnx everyone!