ECC or non-ECC for iMac 27-inch 2020 edition?

[TinaBelcher]

Hello.

So, I finally ordered my first iMac in many years! I had the late '09 version, and it run it's corse in spring 2017, and I've been using MacBook Pro since. So I'm completely out of the game regarding configuration of new gen iMacs. I went with the 512 gb storage, despite it hurting my wallet. But I've read up on memory storage, and I've stuck with the standard 8 GB. I'm looking the Crucial mode, but I'm confused about the ECC. The ones I've found says "non-ECC" and I have no idea what to go after... It's the first time I've even heard this word, and had to google a bit... any tech expert that can tell me what I should go for? It says

"Crucial - DDR4 - 16 GB - SO DIMM 260-PIN - 2666 MHz / PC4-21300 - CL19 - 1.2 V - non-ECC"



"Crucial - DDR4 - 32 GB: 2 x 16 GB - SO DIMM 260-PIN - 2666 MHz / PC4-21300 - CL19 - 1.2 V - non-ECC "

 

[reclusive46]

ECC is more for workstations/severs, I believe it reduces the chances of crashes etc. I don’t believe the regular iMac supports ECC memory, so you want ram without it.

 

[Brian33]

I'm pretty sure you want non-ECC RAM, and that's what my 2015 takes. Oddly though, a quick search didn't find an official Apple page that said that for your model!

reclusive46 is right -- ECC RAM uses some sort of parity ability to detect when a bit has been flipped by some (defect/cosmic ray)? and it's typically more expensive and not used for regular consumer machines.

 

[casperes1996]

reclusive46 is right -- ECC RAM uses some sort of parity ability to detect when a bit has been flipped by some (defect/cosmic ray)? and it's typically more expensive and not used for regular consumer machines.

Last I looked into it (which is a while ago; It's likely different with newer manufacturing), bit-flips like that happen about once per year on machines that are on 24/7. And not all bit-flips are that big a deal either. Often, even with non-ECC memory the OS can silently repair whatever happened

Intel's consumer CPUs like the ones in the iMac do not support ECC, no. It's reserved for Xeons like the iMac Pro and Mac Pro. AMD chips do, depending on logic board support ECC on consumer chips, but for most people it's an irrelevant difference.

 

[southerndoc]

ECC memory is a waste of money. My work laptop (Dell Precision 3520) that I carry around more has ECC memory. Waste of money. My bigger work laptop (Dell Precision 7530) has non-ECC memory (128 GB). I've yet to have it crash. The thing will fly with its Xeon processors. Makes for some fast number crunching.

 

[Hexley]

iMac does not need ECC