ECC memory for X670E

[rusty caterpillar]

Hi all need some help in choosing ECC RAM for my Asrock X670E Steel Legend and CPU Ryzen 9 7945 PRO. I know ECC is slower still I want to try it. Atm I have some Gskill 2x16GB locked at 4800 with 76-79ns in Aida64, which is slow anyway.

Not sure ECC is supported on this MBO although specs shows support for ECC memory.

Don't know how many ranks is supported by this MBO also, is dual channel a thing in ECC memory or one module will be ok . 32 GB -48GB will be enough for me.

I prefer some ECC memory which will have native 5200 speed because if is 4800 will be locked on 4800 by CPU and no BIOS settings will be possible in terms of tweaking timings and speed.

Used memory is fine specially if price is lower but, as I looked are not many native 5200 ECC DDR5, also registered I think is better than unregistered, I now unregistered can be faster.

Thanks for help

 

[10tothemin9volts]

Do you see any ECC settings in the BIOS? I would only buy ECC RAM (or this motherboard for this matter) if there is an ECC Enable (or similar) setting in the BIOS. AFAIK, ASUS is the only one with official ECC support on consumer AM5 (A620, B650, B650E, X670 and X670E). There is conflicting information for Asrock X670E Steel Legend, some say the ECC support has been removed to upsell their higher priced mobos, although indeed, ASROCK's page says: "- Supports DDR5 ECC/non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 7600+(OC)*". Support for ECC could mean the RAM works. but the actual ECC functionality doesn't? You could call ASROCK (phone call if you want to save time and if your board is new so you can still send it back). I have the Kingston Server Premier DIMM (KSM48E40BD8KM-32HM), but I don't see them on X670E Steel Legend's Memory QVL.

 

[Caring1]

I believe ECC only works on the Pro series CPUs.

 

[Shou Miko]

I believe ECC only works on the Pro series CPUs.

Thread starter writes "Ryzen 9 Pro 7945 Pro" so I think the Pro series is covered.


@rusty caterpillar
One user on Asrock's forum for the X670E Steel Legends writes: 1.14.AS06 BIOS I'm able to get ECC working as intended.
Source: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=25026

Sadly bios 1.14.AS06 is not available on Asrock's product page so it might be a beta bios, plus I am not sure if it would help since the Pro 7945 should boot since bios version 1.03 but was first validated on bios 1.24 which is older than 1.14.

If you have any issues reach out to Asrock's support team I am sure they can help they are usually really friendly and understand from my own experience the few times I wrote with them.

 

[azrael]

Hi all need some help in choosing ECC RAM for my Asrock X670E Steel Legend and CPU Ryzen 9 7945 PRO. I know ECC is slower still I want to try it. Atm I have some Gskill 2x16GB locked at 4800 with 76-79ns in Aida64, which is slow anyway.

Not sure ECC is supported on this MBO although specs shows support for ECC memory.

Don't know how many ranks is supported by this MBO also, is dual channel a thing in ECC memory or one module will be ok . 32 GB -48GB will be enough for me.

I prefer some ECC memory which will have native 5200 speed because if is 4800 will be locked on 4800 by CPU and no BIOS settings will be possible in terms of tweaking timings and speed.

Used memory is fine specially if price is lower but, as I looked are not many native 5200 ECC DDR5, also registered I think is better than unregistered, I now unregistered can be faster.

Thanks for help

First of all, your motherboard supports ECC memory. Almost all Ryzen processors do as well. The exception here are the monolithic APU ones originally designed for mobile/ The exception to that are the PRO versions. AFAIK all of those support ECC as well. As for the one you've stated, it supports ECC.

ECC DDR5 memory can be tricky in that *all* DD5 supports (and has to by design) on-die ECC. However, that's not the ECC you're looking for. On-die ECC is more like the error correction on SSDs. What you want is side-band ECC. The problem here is that it can be very difficult to find, because everyone and their dog lists all modules to have ECC due to the on-die ECC.

What you're looking for is "server memory", albeit unregistered. So ECC DDR5 UDIMMs. There are two manufacturers which give you that. Kingston and Micron/Crucial. Kingston has these while Crucial has these. Personally, I'm looking at this from Crucial/Micron, because they're currently the cheapest ones here and the fastest *and* actually manufactured by Micron (Kingston uses 3rd party chips). When searching for a retailer make sure to check for the exact part numbers.

Oh, and make sure to buy two modules. Dual channel is very much a thing with ECC as well. Actually, everything that holds true for normal memory also holds true for ECC memory.

 

[A Computer Guy]

What you're looking for is "server memory", albeit unregistered. So ECC DDR5 UDIMMs. There are two manufacturers which give you that. Kingston and Micron/Crucial. Kingston has these while Crucial has these. Personally, I'm looking at this from Crucial/Micron, because they're currently the cheapest ones here and the fastest *and* actually manufactured by Micron (Kingston uses 3rd party chips). When searching for a retailer make sure to check for the exact part numbers.

This (Crucial/Micron RAM you linked) is what I am using now in 64GB configuration with my 7950x. Compared to DDR4 it was quite expensive at the time so I opted to stay at 64GB (2 modules) for now.

For whatever reason my motherboard runs the ram with a bit tighter clocks after selecting the 5600MT's profile. It's been working really well, I have no complaints using that Micron memory.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

First of all, your motherboard supports ECC memory. Almost all Ryzen processors do as well. The exception here are the monolithic APU ones originally designed for mobile/ The exception to that are the PRO versions. AFAIK all of those support ECC as well. As for the one you've stated, it supports ECC.

ECC DDR5 memory can be tricky in that *all* DD5 supports (and has to by design) on-die ECC. However, that's not the ECC you're looking for. On-die ECC is more like the error correction on SSDs. What you want is side-band ECC. The problem here is that it can be very difficult to find, because everyone and their dog lists all modules to have ECC due to the on-die ECC.

What you're looking for is "server memory", albeit unregistered. So ECC DDR5 UDIMMs. There are two manufacturers which give you that. Kingston and Micron/Crucial. Kingston has these while Crucial has these. Personally, I'm looking at this from Crucial/Micron, because they're currently the cheapest ones here and the fastest *and* actually manufactured by Micron (Kingston uses 3rd party chips). When searching for a retailer make sure to check for the exact part numbers.

Oh, and make sure to buy two modules. Dual channel is very much a thing with ECC as well. Actually, everything that holds true for normal memory also holds true for ECC memory.

I know of DDR5 on die ECC but, yes I was referring to the server one, the real ECC. I was looking on Crucial website before posting and it came as my MBO supports UDIMM ECC as you said.
However if I can only get unregistered for this MBO maybe ECC is not fully supported.
Thanks anyway. I'll fish around maybe I'll find some used on Ebay.

This (Crucial/Micron RAM you linked) is what I am using now in 64GB configuration with my 7950x. Compared to DDR4 it was quite expensive at the time so I opted to stay at 64GB (2 modules) for now.

For whatever reason my motherboard runs the ram with a bit tighter clocks after selecting the 5600MT's profile. It's been working really well, I have no complaints using that Micron memory.

View attachment 384184 View attachment 384188

Is the native speed of this DDR5 4800 or 5200? Cause on my 7945 Pro I wouldn't be able to change the speed in BIOS or tweak the timings, this CPU will lock any DDR5 at the native speed.

Do you see any ECC settings in the BIOS? I would only buy ECC RAM (or this motherboard for this matter) if there is an ECC Enable (or similar) setting in the BIOS. AFAIK, ASUS is the only one with official ECC support on consumer AM5 (A620, B650, B650E, X670 and X670E). There is conflicting information for Asrock X670E Steel Legend, some say the ECC support has been removed to upsell their higher priced mobos, although indeed, ASROCK's page says: "- Supports DDR5 ECC/non-ECC, un-buffered memory up to 7600+(OC)*". Support for ECC could mean the RAM works. but the actual ECC functionality doesn't? You could call ASROCK (phone call if you want to save time and if your board is new so you can still send it back). I have the Kingston Server Premier DIMM (KSM48E40BD8KM-32HM), but I don't see them on X670E Steel Legend's Memory QVL.

I will check in BIOS for ECC.

 

[A Computer Guy]

I know of DDR5 on die ECC but, yes I was referring to the server one, the real ECC. I was looking on Crucial website before posting and it came as my MBO supports UDIMM ECC as you said.
However if I can only get unregistered for this MBO maybe ECC is not fully supported.
Thanks anyway. I'll fish around maybe I'll find some used on Ebay.

Registered is typically used for servers where you are likely to have much larger volumes of RAM.

Asrock X670E Steel Legend should be fine with UDIMM and using an updated UEFI. ASRock has seemed to me to be pretty consistent supporting ECC. For me I wouldn't have any worry doing a new build using that motherboard with Micron/Crucial RAM that was linked.

Is the native speed of this DDR5 4800 or 5200? C

The native speed of the modules I use are 5600MT's. My understanding at the time was there were some other speeds available but I wanted to get close to the AM5 6000MT's sweet spot so I choose the more expensive 5600MT's modules. The UEFI will default to 4800MT's or 5200MT's if I recall correctly. In ASRock UEFI it's just a matter of selecting the DIMM's 5600MT/s profile save, reboot.

because on my 7945 Pro I wouldn't be able to change the speed in BIOS or tweak the timings, this CPU will lock any DDR5 at the native speed.

That depends on the UEFI. I have an 4650g PRO w/ DDR4 ECC and my ASRock UEFI still allows changing the RAM speed no problem. YMMV depending on the motherboard but I don't think the CPU will limit your options there on AM4 or AM5 choosing RAM speed as long as the UEFI already allows this.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

That depends on the UEFI. I have an 4650g PRO w/ DDR4 ECC and my ASRock UEFI still allows changing the RAM speed no problem. YMMV depending on the motherboard but I don't think the CPU will limit your options there on AM4 or AM5 choosing RAM speed as long as the UEFI already allows this.

AM4 MBO seems to have more support on ECC.
On AM5 full support is consistent more on X870E boards.

Don't know if the BIOS(I'm on 3.10 atm) or CPU but, are definitely locked settings on DDR5. My DDR5 is 5200 Mt but, will only work with the PRO chip on 4800MT which is native speed of this sticks.
With the Ryzen 5 7600 chip worked on 5200MT or more on same MBO.
With the support of ECC on Asrock AM5 boards: Somebody already asked Asrock about PG Lightning X670E

https://www.reddit.com/r/ASRock/comments/y3x33h/_/iuh3i51

and seems that doesn't support. Close price range with my MBO. Not sure the guy had a PRO CPU though.
There is I believe a DDR controller inside the PRO CPUs and I believe on the registered DDR5 that have like 8 chips and the ninth chip is the controller.

I can't find your Crucial DDR 5, maybe is not produced anymore.

 

[A Computer Guy]

AM4 MBO seems to have more support on ECC.
On AM5 full support is consistent more on X870E boards.

This is the first time I'm hearing that but I haven't been keeping up with recent events. My understanding was 600 and 800 series platforms are not really that different from each other.

Don't know if the BIOS(I'm on 3.10 atm) or CPU but, are definitely locked settings on DDR5. My DDR5 is 5200 Mt but, will only work with the PRO chip on 4800MT which is native speed of this sticks.
With the Ryzen 5 7600 chip worked on 5200MT or more on same MBO.

Well that's interesting.

With the support of ECC on Asrock AM5 boards: Somebody already asked Asrock about PG Lightning X670E

https://www.reddit.com/r/ASRock/comments/y3x33h/_/iuh3i51

and seems that doesn't support. Close price range with my MBO. Not sure the guy had a PRO CPU though.

It took a long time for ECC to be implemented on AM5. That could be a really old post. The current webpage for that motherboard says it's supports ECC.

There is I believe a DDR controller inside the PRO CPUs and I believe on the registered DDR5 that have like 8 chips and the ninth chip is the controller.

These days the controller is on the CPU. You can lookup registered vs. unregistered for the difference.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

Only here

And I'm in UK, If order this will come with a very nasty import and VAT charges

This is the first time I'm hearing that but I haven't been keeping up with recent events. My understanding was 600 and 800 series platforms are not really that different from each other.

Well that's interesting.

It took a long time for ECC to be implemented on AM5. That could be a really old post. The current webpage for that motherboard says it's supports ECC.

These days the controller is on the CPU. You can lookup registered vs. unregistered for the difference.

Yes is still says ECC but, I think the play dirty referring on DDR5 on die ECC which is very far from real ECC.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Only here

View attachment 384207


And I'm in UK, If order this will come with a very nasty import and VAT charges


Yes is still says ECC but, I think the play dirty referring on DDR5 on die ECC which is very far from real ECC.

Looks like you will have to do some shopping around. The price doesn't seem to have gotten much better. I paid just shy of $400 USD with shipping back in September last year when Crucial/Micron website was selling them. I see the online store doesn't seem to sell them directly anymore.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

Looks like you will have to do some shopping around. The price doesn't seem to have gotten much better. I paid just shy of $400 USD with shipping back in September last year when Crucial/Micron website was selling them. I see the online store doesn't seem to sell them directly anymore.

On Crucial website I press Upgrade My Computer, put my MBO, results came with 2 pages of DDR 5, none of them are ECC.
https://uk.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/asrock/x670e-steel-legend#memory

TBH I don't know even if my PC will boot with your modules since my CPU is different and my chipset as well, but is still a good bet.


I'll look around some more.

Anyways thanks for help.

 

[azrael]

On Crucial website I press Upgrade My Computer, put my MBO, results came with 2 pages of DDR 5, none of them are ECC.
https://uk.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/asrock/x670e-steel-legend#memory

TBH I don't know even if my PC will boot with your modules since my CPU is different and my chipset as well, but is still a good bet.


I'll look around some more.

Anyways thanks for help.

Take those memory advisors with a pinch of salt. Considering you're using a consumer motherboard most of these advisors will never recommend any ECC memory to you. The two links I posted are really all you need to look at, and then decide which modules you want. Just make sure to buy two at a time for dual channel.

 

[Durhamranger]

Kingston KSM48E40BS8KM-16HM should work.....

 

[10tothemin9volts]

[..] Support for ECC could mean the RAM works. but the actual ECC functionality doesn't? [..]

If there is no ECC Enable setting in the BIOS/UEFI, maybe it's automatically enabled if ECC RAM is detected (which would be weird, but ok)?
If there's no ECC Enable setting in the BIOS/UEFI and you still want to proceed (I wouldn't, I would just get an ASUS mobo): Get the ECC RAM and check if the ECC functionality is enabled. In Windows 11 `wmic` is deprecated and one command is `Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemoryArray | Select MemoryErrorCorrection`. Tools like CPU-Z (SPD tab) and HWiNFO64 may also show, though I don't know it they are doing it by querying their database, to show that in theory the RAM is ECC capable, or confirm if ECC is actually enabled. If I enable ECC in my ASUS B650' BIOS, then "Total Width: 64 bits" changes to "Total Width: 72 bits" (sudo dmidecode -t memory). I also tested if the ECC reporting works by tightening the RAM timings and using a stress tool, and errors being corrected were reported.

I believe ECC only works on the Pro series CPUs.

For a/my 7800X3D the ECC functionality is officially supported ("Yes (Requires mobo support)"), which might be the case for most/all Ryzen 7000 consumer CPUs, and depends only on the motherboard manufacturer.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

If there is no ECC Enable setting in the BIOS/UEFI, maybe it's automatically enabled if ECC RAM is detected (which would be weird, but ok)?
If there's no ECC Enable setting in the BIOS/UEFI and you still want to proceed (I wouldn't, I would just get an ASUS mobo): Get the ECC RAM and check if the ECC functionality is enabled. In Windows 11 `wmic` is deprecated and one command is `Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemoryArray | Select MemoryErrorCorrection`. Tools like CPU-Z (SPD tab) and HWiNFO64 may also show, though I don't know it they are doing it by querying their database, to show that in theory the RAM is ECC capable, or confirm if ECC is actually enabled. If I enable ECC in my ASUS B650' BIOS, then "Total Width: 64 bits" changes to "Total Width: 72 bits" (sudo dmidecode -t memory). I also tested if the ECC reporting works by tightening the RAM timings and using a stress tool, and errors being corrected were reported.


For a/my 7800X3D the ECC functionality is officially supported ("Yes (Requires mobo support)"), which might be the case for most/all Ryzen 7000 consumer CPUs, and depends only on the motherboard manufacturer.

As I stated already, I really don't think I can do any adjustments of DDR, present DDR5 or the future ECC I will find, as this CPU, 7945 PRO, will lock any DDR5 settings in BIOS. Will also lock any undervolting for example.

However I do have ECC settings but the search in settings will give you an erroneous path.

The real path is Advanced\AMD CBS\UMC Common Options\DDR Options\DDR RAS\DDR ECC Configuration

 

[A Computer Guy]

As I stated already, I really don't think I can do any adjustments of DDR, present DDR5 or the future ECC I will find, as this CPU, 7945 PRO, will lock any DDR5 settings in BIOS. Will also lock any undervolting for example.

However I do have ECC settings but the search in settings will give you an erroneous path.




The real path is Advanced\AMD CBS\UMC Common Options\DDR Options\DDR RAS\DDR ECC Configuration

I was a bit curious where you got your 7945 PRO. Pro CPU's are typically OEM and it might be good luck you didn't get one that was vendor locked.

 

[10tothemin9volts]

As I stated already, I really don't think I can do any adjustments of DDR, present DDR5 or the future ECC I will find, as this CPU, 7945 PRO, will lock any DDR5 settings in BIOS. Will also lock any undervolting for example.

However I do have ECC settings but the search in settings will give you an erroneous path.




The real path is Advanced\AMD CBS\UMC Common Options\DDR Options\DDR RAS\DDR ECC Configuration

I see. What matters, is that there is a ECC Configuration. Do you see any Enable setting like I see on my ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus? (the RAS (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability) in the path looks promising):

If you don't see the Enable setting, maybe it only appears if ECC RAM is detected? (you could get the ECC RAM and send it back because you have the legal right to return the item within two weeks without the need to provide any reason)

Didn't know/forget any DDR5 settings would be locked when using a Ryzen PRO CPU (maybe the CPU wants to make its name justice and allow/force for a more stable and safer system). A quick search shows that it may be indeed the CPU, not mobo.

Just in case, for later and for the general info: I did not need to play with the voltages to cause RAM instability and confirm error corrections reportings, only tightening the timings and increasing the transfer rate: The following ones work in causing the ECC reportings for my particular setup (same as in my signature): 32-32-32-32 5000 and even (much) more unstable: 32-32-32-17 5000. + The use of a RAM stress tool causes the ECC reporting within a few seconds to minuts.

 

[rusty caterpillar]

I was a bit curious where you got your 7945 PRO. Pro CPU's are typically OEM and it might be good luck you didn't get one that was vendor locked.

A friend of a friend but, was new and sealed. Is very close in performance to the regular 7900, at least in this setup.

I see. What matters, is that there is a ECC Configuration. Do you see any Enable setting like I see on my ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus? (the RAS (Reliability, Availability and Serviceability) in the path looks promising):

If you don't see the Enable setting, maybe it only appears if ECC RAM is detected? (you could get the ECC RAM and send it back because you have the legal right to return the item within two weeks without the need to provide any reason)

Didn't know/forget any DDR5 settings would be locked when using a Ryzen PRO CPU (maybe the CPU wants to make its name justice and allow/force for a more stable and safer system). A quick search shows that it may be indeed the CPU, not mobo.

Just in case, for later and for the general info: I did not need to play with the voltages to cause RAM instability and confirm error corrections reportings, only tightening the timings and increasing the transfer rate: The following ones work in causing the ECC reportings for my particular setup (same as in my signature): 32-32-32-32 5000 and even (much) more unstable: 32-32-32-17 5000. + The use of a RAM stress tool causes the ECC reporting within a few seconds to minuts.

I have an Enable ECC setting.

Will do lock and, I believe maybe the threshold is 5200 max with this CPU. 5600 ECC might not start the PC, if that is the native speed, IDK... AMD said max 5200 for this CPU like for many others. Couldn't find any data that 7945 PRO will work with more than 5200.

Thanks, I will see If I find a suitable pair of RAM what can I can come up with.

 

[unwind-protect]

However if I can only get unregistered for this MBO maybe ECC is not fully supported.

That's not an indicator. Full ECC with UDIMMs is no problem.

Asrock boards generally have rock-solid ECC support. While I use Asus myself a friend of mine has the Asrock boards.

 

[10tothemin9volts]

I have an Enable ECC setting.

Nice.

Will do lock and, I believe maybe the threshold is 5200 max with this CPU. 5600 ECC might not start the PC, if that is the native speed, IDK... AMD said max 5200 for this CPU like for many others. Couldn't find any data that 7945 PRO will work with more than 5200.

Maybe to clarify: My ECC RAM runs at its all original timings/4800MT/s. I did the timings and 5000MT/s setting only temporally to test and see I could cause error corrections and if they were reported to the OS (Arch).
I remember however testing 5200 (or was it 5600?) with higher voltage at first, as 5200/5600 was unstable with the default voltage, to see if I could cause error corrections, but this didn't cause them, if I remember correctly. So, I guess you could overclock your ECC RAM, but for the sake of stability, I'm not sure I would recommend it.