AMD adds ECC unbuffered memory support for Opterons

By Steve Malone

Posted on 3 Aug 2005 at 09:43

Due to 'overwhelming customer demand', AMD says it has widened the types of memory supported by the AMD Opteron 100 Series processors. The range now offers error-correcting code (ECC) unbuffered memory support. AMD foresees this type of memory being used in critical markets for one-way servers and workstations.

Unbuffered memory is normally used on non-server memory that is found in almost all standard PCs and is faster (by one cycle) than the alternative Registered memory. ECC memory, as the name suggests has special circuitry to check the integrity of the data as it leaves the chip.

AMD says it will continue to build Opteron 100 Series processors using registered memory to existing customers that require them such as OEMs designing high-end products based on the AMD64 embedded processor roadmap.