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Date:      Tue, 29 Aug 1995 07:58:01 -0700 (PDT)
From:      "Rodney W. Grimes" <rgrimes@gndrsh.aac.dev.com>
To:        leo@lisa.rur.com (Leo Papandreou)
Cc:        jbryant@argus.iadfw.net, rashid@haven.ios.com, freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: S.O.S -2.1Stable and ASUSP54TP4
Message-ID:  <199508291458.HAA03827@gndrsh.aac.dev.com>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.3.91.950828224134.3315B-100000@lisa.rur.com> from "Leo Papandreou" at Aug 28, 95 11:25:33 pm

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> 
> 
> 
> > 
> > Are you using non-parity memory?  As you know, memory errors will not trap
> > unless you are using parity memory.  If you want to use FreeBSD for anything 
> > other than home-use, I strongly suggest parity memory.  (Get a warrantee!)
> 
> Actually, no triton based board traps parity errors. If you need what itsy-
> bitsy comfort parity checks give you then you are going to have to sacrifice
> performance and use a neptune based board. 

And to state my reason for agreement that parity is a ``itsy-bitsy comfort'',
think about the fact that 80% of your memory access are going to a L2
cache that has never had parity on it, yet has a same FIT rate as the
main memory system.  Basically your more likely today to take a single
bit error in your cache as you are in main memory :-(.

> Personally I think parity memory is a poor investment; assuming I'm clear
> on the techical details, once the P6 becomes a commodity item (real soon
> now) the next motherboard you buy will want ECC memory, anyway. Its neat
> the way this industry creates its own demand, eh?

:-).  Yes, but unfortanelty, ECC memory, though being supported by next
generation chip sets, will be, IMHO, a rare thing in the PC market simply
due to clone MB manufactures who will see it as an additional cost to
them.
 
> The upside to this is that financial institutions and similiar nervous
> nellies will migrate their mission-critical servers to cost-effective
> intel platforms whereupon demand for FreeBSD will go through the roof.
> Now is the time to buy WC stock.
> 
> :-)
> 


-- 
Rod Grimes                                      rgrimes@gndrsh.aac.dev.com
Accurate Automation Company                 Reliable computers for FreeBSD



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