Buffered vs unbuffered memory?

[Fixadent]

What is the difference between buffered vs unbuffered memory?

Is one faster than the other? And if so, by how much?

 

[rhysiam]

See this on registered memory (they're the same thing): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_memory

TL DR: Registered/Buffered memory adds additional circuity to allow a memory controller to support a higher number of memory DIMMs per channel. It's almost exclusively used in servers that need a lot of RAM. It tends to be higher latency, so slightly slower too, and ridiculously expensive.

Unbufferred RAM is your-bog standard DRAM used in all consumer PCs, and all but niche workstations.

 

[Fixadent]

See this on registered memory (they're the same thing): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registered_memory

TL DR: Registered/Buffered memory adds additional circuity to allow a memory controller to support a higher number of memory DIMMs per channel. It's almost exclusively used in servers that need a lot of RAM. It tends to be higher latency, so slightly slower too, and ridiculously expensive.

Unbufferred RAM is your-bog standard DRAM used in all consumer PCs, and all but niche workstations.

Also, what does "ECC" mean?

 

[R_1]

Error Correction Code
https://techterms.com/definition/ecc

 

[Fixadent]

Error Correction Code
https://techterms.com/definition/ecc

Thank you, is it important?

 

[R_1]

for servers/workstations really, critical environments yeah, a gaming machine not so much. the cash would be better spent on a faster SSD, IMHO.