SGI: Hardware

I've come across an Altix 330 "barebone". As far as I have been able to google it needs at least a set of four PC2700 DDR1 DIMMS, ECC, unbuffered.

Does anyone happen to know if non-ECC memory would work at all?

Hi,

I just scanned through the Altix 350 manual (which should be similar enough to the 330)
and it says that ECC memory is required. Interesting enough, it is rather unspecific when it
comes to memory. But it says "Only use SGI approved DIMMs", which, as I think, should
compensate for this...

Short: If I interpreted the manual the right way, non-ECC is a no go... but if you have some
non-ECC bars lying around it's worth a try maybe...

(edit: typos)

I have been going through the 330 manual and it's not really specific about memory requirements either.

On page 77 it states "The system node boards use SECDED ECC to protect data when transferred to and from secondary cache, main memory, and directory memory." which may already be a hint that ECC is a requirement. On the following page the manual explains the local memory. The most detailed information in this manual is that "Local memory can consist of 4, or 8 dual-inline memory
modules (DIMMs) that contain double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR1 SDRAM).

I don't think I'll find a matching set of four non-ECC DIMMs in the basement, so I just ebay'd a 4x1 GB kit with ECC.