Subj : Re: Any sign of notifiable ECC support on Pi 5 or CM5?
To   : All
From : John R Walliker
Date : Wed Dec 03 2025 19:18:13

On 03/12/2025 14:37, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 03/12/2025 14:18, druck wrote:
>> On 01/12/2025 21:16, James Harris wrote:
>>> To make a NAS / server I am looking for a Raspberry Pi with ECC support.
>>>
>>> I gather that the Pi 5 and the CM 5 use RAM which has internal ECC. 
>>> That's good. But do they inform the OS of when there are corrections 
>>> and uncorrectable errors?
>>>
>>> Have you guys any idea as to whether the OS running on the Pi5 or CM5 
>>> will be able to tell whether RAM has had errors or not?
>>
>> As far as I know it's only for error correction within the RAM 
>> controller, and not reported to the OS. There is a possibility the SOC 
>> might know about it via some proprietary Broadcom mechanism.
>>
> That is my impression too, based on admittedly sketchy data.
> Lets face it at that level, ecc will simply make slightly dodgy ram rock 
> solid and merely postpone the day when there is a kernel panic due to 
> corrupted RAM.
> 
> I cant see than knowing about it helps much.

If it tells you there is a problem before it becomes too severe to
correct, then it may be useful so that you can replace the system.

> 
>> I have found a webpage where some idiots attempting to fry a Pi 5 by 
>> running AI on it without a cooler got a fatal ECC error, but my money 
>> is on they just hallucinated the entire thing.
>>
> Well indeed.
> 
> The internet may be made of cats, but these days its full of 
> (commercially sponsored and politically motivated) lies.
> 
> 
> 


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