ECC mem lifetime

[phier]

hello,
is it possible to say whats the avg lifetime of ECC memories running in nas 24/7? Thank you!

 

[sretalla]

RAM is solid state and doesn't wear out like SSDs do (related to its use of power to maintain semiconductor state rather than some kind of material/chemical reaction), so I would say that the life of the motherboard/CPU is probably the determining factor (which would point at the CMOS battery being the only real point of failure outside of poorly designed BIOS which may have issues like the Y2K bug, for example).

RAM chips can be "zapped" with static electricity if improperly handled, so I would identify that or actual physical damage as the real risks to the RAM itself.

As a direct answer for your question, at least 10 years... probably much more if it's handled properly and all other components don't fail around it first.

 

[rvassar]

I have RAM from the 1990's in classic SPARC equipment that still functions fine. There was some speculation as we transitioned from pre-ROHS chips with lead solder in the carriers to lead-free solder, that we would see some antimony whisker formation causing premature death. But I have never heard any direct evidence of that happening. If anything, getting rid of the lead made things better. All lead is the decay product of uranium, and carries trace amounts that undergoes decay and can cause bit flips. But even that is a transient event, and unlikely to permanently damage the RAM.