Should you use ECC RAM in a NAS?

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Error Correction Code (ECC) RAM is a special type of system memory. Unlike traditional RAM modules in your desktop or laptop PC, ECC RAM has an additional chip for data storage. This memory chip allows ECC RAM to store ten bits of data for every eight bits used by the system, effectively increasing data redundancy and allowing up to two corrupted bits of data to be detected and single-bit errors to be corrected. Network-Attached Storage (NAS) servers handle large amounts of data, so ECC RAM can be useful, but not everyone needs it.



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What is ECC memory?

ECC memory essentially protects your system from data corruption. These errors aren't common, and you probably won't notice them if you encounter one. However, if you run a server or NAS and are affected by flipped bits over time, stored files may experience problems. Corrupted data may be overwritten instead of using the correct data in snapshots, which isn't good for anyone. If your file system runs a checksum test or two and finds a data mismatch, good data may be replaced with corrupt blocks.


When this happens, data integrity issues can lead to data loss. ECC RAM helps prevent this by storing more data than necessary to increase redundancy. A redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) is great for protecting your NAS from data loss due to drive failure, but ECC RAM can provide some protection against corruption. ECC RAM is great, but so are backups, especially if you follow the 3-2-1 backup rule.

A person holding a 32 GB ECC DDR4 RAM stick

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What is ECC RAM (and why you should use it)

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Should you always use ECC RAM in a NAS?

I've convinced you to use ECC RAM to protect your data from corruption, but now I'll tell you why you probably shouldn't buy ECC RAM. The cheaper NAS enclosures probably don't have ECC RAM. The easiest way to check is to log into your NAS and look at the hardware report, or look up your model number on the manufacturer's website. The Synology DiskStation DS924+ has ECC support, but the cheaper DiskStation DS224+ only supports non-ECC RAM. Non-ECC memory is cheaper and usually faster, whereas ECC can cost a small fortune.


Your NAS should always be backed up with a RAID configured for maximum data redundancy. ECC RAM provides another layer of protection against data loss or corruption. It's not required, but can come in handy if you're working with data that's frequently updated on the NAS. Enthusiasts, power users, and server administrators will likely prefer ECC memory, but the average home NAS owner can get by with “regular” RAM. Remember to double-check what your NAS supports before purchasing RAM modules!

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