Windows 10: New 17" Laptop: Xeon vs i7/i9 and ECC or Non-ECC RAM?

I found out that I can use my continuing education money to get reimbursed for a laptop. I currently have a Dell Precision 3520 15" with a Xeon processor and ECC RAM.

I was looking at options for the Dell 7730 17" and was curious if the Xeon is even worth it. I can get a Xeon E-2186M (6-core, 2.9 GHz, 4.80 GHz turbo) or an i9 8950HK (6-core, 2.9 GHz, 4.80 GHz turbo).

With the Xeon, I can get ECC memory (up to 64 GB, but will most likely get only 32 GB). The ECC memory is DDR4-2400 MHz and the non-ECC is DDR4-2666 MHz.

My use is primarily dictating using Dragon Medical Practice Edition using Citrix Receiver. Also, I will be using statistical software to help crunch medical research (SAS and Stata). Other than that, it's PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook along with Chrome.

I prefer something more stable -- so if the Xeon actually offers that with ECC, then I'm all for it. The less Dragon crashes the better.

Does a Xeon processor and ECC memory provide that much more stabilization?

:)

 

Memory ID-ECC or non-ECC?


I thought I had 16GB of RAM, but two of my four cards are only 1 GB. I'd like to replace them but I can't recall whether I have ECC or non-ECC RAM. Is there an easy way to check?

 

Memory ID-ECC or non-ECC?


I ran it and got a "3", so it's non-ECC.

My workstation can take either ECC or non-, but not both at once. I think it came with ECC, but only 4GB worth.

 

Memory ID-ECC or non-ECC?


Unless it is in a server, it is 99% going to be non-ECC