[Bromskloss]

> However, in many applications we find that using (forward) error correction almost always increases data density (for storage) or bandwidth (for transmission), simply because a FEC stream does not require a nearly-perfect channel any more.

Do you mean that ECC has those benefits, or that other applications of error correcting codes has them?

[wtallis]

The reliability boost that ECC DRAM gives you could be reinterpreted as extra headroom for overclocking the DRAM before it becomes too unstable. Since the parity bits are carried on extra data lines, they aren't subtracting from your usable memory bandwidth so the net effect may be a substantial performance advantage when operating at equivalent reliability levels. The main concern is whether the memory controller can correct errors without a severe latency penalty. The ECC used for DRAM is far simpler than the LDPC used for things like SSDs, so it's probably not an issue. (However, systems halting on the detection of a double bit uncorrectable error would be an inconvenience.)