Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for using the same memory type in an error check mode and a non-error check mode. In some embodiments, a memory device includes at least one split bank pair of memory banks. If the memory device is in an error check mode, then, in some embodiments, data is stored in one of memory banks of the split bank pair and the corresponding error check bits are stored in the other memory bank of the split bank pair. A register bit on the memory device indicates whether it is in the error check mode or the non-error check mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.