Using logic external to the block RAM (a large number of XOR circuits), 8 parity bits can be created for a 64-bit word. However, using ECC encoder-only mode, the 8 parity bits can be automatically created without additional logic by writing any 64-bit word into a separate block RAM. The encoded 8-bit ECC parity data is immediately available, or the complete 72-bit word can be read out.