Abstract: A memory chip is described. The memory chip includes storage cells along a row of the memory chip's storage cell array to store a count value of the row's activations and error correction code (ECC) information to protect the count value. The memory chip includes ECC read logic circuitry to correct an error in the count value. The memory chip includes a comparator to compare the count value against a threshold. The memory chip includes circuitry to increment the count value if the count value is deemed not to have reached the threshold and ECC write logic circuitry to determine new ECC information for the incremented count value, and write driver circuitry to write the incremented count value and the new ECC information into the storage cells. The memory chip includes circuitry to cause the row to be refreshed if the count value is deemed to have reached the threshold.