A memory device is configured to provide internal or on-die ECC (error checking and correction or error correction coding). In such a system, the code matrix can be managed as four quadrants of (N/4) bits, with two adjacent quadrants in an (N/2)-bit segment or portion. The N codes of the matrix correspond to the N bits of a data word to be protected by the ECC. The code matrix includes M codes corresponding to the M ECC check bits. The memory device includes internal ECC circuitry to perform ECC in the DRAM device with the ECC bits and code matrix in response to a request to access the data word. The codes in a quadrant steer an aliased bit to a quadrant other than an adjacent quadrant.