Testing your RAM with Memtest86+

[burningrave101]

It may have already been mentioned by someone else in this thread but Memtest86 is actually more up to date than Memtest86+. There was even an updated alpha release on Dec 27th.

http://www.memtest86.com/

[orev]

It may have already been mentioned by someone else in this thread but Memtest86 is actually more up to date than Memtest86+. There was even an updated alpha release on Dec 27th.

http://www.memtest86.com/

Yes, they have revived recently, and seem to be trying to make a business out of it. The project was basically asleep for YEARS, so they have lost a lot of credibility. Then they come back and try to get you to buy something that was for free. There's nothing wrong with that, but the 86+ project has been active for that whole time, so they gained more credibility during that time.

[coolmalayalee]

Hi I got a new 2GB OCZ pc-5300 RAM for my inspiron 1420 today.. I was really excited with the deadly offer I got for it.. Just $23 including shipping tax etc after a Google checkout. As advised in this thread I did a Memtest only with this new piece of RAM. It ran first 4 passes without any errors. While running the 5th Pass it showed me just one error. Well, I don't know what the error meant. but it was basically a single red line which with 1 error. Should I be sending this RAM back? If I had ran only 3 or 4 Passes I would have happily continued using it thinking that my RAM is error free.. but then how many passes should one typically do before you can ensure that your RAM is good? Would my machine be at risk if I continue to use this RAM? Please advise.

If I got to send it back does OCZ pays for the shipping? any ideas?

[orev]

I would put it back in the machine and let the test run overnight, maybe even 24 hours. Then see what happens. I agree it's sort of on the edge. Most of the time you will need to pay shipping back to them, but they will pay the shipping for the replacement to you.

[coolmalayalee]

Hi I put it back into the other RAM slot in my machine and ran the test again over night. It ran some 16 passes. From the 4th pass onwards I could see some error. In total it reported that there is a total of 8 errors when I checked it up in the morning. But I happen to read from this website that memtest showing an error doesnt necessarily mean its a problem with the RAM. I am now confused. Can I call up OCZ and say your RAM is faulty and I need to return it because memtest86+ showed me errors? will they accept my claim?

If I choose to put up with this error and continue installing this ram in my machine and use it, what will be the repercussions on my machine? Please advise.

[orev]

It is possible that the error can come from other places in the system, because when doing the testing it must also use other parts of the system, like CPU, northbridge chip, memory bus, etc... so it's hard to say specifically that it is the RAM. If I were you, I would call up OCZ and see what they say (or if you can still return it to the store where you bought it, then return it). You're better safe than sorry.

Problems it can cause could be system crashing or data corruption. On yours it might not happen that often, but consider that you have seen the error after running for a few hours. Do you often run your computer for a few hours during normal use?

[coolmalayalee]

I run my laptop almost every day for atleast 13-14 hours....!! very intensive daily use.. I bought this machine only a month ago. In the past I have purchased RAM and have used it without doing a test.. but this time.. I wanted to be a bit more careful.. and see where it has took me to... I guess I will call up OCZ.. I purchased it online from buy.com .. so I dont know if they will take it back and replace...

[Jalf]

orev, you might want to add a bit to the original post:
Memtest is not exhaustive. It tests a few access patterns that covers as much as is reasonably possible in a short timeframe. But RAM errors may be extremely complex (you only get an error if this and this and this bit is set in this byte, and this exact other byte contains so and so, and you try to write to that third address".
So Memtest can never catch all errors (because it'd have to test an infinite number of combinations), and running Memtest without finding any errors does *not* mean that your RAM is ok. It just means that Memtest didn't find anything.
Which also means that if you're suspicious of your RAM, you might have to let Memtest run for *a long* time before it finds anything. A day or two isn't unheard of. (But of course, even then, it's still not guaranteed to find any errors, it's just more likely than if you let it run over dinner)

[flipfire]

Blah, one of my new 2gb modules is faulty, turned up with 41 errors when i ran memtest with both new modules on. So i ran them individually one of modules had no errors so i put in the other one and it the errors showed up but only 28 this time. Wondering where the other 13 errors went...

I gotta admit though that my system is noticably running alot faster than before and hasnt given me any BSOD. Any chance this might be a false positive? or it just hindering its performance?

[RatATatTatt]

Blah, one of my new 2gb modules is faulty, turned up with 41 errors when i ran memtest with both new modules on. So i ran them individually one of modules had no errors so i put in the other one and it the errors showed up but only 28 this time. Wondering where the other 13 errors went...

I gotta admit though that my system is noticably running alot faster than before and hasnt given me any BSOD. Any chance this might be a false positive? or it just hindering its performance?

I don't believe that those 13 errors "magically disappeared" as you seem to think. Certain tests that memtest runs are random. Therefore, if I'm not mistaken, it might produce an error on one pass but not produce the same error (or same number of errors) on another pass. This is what I've come to understand. Someone who is better versed on the subject will correct me if I'm wrong.