Are MemTest errors definitely due to faulty RAM?

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3 Jul 2004
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Some weeks ago I started getting BSODs, especially when playing games after about 10 minutes (system had been stable before that for about two years). The weather may have been a factor (mid 20s, and humid). I checked the rear system intake fan and found it totally clogged with dust. Cleaned that but I still get BSODs. I have tried changing the sockets the RAM is in but I still get BSODs. Typical BSOD error codes:

PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

Ran MemTest and it reports errors. So possibly the RAM overheated and is now broken. But is that definitely the case? Or could it be a problem with the motherboard that MemTest is showing as a RAM problem? Does it work that way? I don't want to waste money on replacement DDR3 RAM if the problem is elsewhere. However, if it is a mobo problem that is going to mean new mobo, CPU and RAM (so I would upgrade to DDR4 etc). Unfortunately I do not have another PC to test the RAM in.

Specs:

  • Windows 10
  • Gigabyte Z97X-Gaming 5 Intel Z97 (Socket 1150) DDR3 ATX Motherboard
  • Intel Core i7-4790K 4.00GHz (Devil's Canyon) Socket LGA1150 Processor
  • TeamGroup Xtreem LV 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 PC3-21300C11 2666MHz Dual Channel Kit
  • Corsair Hydro H60 V2 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
  • Asus GeForce GTX 970 DirectCU II OC Strix 4096MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
 
Thanks for all the replies.

This two sticks (2*8GB), no overclocking.

I tested the sticks individually in MemTest, one gave errors, and one did not. I am now testing them individually in-game. The supposedly good stick (according to MemTest) caused a BSOD within about 10 minutes. I am now testing the supposedly bad stick in game. It has been OK for about an hour. I think I will go ahead and buy replacement DDR3.
 
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