Are MemTest errors definitely due to faulty RAM?

ShellShock · 26 Jun 2016 at 15:03

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

LewisRaz · 26 Jun 2016 at 15:40

Do you have 2 sticks? Have you ran memtest on each stick individually ?

PhoenixUK · 26 Jun 2016 at 16:01

You can always buy a stick of ram, test it and return it. If you're around Cambridge, I've got a spare DDR3 stick that you can have to play with if you want (seriously, you can probably pick a cheap 2gb mem for £5).

It's possible that it's a motherboard

Are you running your CPU and everything else on stock?
Try taking the GPU out and and use iGPU to see if that makes any difference.

pastymuncher · 26 Jun 2016 at 16:07

Memory management does usually mean a bad stick of ram. Was the code 0x1A? If memtest shows errors with ram then more often than not the ram is faulty.

Armageus · 26 Jun 2016 at 16:29

It's likely to be a Ram problem, but not 100% guaranteed.

You don't mention what PSU you have, but might be worth swapping that, just to rule it out.
Unless there has been any physical damage to the motherboard recently, as they are less involved these days. The CPU is more likely than a motherboard to cause errors.

You don't say if you are overclocking, but worth removing it or loading bios defaults and run everything at relaxed settings (E.g. normal SPD ram settings, not any enhanced settings, then memtest and see if it is stable.

ShellShock · 26 Jun 2016 at 18:01

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.