Testing memory with Memtest?

Ben Cole · 14 May 2011 at 18:02

I have just received my second set of Corsair RAM after an RMA.

Installed and booted into Memtest to check.

This is what was produced.

I was under the impression I should get no errors at all, does this mean another RMA?

WingZero30 · 14 May 2011 at 18:49

Did you push the ram sticks all the way down into the slots?

dynamis_dk · 14 May 2011 at 18:53

You got anyone who can run memtest with your sticks in there board?? Just to rule out issues with your board??

Or anyone with known good ram whos you could borrow?

Ben Cole · 15 May 2011 at 09:26

I always try to seat the RAM correctly but will swap them over and retest when I get a chance.

I didn't have any more time to test as I had to go to work but when I get home I will try these sticks in a different laptop or my Atom Mobo.

I know the laptop itself is fine because the RAM that came out of it produced no errors at all.

Thanks for the input, will update tomorrow whe I get home.

Sin_Chase · 15 May 2011 at 14:37

Are they running to spec? Correct voltage, speed rating and timings?

Ben Cole · 17 May 2011 at 15:53

There are no options to change in the BIOS.

I have just tested again without changing anything. It seems it's ok with one pass but will produce errors on the second.

Itll do a few hours on prime 95 without errors.

Perhaps the lack of thermal management running memtest is causing it to overheat which is what is producing errors?

Any more input is much appreciated.

Plec · 17 May 2011 at 16:12

Ben Cole said:
There are no options to change in the BIOS.

What's the the make and model of your motherboard?

For now:

Memtest with only one stick intsalled then after a few runs swap it out and test the other. If one stick passes and one fails you will have probably found your problem.

If both sticks pass independently try a different slot and repeat - as the problem may be motherboard related.

Ben Cole · 17 May 2011 at 16:39

Its a Dell Vostro 1500 laptop.

If it passes one complete pass of memtest does that mean the ram is ok though?

Plec · 17 May 2011 at 16:47

Ben Cole said:
If it passes one complete pass of memtest does that mean the ram is ok though?

No - the very fact that it produced an error on it's second pass proves that there's a problem somewhere - it may not be the memory itself - you will need to do further tests.

As it's a laptop heat issues can't be ruled out.

I would start testing each stick individually.

Ben Cole · 17 May 2011 at 20:18

Moved one stick to another laptop to test....will also (if necessary) install into my atom mobo in an antec skeleton...heat shouldnt be an issue there!

Thanks for everyones input, it really is appreciated.

Ben Cole · 19 May 2011 at 14:22

Well I think I've solved my issue.

The laptop has two ram slots. One under the keyboard and one underneath that gets very hot. Both sticks passed numerous passes in the cooler slot with no errors.

So I then filled both slots but made sure ambient was low and I had good ventilation.

Passed a few passes and saw no errors.

Perhaps this Corsair ram isn't particularly robust but I think the laptop's design isn't doing it many favours.