Testing memory?

Prime95 on blend i believe tests memory somewhat (i may be wrong!), not sure of anything else.

For as easy as it is to just whack the memtest86+ iso onto a cd and then let it run, best bet. Would save any potential data corruption or faults occuring due to windows/apps.
 
Didn't it use to be possible to get Windiag to automatically load on a reboot? I thought I did this once but have no clue how I did it.

Prime/Orthos is all I can think of otherwise.
 
Sweeney said:
For as easy as it is to just whack the memtest86+ iso onto a cd and then let it run, best bet. Would save any potential data corruption or faults occuring due to windows/apps.
Click to expand...

Is MemTest86+ pretty cure to find any memory issues?
 
Yes. Though memory errors in memtest86 could also be lack of required voltage (common issue with DDR2, which defaults to 1.8v, while performance memory is often rated above this).
 
Online RAM testing is never a good idea really... windows is loaded into it for example, so if that part of the memory is unstable, you wouldn't know it.

The smaller the app for testing, the better. 3-4 loops of memtest will find out if you have dodgy ram
 
NeilFawcett said:
Is MemTest86+ pretty cure to find any memory issues?
Click to expand...

Yes, memtes86 has found a problem with the (new) memory I put in my machine... The old memory passed for an hour...

This must explain the blue screens of death while using that new memory...
 
The odd thing is, having just tested a bit more, is BOTH the (new) 512meg cards show faulty!? Bit of a coincidence!!?!

*the new cards are second hand (matching) dimms
 
Memtest86 is the best bet for a proper and thorough result.
Errors don't necessarily mean faulty, it could be wrong voltage as previously stated, that you're running the timings too tight, the dimm slots on MB could be faulty, nb voltage too low if running 4 dimms etc etc.
 
Sweeney said:
Memtest86 is the best bet for a proper and thorough result.
Errors don't necessarily mean faulty, it could be wrong voltage as previously stated, that you're running the timings too tight, the dimm slots on MB could be faulty, nb voltage too low if running 4 dimms etc etc.
Click to expand...

My 2x256mb sticks run fine - no blue screens of death and no errors in memtest86.

My two new 2x512mb sticks do not run fine - blue screens of death and errors reported on both sticks in memtest86 (togethor, and individually, in both mem slots).

I'm running my shuttle system absolutely at stock. No manual config at all... I don't think you even can change the memory voltage!


The memory sticks which I got second hand off the members market are - 2 x Corsair VS512MB400C3 (http://www.corsair.com/products/value_select.aspx)

Just find it odd BOTH are showing faults!
 
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Just stumbled on this thread. I've had continuous problems with a new machine freeezing completely ie no reaction to Ctrl ALt Del etc. Only way to resolve is to press the power button for 5 or so seconds until the systems powers down.
I ran memtest. The test hangs after around 2 minutes. The Wall time counter and all the Pass%, Test%, Test# and Pass# indicators stop. I can't exit by pressing Esc.
I'm assuming this means problem with RAM or problem with RAM and mobo talking to each other. Any ideas?
System spec is, Q9550 @ 2.83Ghz (not overclocked), nForce 790i Ultra SLI mobo, 2x2GB Corsair DDR3, 1GB GTX 280, 300GB Velociraptor OS HDD, 750GB SAMSUNG storage HDD, ASUS Xonar DX sound card, Vista 64 Premium, Kaspersky Int Security.
Any help much appreciated.
I should add that I am not a techy (as may be obvious from my post)
 
The best way to make sure would be to relax the timings on the ram and check the voltages are within the designed range, that way you dont give the ram any excuse to belly out. If it continues yeah it could be goosed ram but it could always be other hardware causing the freezes
 
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NeilFawcett said:
My 2x256mb sticks run fine - no blue screens of death and no errors in memtest86.

My two new 2x512mb sticks do not run fine - blue screens of death and errors reported on both sticks in memtest86 (togethor, and individually, in both mem slots).

I'm running my shuttle system absolutely at stock. No manual config at all... I don't think you even can change the memory voltage!


The memory sticks which I got second hand off the members market are - 2 x Corsair VS512MB400C3 (http://www.corsair.com/products/value_select.aspx)

Just find it odd BOTH are showing faults!
Click to expand...
Surely this case is a black and white problem with the ram? The only thing that confuses me is that both of the new dimms give faults!? Is that common/unusual?
 
Sweeney,

I checked voltage - 1.8v. Increased it slighty but this had no effect so i dont think this is the problem. Timings were on default.
I returned the RAM and got new sticks sent out. Replaced the sticks and ran Memtest straight away (ie before booting up Windows). The test ran for a full 10 passes with no errors. Thinking the problem solved I then fully booted up and ran various software including FSX and the computer froze again. I reran Memtest and guess what - Memtest fell down after 1min. Looks like something is wrecking the RAM. Its a new machine so suspect something more sinister like the mobo.

Any ideas? (apart from sending the whole machine back which I now intend to do).
 
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