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Beware memtest86+

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  • Beware memtest86+

    Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 (BIOS F8)
    G.Skill RAM: F2-6400CL4D-4GBPK (x2)
    CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+

    I have been using memtest86+ to determine if new RAM modules work successfully. Earlier this year, I wanted to add 2x2GB to my system which already had Corsair 2x1GB modules. At that time, I used memtest86+ to check the new GSkill modules, and it (correctly) let me know that they were bad... and I RMA'd them for replacements.

    I was never able to get memtest86+ to pass with both the GSkill 2x2GB set and the Corsair 2x1GB set installed, so I have been using only the GSkill set since April assuming that the different brands of memory had a conflict.

    I just purchased a second set of GSkill 2x2GB modules, and experienced the SAME problem with not being able to use both sets of memory at once. However, each 2x2GB set passed memtest86+ just fine.

    Because of this, I thought my motherboard was broken -- maybe the second set of slots was bad. However, I decided to boot my OS anyway (Debian Linux)... and had no problems. I still assumed the memory was bad, but I just wasn't using enough to cross the 4096MB limit.

    I then discovered that there is a Linux program called 'memtester' which can be run in the OS to check the free memory. With about 7480MB free, I ran this:

    memtest 7200

    which allocates 7200MB of RAM and puts it through the wringer. My system passes these tests flawlessly, even at fast 4-4-4-12 timings. (These G.Skill modules are rated for those timings at 2.0-2.1V, but I found that I had to use 2.1V when using a single 2x2GB set, so that's what I am using now.)

    The memtest86+ program actually runs before any OS is loaded, and the version I use (2.01) hangs on the first test when it hits 4096-6144MB -- which for me is where the first 2x2GB set hands off to the second 2x2GB.

    So everyone beware a hanging memtest86+ -- it doesn't necessary mean your RAM is bad if it hangs. (If it does NOT hang, and reports bad memory, it can probably be trusted.)

  • #2
    memtest is only one of tool softwares to check if your memory is defective, but it is not 100% accurate


    GS

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