Testing RAM modules

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dpw

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#27363 23-Oct-2008 13:45

Hi folks,

What's the best strategy to pinpoint if one has a faulty RAM stick or two? Due to the memory addressing I imagine I have to test each of the two sticks individually?

I have downloaded Memtest86+ and will run that tonight. What's the best strategy for testing? Is there better software to use? Any hints/gotchas?

Cheers,
Dany.

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rscole86

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#173044 23-Oct-2008 13:52

No real trick to it, just run it and see what happens.

I would suggest running windows memory diagnostic tool too.

dpw

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#173045 23-Oct-2008 14:01

Great - that sounds straightfoward indeed. How many times should I run the tests? It seems you can select the number of iterations...

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rscole86

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#173051 23-Oct-2008 14:07

Run each of them once, really if you find one error it is time to replace the ram. With the cost of ram these days I would not bother doing multiple tests to rule out anomalies.

dpw

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#173052 23-Oct-2008 14:11

I guess I'm looking at it from the other direction - if a single run did not point out any errors is it safe to assume the module is fine?

I have just assembled a new PC with brand new components - just trying to figure out if the MoBo or one/both RAM modules is giving me grief.

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rscole86

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#173054 23-Oct-2008 14:15

What sort of grief are we talking about here?

I would suggest then that you test it once, then reverse the ram in the slots. ie, 1a 2b becomes 1b 2a. Then see what the results say, you should be able to tell then if it is the slot causing problems or the sticks.

dpw

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#173059 23-Oct-2008 14:22

At first it was an unidentifiable single long POST beep. The MoBo manual has no definition for that particular code. Then I moved the sticks to different slots and it worked. I managed to install the OS, etc. When I finished up last night I shut down the machine. This morning I started it again and got the single long beep again! I just removed a single stick and then it booted up just fine! I have left it on this morning and will run the mem tests tonight.

The other grief was the USB ports - at times when the machine boots up it recognises keyboard and mouse, and other times it doesn't! My old MS Ergo keyboard happens to have both PS/2 and USB connectors so I can actually use it through the PS/2 slot.

So you reckon I can run the tests with both sticks in and then just swap them around? Can faulty memory potentially affect MoBo functionalities, eg. USB ports?

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rscole86

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#173061 23-Oct-2008 14:28

What brand of BIOS are you using? Have you looked to see what they say officially for their beep codes?

dpw

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#173063 23-Oct-2008 14:32

My MoBo is Gigabyte MA78G-DS3H. I have checked their website and manual, hence the comment of "unidentifiable" single beep. There's no mention of a single long beep with regards to this MoBo that I could see. I'm not entirely sure what BIOS it uses - I think it's AWARD. Having said that I understand MoBo manufacturers may actually modify the BIOS they use for any of their models and potential renders the default BIOS beep code interpretation near useless.

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dpw

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#173069 23-Oct-2008 14:43

Hmmm....just had a quick look at Phoenix's site for Award BIOS. They say that the only one that comes default with their BIOS is a single long followed by two short beeps, signifying video error. Anything else are likely to be RAM errors.

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