Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: Best way to test RAM?

  1. #1
    Senior Member Robert's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    North West
    Posts
    1,004
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    9 times in 5 posts
    • Robert's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6X58D Premium
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 920
      • Memory:
      • Corsair 12GB Dominator 1600Mhz
      • Storage:
      • 10TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia GTX 480
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX1200
      • Case:
      • Corsair 800D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 HP Retail
      • Monitor(s):
      • Eizo SW110W+
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 100Mb

    Best way to test RAM?

    Should I use the windows based memtest OR memtest86?

    I think I may use the windows based one.

  2. #2
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    memtest86+

    The windows one is convenient, but it has to work around a big fat operating system that's loaded into memory.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    204
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    12 times in 10 posts
    • pepsi_max2k's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2
      • CPU:
      • Barton 2500+ @ 2.13 GHz
      • Storage:
      • Maxtor 6Y120P0, WD2000JD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Nvidia 7800GS
      • PSU:
      • Tagan 480-UO1
      • Monitor(s):
      • CTX E710F
      • Internet:
      • 5 Mbps ADSL2+

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    memtest86 for a good few hours, and then just normal use. and also, the mobo manual and and ram compatibility charts would be a good place to look to prevent problems; some will have specific orders you need to insert things (not just for dual channel).

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    1,094
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    77 times in 75 posts
    • LuckyNV's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI GD65
      • CPU:
      • i5 750 w/ Thermalright Ultra120X
      • Memory:
      • 2x2GB DDR3-1600 Cas7
      • Storage:
      • 640GB.AAKS, 2xSamsung F1 1TB, 2xSamsung 64GB SLC SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire HD6870 1GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF-932
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG W2286L
      • Internet:
      • Be* Unlimited@21Mbps w/ Draytek 2710n

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    Quote Originally Posted by kalniel View Post
    memtest86+

    The windows one is convenient, but it has to work around a big fat operating system that's loaded into memory.
    I would run the DOS version for this reason alone.

    Do check your BIOS, some have memtest built into it so you can just run it from there.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Ciber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Southampton
    Posts
    1,650
    Thanks
    170
    Thanked
    78 times in 62 posts
    • Ciber's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Prime X470 Pro
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5 3600
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Team Group
      • Storage:
      • ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro 512GB + 1TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • GTX960 Strix
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Prime Ultra Snow Silent 650W
      • Case:
      • Phanteks Enthoo Pro
      • Operating System:
      • W10 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PG329Q
      • Internet:
      • Vodafone Fibre

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    Quote Originally Posted by LuckyNV View Post
    Do check your BIOS, some have memtest built into it so you can just run it from there.
    Really? Now that's a BIOS feature to look out for.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Posts
    1,094
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked
    77 times in 75 posts
    • LuckyNV's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI GD65
      • CPU:
      • i5 750 w/ Thermalright Ultra120X
      • Memory:
      • 2x2GB DDR3-1600 Cas7
      • Storage:
      • 640GB.AAKS, 2xSamsung F1 1TB, 2xSamsung 64GB SLC SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire HD6870 1GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX620W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster HAF-932
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG W2286L
      • Internet:
      • Be* Unlimited@21Mbps w/ Draytek 2710n

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    my DFI NF4 Ultra-D had it, i'm looking in my Gigabyte P965 bios, doesn't look like it has it, so I'm guessing probably a DFI feature

  7. #7
    Yeah dude! NightshadowUK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    2,172
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked
    59 times in 57 posts
    • NightshadowUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z87M GAMING
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 4790K [Macho Rev.B]
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M500 [240GB] & MX500 [1TB]
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • 620W Corsair HX
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ08B-E [AP181 & NF-S12B]
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Home [64bit]
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 200Mb

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    Yeah AFAIK it's only DFI boards that have Memtest86+ built in.

  8. #8
    Senior Member Max Tractor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Posts
    1,248
    Thanks
    44
    Thanked
    41 times in 38 posts
    • Max Tractor's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Biostar TA890GXE
      • CPU:
      • 95w 1055T@x4-3.5Ghz-1.15v
      • Memory:
      • Samsung Green 30nm low voltage 2x4GB@1.26v
      • Storage:
      • Corsair 3 60GB-Sandisk Extreme 240GB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 7850 2GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic SS-1050XM
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster elite 120(Modd)
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ EW2430

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    I test with both, windows first, then a long run with memtest86+, the biostar t series boards I have ran have memtest in bios also

  9. #9
    Yeah dude! NightshadowUK's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    2,172
    Thanks
    134
    Thanked
    59 times in 57 posts
    • NightshadowUK's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z87M GAMING
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7 4790K [Macho Rev.B]
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M500 [240GB] & MX500 [1TB]
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 4GB Sapphire 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • 620W Corsair HX
      • Case:
      • Silverstone TJ08B-E [AP181 & NF-S12B]
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Home [64bit]
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell U2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 200Mb

    Re: Best way to test RAM?

    Ahh you live and you learn, personally I think all 'enthusiast' aimed boards should come with it pre-installed, it'd save an awful lot of hassle...

    Robert, definitely go with the BIOS based one.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. So You Want more RAM EH?!
    By T3hGr8£st in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 07-02-2007, 12:21 PM
  2. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 14-09-2006, 10:16 PM
  3. Shuttle SN45G and TwinMOS DDR400 RAM
    By nb45 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 15-04-2004, 06:01 PM
  4. What should I do about my RAM?
    By spindle in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 20-03-2004, 02:44 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •