Aging Memory

fb02521

Member
Apr 14, 2009
53
0
61
core duo e8400 system
has 2 x 1 GB memory sticks--DDR2 800 mhz --age 2 years
Western Digital 10,000 rpm Raptor Hd--age 4 years.

Used generally about 10 hrs./day without shut off 7 days/week.

Running fine. At what point to do we replace memory and hard drive to avoid a crash?
Office system with lot's of professional info on the drive. It's backed up.
 

razel

Platinum Member
May 14, 2002
2,337
93
101
You really can't predict RAM failure. What I would do is test the RAM with Memtest+. The hard drive however you can check it's health using SMART. I would worry more about the spinning fans and the power supply. If you're interested in extending the system's life, I would also consider putting it into standby when you can and keep the dust under control.

Thumbs up on the backup! You can rest.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,227
126
hds last longer when they are constantly spinning instead of starting and stopping all the time. I would clone the hd to a fresh new hd when the warranty expires.
ram lasts virtually forever, except when it doesn't.
 

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
core duo e8400 system
has 2 x 1 GB memory sticks--DDR2 800 mhz --age 2 years
Western Digital 10,000 rpm Raptor Hd--age 4 years.

Used generally about 10 hrs./day without shut off 7 days/week.

Running fine. At what point to do we replace memory and hard drive to avoid a crash?
Office system with lot's of professional info on the drive. It's backed up.
Is your current memory rated to run over the JEDEC DDR spec of 1.8-1.9v?
Overvolted memory can suffer a shorter life span.
 

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
2,548
0
76
You should never have to replace the ram as long as you use the standard voltage for your memory.
 

fb02521

Member
Apr 14, 2009
53
0
61
as always, very helpful. we run memory at normal voltage, although we had it overclocked at one point. there is a diff in performance, i think. txs very much. we cease worrying about memory fail!.
 

DominionSeraph

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
8,386
32
91
You should never have to replace the ram as long as you use the standard voltage for your memory.

I had a stick of PC-100 SDRAM go bad last year in a Win98 system I support. Granted, it was ten years old at the time, but it still went out with stock settings.
 

taltamir

Lifer
Mar 21, 2004
13,576
6
76
with very rare exceptions, RAM Should not fail, its very very durable.

HDDs will fail, but with a proper backup scheme it doesn't matter. Just fix it when it does break.