How to tell if RAM is dead?

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
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Hey guys I wounded my computer a few weeks ago when my mobo blew a capacitator and sent my 1.2 ghz Athlon to processor heaven. At the time my video card wasn't in there, but I can't remember if my RAM was... Besides finding another DDR board to test it in, if RAM is fried are there any visible markings on it?
 

johndoe52

Senior member
Aug 12, 2001
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0
I've only seen one stick of ram that was clearly KIA. There was a definite scortch mark on 3 of the gold leads. Other than that the only way I'd know how to check ram is to stick it in a mb and see if it'll start up. Good luck and becareful.
 

VBboy

Diamond Member
Nov 12, 2000
5,793
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Capacitator? Wow. We didn't study that.

You can go to a non-major computer store or a computer show.. They usually have special RAM testers (hardware devices).
 

smp

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2000
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How did the cap go?
Were you doing anything to it?
You didn't have your video card in there?

Only thing I can think of is just putting it in another board, and then running memtest.
 

MWink

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
3,642
1
76
I've seen the label on a stick of RAM melt and burn. That gave me a pretty good idea it was dead.



<< You can go to a non-major computer store or a computer show.. They usually have special RAM testers (hardware devices). >>



I've done that too.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
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lol, sorry guys, I was really sick when I posted this (bigtime headache). The RAM has no damage on it, so i assume it's ok! woooooooooooohoooo!!! now I gotta pick up my XP1700 tomorrow :D