How to test just the memory

tman7510

Junior Member
May 5, 2003
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I want to know if I run memtest86 with fsb overclocked and I get errors is it the memory that is bad or can the processor be the problem.
 

JoeCDaMan

Senior member
Sep 17, 2001
211
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An easy way to do it would be to return everything back to stock and run memtest86 again... if you still get the errors then it's the mem. If you don't then you know everything is fine
 

tman7510

Junior Member
May 5, 2003
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I can do that but if I don't overclock my FSB I can't get my geilpc3500 ultra platinum to ddr433 the best I can do is ddr400 at stock speeds.
 

stevejst

Banned
May 12, 2002
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I can do that but if I don't overclock my FSB I can't get my geilpc3500 ultra platinum to ddr433 the best I can do is ddr400 at stock speeds.

It is not hard to guess you are using N-Force 2 motherboard. AMD boards are known for sorry memory performance, in particular N-Force 2 boards. GEIL Ultra Platinum is a great memory but you can see that only on Intel platforms. The errors you get in Memtest86 on N-Force2 mobos would not be there on Intel board.

I repeat nth time again, the misery of memory performance and errors on prime quality memory (which GEIL is) are due to miserable AMD platform not to memory. That is not only with GEIL but with OCZ Gold, Samsung, Corsair XMS, Kingston HyperX etc. You want memory performance according to mem specs? Use dual channel Intel motherboards.

N-Force 2 dual channel is a joke, it is like 3-4% better than a single channel and less stable so it is really no gain at all. Check VIA KT600 that uses single channel and benches memory almost the same as dual channel N-Force 2. Dual channel Intel platform will outgun N-Force 2 by 80-100% plus it will run every single high quality memory flawlessly according to specs.

In other words - you want to know if memory is good or bad, use Intel platform.
If you cannot afford it, buy memory that uses Winbond BH-5, CH-5. These are known to be able to put up with N-Force 2, though there are no warranties for that either (HyperX PC 3500 for example).
 

beatle

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2001
5,661
5
81
Originally posted by: stevejst
I can do that but if I don't overclock my FSB I can't get my geilpc3500 ultra platinum to ddr433 the best I can do is ddr400 at stock speeds.

It is not hard to guess you are using N-Force 2 motherboard. AMD boards are known for sorry memory performance, in particular N-Force 2 boards. GEIL Ultra Platinum is a great memory but you can see that only on Intel platforms. The errors you get in Memtest86 on N-Force2 mobos would not be there on Intel board.

I repeat nth time again, the misery of memory performance and errors on prime quality memory (which GEIL is) are due to miserable AMD platform not to memory. That is not only with GEIL but with OCZ Gold, Samsung, Corsair XMS, Kingston HyperX etc. You want memory performance according to mem specs? Use dual channel Intel motherboards.

N-Force 2 dual channel is a joke, it is like 3-4% better than a single channel and less stable so it is really no gain at all. Check VIA KT600 that uses single channel and benches memory almost the same as dual channel N-Force 2. Dual channel Intel platform will outgun N-Force 2 by 80-100% plus it will run every single high quality memory flawlessly according to specs.

In other words - you want to know if memory is good or bad, use Intel platform.
If you cannot afford it, buy memory that uses Winbond BH-5, CH-5. These are known to be able to put up with N-Force 2, though there are no warranties for that either (HyperX PC 3500 for example).

This is nonsense. There are no faults with the nForce2 system in being able to test memory. "Great" memory should be compatible with multiple platforms. Intel has its own share of problems with memory compatibility as well.

To the original poster, if you want to know if memory is good or bad, turn down the multiplier on your motherboard (if it's AMD) and turn up the FSB to match the stock clock of the chip. If you're using an Intel platform, you may already be at the limit of your chip.
 

stevejst

Banned
May 12, 2002
1,018
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This is nonsense. There are no faults with the nForce2 system in being able to test memory. "Great" memory should be compatible with multiple platforms. Intel has its own share of problems with memory compatibility as well.

No. If one board can run a chip 484 MHz and another cannot move beyond 400 MHz you gotta wonder what is wrong with that board. That is about GEIL PC 3500 Ultra Platinum. I have that experience.
Another example. I am running Samsung TCB3 rev C on Intel Springdale 440 MHz flawlessly but the same memory cannot go anywhere higher than 370 MHz on N-Force 2. The same two sticks of CTL.

That is like putting Michael Schumaher in a Ford Escort and expect him to win a Grand Prix. And if he doesn't blame him because he doesn't know to drive Ford Escort? That is insane.

Many of us already know that only blind AMD fanatics keep on blaiming memory and RMA-ing perfectly good memory. Just visit Corsair support site to check on that.
N-Force2 and the rest of AMD platforms are truly a sorry sight for memory performance.
Just about any memory will run higher on Springdale/Canterwood motherboard than on ANY AMD XP motherboard.
And when they are run with the same clock, these dual channel Intel platforms will outgun AMD platforms by a huge margin. If you don't know that then you are ignorant.
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
7,504
0
76
Originally posted by: stevejst
This is nonsense. There are no faults with the nForce2 system in being able to test memory. "Great" memory should be compatible with multiple platforms. Intel has its own share of problems with memory compatibility as well.

No. If one board can run a chip 484 MHz and another cannot move beyond 400 MHz you gotta wonder what is wrong with that board. That is about GEIL PC 3500 Ultra Platinum. I have that experience.
Another example. I am running Samsung TCB3 rev C on Intel Springdale 440 MHz flawlessly but the same memory cannot go anywhere higher than 370 MHz on N-Force 2. The same two sticks of CTL.

That is like putting Michael Schumaher in a Ford Escort and expect him to win a Grand Prix. And if he doesn't blame him because he doesn't know to drive Ford Escort? That is insane.

Many of us already know that only blind AMD fanatics keep on blaiming memory and RMA-ing perfectly good memory. Just visit Corsair support site to check on that.
N-Force2 and the rest of AMD platforms are truly a sorry sight for memory performance.
Just about any memory will run higher on Springdale/Canterwood motherboard than on ANY AMD XP motherboard.
And when they are run with the same clock, these dual channel Intel platforms will outgun AMD platforms by a huge margin. If you don't know that then you are ignorant.

yeah, i'm goin to have to agree with you on this one....

i've tried two different sticks of twinmos / winbond ch-5 on my nf7-s and got 100000000 of errors with memetest86.... i bought these sticks after reading the vr-zone's review on them ... but realized later they were tested out on the sd/cw chipsets...

realized that it was a board issue more so than a memory issue later on....

even my geil gold dragon pc3700... no matter how many volts i put into it, it errors on memtest86 on the nf7-s

i get no errors on my ic7



 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
7,504
0
76
linky

here's a person's experience with memtest86 and what errors are represented by each of the 10/11 tests on memtest86t
 

eva2000

Member
Jun 21, 2003
126
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76
Originally posted by: Shimmishim
linky

here's a person's experience with memtest86 and what errors are represented by each of the 10/11 tests on memtest86t

hehe my post :) note they really apply to P4 users, as i never played with AMD before
 

Shimmishim

Elite Member
Feb 19, 2001
7,504
0
76
Originally posted by: eva2000
Originally posted by: Shimmishim
linky

here's a person's experience with memtest86 and what errors are represented by each of the 10/11 tests on memtest86t

hehe my post :) note they really apply to P4 users, as i never played with AMD before

blah blah is what i hear eva! :)

j/k j/k