MemTest86 - multiple passes

[avi85]

When I run MemTest86 my RAM is a little warm at the end could this mean that there could be a situation where it got really hot after 1 pass and then failed after multiple passes. I guess I'm asking if it is like priming which can fail after 6 hours even though it did fine until then.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Most serious errors will show up within the first two passes or so, IINM.

 

[dguy6789]

I always run two passes.

 

[RichUK]

I wouldn?t really worry about the temp of your memory unless you are using BH5. Well as long as the ambient case temps do not increase then your RAM will be fine.

Also I prefer to run about 10 passes atleast before I start priming. But everyone to their own.

As said before usually if y our mem is going to fail then it would in the first four passes or so, from my experience anyway.

 

[avi85]

WOW, this topic sits untouched for 6 hours and then in 6 minutes I get 3 responses!

Thanks guys!

 

[Thor86]

If you really want to do stress testing, use tests 5 and 8 for max heat/stress testing, and do at least 50+ passes for each test.

If it errors within this, then you have problems.

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: Thor86
If you really want to do stress testing, use tests 5 and 8 for max heat/stress testing, and do at least 50+ passes for each test.

If it errors within this, then you have problems.

50 passes on one then 50 passes on the other?

Isn't that excessive?

 

[Munky]

I never do such excessive testing. If it passes 2 loops of memtest then it's stable in my book, and I've had no stability issues with my system.

 

[larciel]

never had error appear on 2nd or 3rd run. if there was memory error it always showed on first run for me.

 

[pol II]

I test for 24-hours. Many consider that overkill. However, I have had errors appear at the 16-hour time point.

 

[nova2]

@pol:

how many errors after 16 hours?

and after 16 hours, if you rebooted, and ran it again, did the errors appear again after 1 pass?

if not then that memory shouldn't be thrown away, imo.


send it to a friend or something, heheh

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Originally posted by: larciel
never had error appear on 2nd or 3rd run. if there was memory error it always showed on first run for me.

QFT. Sometimes when I'm doubtful (eg. OC'ing the FSB) then I let it run three or more if I'll be away from the system.

Testing >= 1GB of RAM, even with the high bandwidths of modern A64s and P4s is painful. Testing 1GB of PC-133 is like... having your nads pulled :laugh:

 

[firewolfsm]

I can't get memtest to run from a CD, I don't feel like bringing out the old floppy drive....is there another way to run it?

 

[avi85]

Originally posted by: firewolfsm
I can't get memtest to run from a CD, I don't feel like bringing out the old floppy drive....is there another way to run it?

you can try the Ultimate Boot CD

 

[Davegod]

I made the mistake of not having memtest run very long, have suffered crashing for months without knowing the cause. I did it properly and it showed up the failures (all on Test 5). Stick it on when you're planning on watching a movie before bed - check it after the movie (when it's about 2 hours in), then leave it until morning.

Of course if you're not doing anything important with your PC, dont have any important data to lose and arent even getting instability during gaming... Well to me that still leaves it at a "do it at all" vs "do it properly" decision. dont see the point in doing it just a bit.

Second the UBCD recommendation. It's a cinch and provides plenty other possible use for that CD in future.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: avi85

Originally posted by: Thor86
If you really want to do stress testing, use tests 5 and 8 for max heat/stress testing, and do at least 50+ passes for each test.

If it errors within this, then you have problems.

50 passes on one then 50 passes on the other?

Isn't that excessive?

I let it run overnight. I suppose I'm excessive when it comes to stability testing.

 

[RallyMaster]

I run memtest86 through one pass, boot into windows for a 32M superpi then take it to Prime95 for a night of blend.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

If I'm doing it for the first time I'll just run a few passes, If I'm trying to problem solve or be sure of something, I'll run over night. I had some stabilty problems once and it turned out to be a back plate for heatsink shorting out the motherboard. When I was trying to figure out wtf was going on I tried everything (including "excessive" ram testing)