Memtest86+

[hennessy1]

I am reading over the options for the program and am unsure what settings I should use to best test my memory completely. Can someone with more knowledge of the program please help me. Thank you.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Just let it run by itself. Test 5 is a bit more stressful than the others, but just let the program run overnight and you should be good.

 

[kmmatney]

I've always just run the default tests - never set any options before...

 

[hennessy1]

Ok guys thank you. I have been having problems and thought it was the hdd but now I am leaning more the memory. So default or test 5 and either a overnight or 24hr period per stick correct?

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: hennessy1
Can someone with more knowledge of the program please help me.

:laugh: Sure I can, read this...

"<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.memtest86.com/tech.html#trouble">Please be aware that not all errors reported by Memtest86 are due to bad memory.
The test implicitly tests the CPU, L1 and L2 caches as well as the motherboard.

It is impossible for the test to determine what causes the failure to occur.
However, most failures will be due to a problem with memory module.

When it is not, the only option is to replace parts until the failure is corrected.</a>"

 

[Zap]

Just let it run without setting anything and do one pass per stick. If the RAM is bad enough, you'll get errors pretty quickly. If you don't get errors but still suspect the RAM, then put them all back in and run it overnight.

 

[n7]

Overnight runs are indeed a good idea.

If i am OCing RAM & trying to find where it maxes out, assuming it POSTs, i choose test 5 to do quick checking before increasing FSB (& consequently RAM frequency), & repeat.
When OCed past stable speeds, it tends to fail right at the end of test 5.

 

[RebateMonger]

Another thing to try is Microsoft's Windows Memory Diagnostics program. A technician at Frys told me that they use it because it generally finds errors FASTER. It has both standard and extended tests. Often, I'll use both Memtest and WMD.

Note, though, that the Windows program seems to only be able to handle 4 GB of memory. Memtest 86+ handled my 8 GB just fine, although it takes a while to get through several passes.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Run ALL tests (so just default) not just Test 5. Sorry for the misinformation. Although if your RAM is bad it will show up soon enough.

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: Zap
Just let it run without setting anything and do one pass per stick. If the RAM is bad enough, you'll get errors pretty quickly. If you don't get errors but still suspect the RAM, then put them all back in and run it overnight.

Why per stick? If you test with both sticks, and get errors, then I would go to 1 stick, and see which stick had errors...

I just let it run overnight, and when you get up, if 0 errors, then your good to go.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Elixer
Why per stick? If you test with both sticks, and get errors, then I would go to 1 stick, and see which stick had errors...

It doesn't take too much longer if both sticks are good, but if a stick is bad then you find it faster.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Run ALL tests (so just default) not just Test 5. Sorry for the misinformation. Although if your RAM is bad it will show up soon enough.

I think he said 5 full batches of tests... aka, run all tests, then again, then again... 5 times in a row. Only if it doesn't fail 5 full repeats of the tests than its good...
In other words, just run it overnight with default settings.

 

[Elixer]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: Elixer
Why per stick? If you test with both sticks, and get errors, then I would go to 1 stick, and see which stick had errors...

It doesn't take too much longer if both sticks are good, but if a stick is bad then you find it faster.

Except for those cases when each individual stick is OK, but together, and they error out.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Elixer
Except for those cases when each individual stick is OK, but together, and they error out.

I had that happen with a pair of SuperTalent DDR2 sticks. Singly, they would test OK, but as a pair, they had a repeatable error in one spot.

 

[hennessy1]

well guys i tested each stick individually and nothing was wrong with them and i tested with all four in and all were fine. Tested hard drives and same nothing wrong. I am going to reflash bios and see if that changes anything. Other then that I am going to go with it was a fluke. BTW I am talking about a bluescreen I received on a fairly new install it happened after I installed flash player on the reboot. I am going to assume it was that that caused the error.

 

[Blain]

What model power supply are you running, and how old is it?

 

[hennessy1]

PCP&C Turbo-Cool 1200. I'd have to say at least or around a year.