Testing RAM without MEMTEST86

[fixxxer0]

I know MEMTEST is pretty much the end all for testing ram for errors and stability.

However, it requires you to boot off the disc and run it without an operating system for extended period of time (8+ hours).


I need to have my computer on to do mundane things like check email, IM's, weather, ect ect. What is the best memory testing program out there for use while windows is booted? I know Prime95 has a RAM test mode, and theres S&M but I don't know how good those are.


Also, given the best windows memory testing program, is it that much more inferior than MEMTEST? (or one that isn't running with an OS?)

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

i think there are some...i used memtest a while ago and it was a pain testing many different options. i had an old athlon 64 and it had a memory controller that wouldn't work past about 210 mhz(x2 for the ddr speed), before people realized that this happened, and people kept telling me the memory was bad even though it was rated for much higher speed.

 

[fixxxer0]

Anyone?

 

[orangat]

Rightmark has a windows ram tester and M$soft has one too. Google to get the latest version. I've not used them before.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Memo...rosoft-Windows-Memory-Diagnostic.shtml

 

[orangat]

Forgot to mention that both are freeware.

 

[Zim]

I use S&M. It seems to be a brutal test that finds errors other software does not.

 

[BlueWeasel]

Memtest for Windows

 

[Avalon]

A 32M run of Superpi might put some stress on your RAM, although I don't know how effective it is compared to MEMTEST.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: Avalon
A 32M run of Superpi might put some stress on your RAM, although I don't know how effective it is compared to MEMTEST.

If your memory will pass Superpi 32M, then it's good for anything.

 

[orangat]

Originally posted by: Billb2

Originally posted by: Avalon
A 32M run of Superpi might put some stress on your RAM, although I don't know how effective it is compared to MEMTEST.

If your memory will pass Superpi 32M, then it's good for anything.

Not necessarily. How do we know superpi uses every bit of memory available and uses them evenly.

The best ram tester is memtest and the like. I can't remember if its test 5,8 which are the most failure prone in bad modules.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: orangat
Not necessarily. How do we know superpi uses every bit of memory available and uses them evenly.

The best ram tester is memtest and the like. I can't remember if its test 5,8 which are the most failure prone in bad modules.

Well, it's kind of like "Do you ever cross a street against the light? That's not 100% sure, safe but you're still alive are'nt you? It's kind of the same with memory. 24hrs of memtest-86 is pretty certain stability, but Superpi 32M with out pushing speed or latencies to the limit will keep you alive.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: fixxxer0
I know MEMTEST is pretty much the end all for testing ram for errors and stability.

However, it requires you to boot off the disc and run it without an operating system for extended period of time (8+ hours).

You don't necessarily need to run it that long. First pass will probably get most of the errors, IMO. How long for a pass depends on your system performance, RAM speed, RAM amount...