RAM testing w/ memtest

[denali6194]

I have 6 2G sticks of Mushkin DDR2. 4 of them I have been using for a long time and are great, the other two haven't been used (don't ask).

I am in the middle of tearing down my rig for a new build and am selling off 4 of the sticks. I've run memtest several times now with all 4 dimm slots filled with no errors (old sticks first). I've replaced one old stick with a new and retested--again no errors--then again with the second new stick. (hope this is making sense) I want to be sure that all 4 sticks which I am throwing up on ebay are good. I'm pretty sure they all are but I'd hate to sell someone a bad stick.

By running memtest with all 4 dimms filled can I be sure(as sure as I can be) that each stick is error free OR must I test each stick individually (one-at-a-time) to be sure an individual stick is good?

Of course the third option is that i need to seek psychological help...

 

[fcb]

Just incase, you can do a thorough test of each individual stick (the 4 used ones). Usually 2 pass throughs per stick should be enough. It should take anywhere from 45 min - 1 hr for 2 passes.

But from your testing, if they're OK then it should be good enough. It really depends on the end user's system setup (used or new)....like the kind of parts they're using in their system. You can't guarantee it will work perfectly since everyone's systems may differ?

 

[badatgames18]

if you are overclocking the ram.. memtest isn't really the best tool to check for stability..in my experience.(takes to long)

hci memtest (multiple instances dividing equally the amount of ram you have between the multiple instances) will really test stability

also hyper pi.. will show 24/7 stability, for me however, super pi 32m is good enough

 

[yassarikhan786]

Why not use prime95 with small FFTs (iirc).

 

[fcb]

Why not use prime95 with small FFTs (iirc).

I think the small FFTs is just for the CPU? You may need to use the blend settings and type in the full amount of RAM from the system so it can test everything out.

 

[yassarikhan786]

I think the small FFTs is just for the CPU? You may need to use the blend settings and type in the full amount of RAM from the system so it can test everything out.

Cool, Thanks for clearing that up for me. I tested my RAM ages ago

.

 

[fcb]

Cool, Thanks for clearing that up for me. I tested my RAM ages ago

.

You're welcome.

I was just taking a look at Prime95 to see if small FFTs had the RAM testing, but it seems like it doesn't as it's all greyed out. Ya I know right? It was ages ago for me too.

 

[yassarikhan786]

Blend is the best one for RAM testing. That's the one I used to test the stability at 1866MHz. My RAM wouldn't work at 1866MHz so I left it at 1600MHz (I had to loosen the timings for 1600MHz). I think for 1866MHz I'd have to up the voltage, but I didn't bother.

 

[fcb]

Yup yup, generally I will use the blend test overnight if possible and then do 2 passes minimum with memtest86+ just to make sure everything is good to use. Especially useful when you have like 4 sticks of RAM I think.