The memory installed in your computer is very sensitive. It’s always a good idea to perform a test on newly purchased RAM to check for errors. Of course, a test like this is always in order if you suspect that you may have a problem with your existing RAM. For example, if your computer doesn’t boot at all, or if it randomly reboots, you may have some problems with the memory. It’s also a good idea to check the memory if programs are crashing, you hear beep codes during a reboot, you’re seeing error messages like “illegal operation,” or if you’re getting a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)—some may read “fatal exception” or “memory_management.” Simply download the program from MemTest86’s site and put it on a flash drive. After that, just boot from the USB drive, and you’re off. While this RAM test is free, PassMark also sells a Pro version, but unless you’re a hardware developer, the free download and free basic support available from us and on their website should be enough. We highly recommend MemTest86! It’s our favorite tool for testing RAM, without a doubt. It doesn’t need an operating system to run a memory test. However, it does require an OS to copy the program to a USB device. This can be done using any version of Windows, as well as with Mac or Linux. The latest version supports only UEFI boot; the v4 BIOS release (also through the link below) is available, too. Just download the installer program and then follow the instructions to create a bootable floppy disk or ISO image for burning to a disc or flash drive. After booting from whatever it is you made, Windows Memory Diagnostic will automatically begin testing the memory and will repeat the tests until you stop them. If the first set of tests finds no errors, chances are your RAM is good. We’d recommend performing a memory test with Memtest86+ if you have any problems running the Memtest86 RAM test or if Memtest86 reports errors with your memory, and you’d like an excellent second opinion. Memtest86+ is available in ISO format for burning to disc or USB. It might seem a bit strange that we rank Memtest86+ as the #3 pick, but since it’s so incredibly similar to Memtest86, your best bet is to try Memtest86 followed by WMD, which operates differently, providing you with a more well-rounded set of memory tests. Just like with Memtest86, you’ll need a working operating system like Windows, Mac, or Linux to create the bootable disc or flash drive, which can be done on a different computer than the one that needs testing. One major disadvantage is that it requires that you create a bootable floppy disk. Most computers today don’t even have floppy drives. The better memory test programs (above) use bootable discs like CDs and DVDs, or bootable USB drives, instead. We’d recommend using DocMemory Diagnostic only if the memory testers listed above don’t work for you, or if you’d like yet one more confirmation that your memory has failed. On the other hand, if your computer isn’t able to boot a disc or USB drive, which is what the above programs require, DocMemory Diagnostic may be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
