How to Test Your Computer's RAM for Problems

As computer users, we can’t stress enough how crucial a computer’s RAM is. It is a fundamental component of your PC or laptop where your computer stores data it needs to retrieve quickly. Thanks to the RAM, the various processes, apps, and other programs work quickly and smoothly. But, what if things are not as they were before? What if you suspect that there are problems with your RAM?

That’s what this post is for. Here we’ll look at ways to test RAM performance and find out if any issues need to be looked into. Once you have identified that there might be issues with your RAM, you can use the steps in this post to optimize RAM.

How To Know That Your Computer’s RAM Has Problems?

Much before you dive into the various ways to ascertain if there is a problem with your RAM, it is important to identify the probable symptoms first –

Even if it might not be a problem, it is always a wise move to test your RAM as soon as you install a new RAM stick. This way you can find out if the manufacturer has shipped off the right RAM to you or not.
Your PC has started to work very slowly lately.
Inability to boot your computer without hassles.
You frequently run into blue screen errors or system crashes.
Applications on your PC malfunction now and then. Or, worse, you can’t install applications.
Visual graphics are distorted.

How To Test The RAM’s Performance of Your Computer

Method 1 - Run Windows Memory Diagnostics

Your Windows PC (or laptop) has an inbuilt feature with which you can test your RAM. It is available on all major versions of Windows. To run Windows Memory Diagnostic, follow the steps mentioned below :
Step 1 – In the Windows search bar, type memory and select Windows Memory Diagnostics.

Alternatively, you can open the Run dialog box, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter to open Windows Memory Diagnostic results.

Step 2 – Click on Run as administrator from the right-hand side.

Step 3 – Click on Restart now and check for problems (recommended).

Let the test complete. In between, you can check the progress bar. Once completed, your computer will restart automatically. To see the test results jump to the next method.

Please note:

Before you choose this option, we urge you to first save your work and also take a backup of your data beforehand before your computer restarts.

How long does the Windows Memory Diagnostic test Take?

Wondering how long Windows Memory Diagnostic will take? The time taken will depend on your hardware and the RAM you have installed. And, also the time will depend on the memory test mode you have chosen – Basic memory test mode, Standard memory test mode, and Extended memory test mode.

On average, you can set aside 20-30 minutes (give and take a few minutes) for the test to complete.

Method 2 - Open The Event Viewer

In continuation of the above method, below are the steps to see the test results obtained from Windows Memory Diagnostic –

Step 1 – Right-click on the Windows icon and select Event Viewer.

Step 2 – When the Event Viewer window opens, click on Windows Logs > System from the left-hand pane.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Step 3 – From the farthest right, click on Find.

Step 4 – Type MemoryDiagnostic and click on Find Next

You will then be able to see the results. Also, you will also be able to see additional details about your RAM as well.

Writer’s Tip - Use A Third-Party Tool To Fix RAM Issues

A Windows optimization tool like Advanced System Optimizer is the best bet to fix any RAM-related issues. Below we have outlined the steps on how you can free unused allocated memory and optimize it using Advanced System Optimizer –

Step 1 – Download Advanced System Optimizer, and run the installation file.

Step 2 – Click on PC Optimizers from the left-hand side.

Step 3 – Click on Memory Optimizer from the right.

Step 4 – Click on Optimize Now. The module will optimize memory and manage the system’s cache as well.

Step 5 – You can also click on Manual Settings, or Auto Optimization and configure memory optimization settings as per the needs of your PC.

Method 3 - Run A Third-Party Diagnostic Tool

Some very powerful RAM diagnostic tools can help you test your PC’s RAM. MemTest86 is one such tool. It boots from a USB flash drive and tests your RAM for faults. It is available for free, conducts 14 different RAM testing algorithms, and supports all RAM types including the DDR5 technology.

How To Run MemTest86 To Test RAM?

When comparing the inbuilt Windows Memory Diagnostic to a tool like MemTest86, the latter offers a wider range of tests even in its free version. Here are the steps to run MemTest86 to test RAM:

Step 1 – Download MemTest86. Once downloaded, right-click on the file that you have downloaded and click on Extract to here.

Step 2 – Insert a USB drive. Run the imageUSB tool.

Please Note:

Before writing the MemTest86 image to a USB drive, we urge you to take a backup of all the existing contents of the drive. That’s because, once written, all the contents will be erased.

Step 3 – Restart your PC and select Boot from USB drive. You may have to change the boot order in your BIOS settings.

Step 4 – MemTest86 will begin automatically.

You may have to wait for several minutes to a few hours. Once the test is complete, you will be able to see the results on the screen.

What To Do In Case The Tests Find Faults In RAM?

If there are faults with your RAM, and provided they are at an initial stage, you can optimize your RAM. However, if serious issues are indicated, you can consider getting in touch with the manufacturer and replacing the faulty RAM. Additionally, you can test out a spare RAM on your PC, configure it correctly, and find out if your PC works well with the newly replaced RAM.

We hope you found value in this post. And, if you have been in a situation where you dealt with a faulty RAM, do share how you fixed the issue.

Written by:

Louis Valderrama

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