MemTest86: New version detects defective modules and even chips

0
152

PassMark, the company behind the popular RAM diagnostic tool MemTest86, provides a preview of an upcoming version with major innovations. In the future, the software should not only determine which module has errors, but also which memory chip is affected. However, this only works with DDR5.

“MemTest86 ushers in a new era of memory testing.” With these words and an image that shows the new error output on the screen, PassMark announces on Twitter an upcoming version of the diagnostic software MemTest86, which has been available free of charge for many years and which has probably already revealed to many readers in recent years that its RAM is defective or not.

As can be seen from the image, the announced version of the tool shows which memory block in the system is affected by an error. But it should work even more precisely and visualize which memory chip on the module has a defect.

It has not yet been announced when this innovation will be introduced. The last official update (apart from beta versions) was the current version MemTest86 Free 9.4 Build 1000 in January of this year.

New feature only with DDR5

However, the new feature will not work with just any RAM module. PassMark explains that direct identification of the faulty memory module and chip only works on “specially selected DDR5 reference systems”. The question of what exactly this means was answered more generally on Twitter: Currently it should only work with a Z690 mainboard with an Intel Alder Lake CPU and suitable DDR5 DIMMs in dual-channel mode.

Intel's platform is also the only desktop platform with DDR5 support until the AM5 motherboards for AMD Ryzen 7000 appear. It therefore seems at least possible that the function can also be used on the new AMD platform and that the limit simply affects the DDR5 memory type, which brings new possibilities for error diagnosis.

Downloads< /h2>


  • MemTest86 Download< /h2> 4.5 stars

    Memtest86 tests the installed RAM for its status and reports any errors.

    • Version Free 9.4 Build 1000 German< /li>
    • Version Free 4.3.7