Hi,

I have 2 x 512 sticks of memory installed. My problem is one of the memory modules is indicating it's faulty.
I have a Dell Dimension 5150 and on the front of the box there are numbers that light up when the system hangs. I've been to the dell site and found the codes for the lights (and the three long beeps) and it tells me there is a ram problem.
I've taken the two sticks out and run them one at a time but the problem hasen't presented itself again.
I was wondering is there a program that I can use to stress test the modules.
I have goggled "Ram Stress Test" but all I can find is software that you have to buy before you can use it.

Any help would be apprieciated.

memtest86.org

Billy3

Here's the link:
Memtest86

if both sticks pass memtest seperately?

was one of the sticks added later?

both original?

Here's my link: Memtest86+
Ah, I meant for mine to be a link. I was sending JackTheHaack to memtest86+. Ive had better results with it in the past than memtest86. (Ive seen some machines where it fails to boot)

But, either one should work

Billy3

Thanks Guys. I didn't need the program in the end as I went and bought 4Gig of RAM instead. Need to upgrade anyway but thanks for the link to Memtest86+. I will keep that in my Fav's.

Cheers

Jack

It appears that your Dell will support up to 2gB sticks in each slot, with a maximum of 8 gB being recognized.

If it's a 32 bit OS, you should see around 3.26 gB of RAM. If it's a 64 bit OS, then you'll see all 4 gB.

RAM testers that you download from the web test the RAM by running stress tests on it - and they're generally pretty accurate. There are some rare instances where the memory test will not discover a problem, and other rare instances where the memory test will indicate faulty memory when it's actually the slot that's faulty.

Thanks usasma but actually the MoBo only supports up to 1 gig in each slot according to my manual with a total of 4gig for the board and yes it is limited to 3.26 gig with a 32 bit O/S. See here

Cheers

I used Crucial.com for the results that I got.

I used google and then dell, crucial has been known to occasionally screw up

the N model takes only 1 gig modules?

who in the heck would ever put 8 gigs of memory in a dell?





jk