MemTest86 is an original, free, standalone memory testing software designed for x86 computers. It serves the purpose of diagnosing potential faults in a computer's RAM (Random Access Memory) by subjecting it to a series of comprehensive tests using various algorithms. This testing helps identify and isolate issues that might lead to problems like corrupted data, crashes, or other erratic behavior.
MemTest86 is a bootable utility that can be launched from a USB flash drive or a CD. When started, it initiates a battery of tests aimed at evaluating the health and stability of your computer's RAM modules. The tool operates independently of the operating system, ensuring accurate testing without interference from other software or drivers. It's utilized to diagnose memory-related problems in various contexts, including industrial usage by manufacturers and consumer usage by system builders, overclockers, and computer enthusiasts.
Features of MemTest86:
- Platform and Architecture Support:
- Boots from USB flash drives.
- Supports UEFI BIOS.
- Contains native 64-bit code for efficient testing.
- ARM64 support for testing on ARM-based systems.
- Trusted binaries for systems with Secure Boot enabled.
- Native USB keyboard support.
- Graphical interface with mouse support.
- Piezo speaker audio support for audible notifications.
- Reports RAM information using SMBIOS.
- Reports basic RAM SPD information.
- Reports ECC (Error-Correcting Code) capability.
- Test Algorithms and Fault Detection:
- Includes a new Row Hammer test to identify a specific type of memory issue.
- Supports multi-core testing, utilizing multiple CPU cores for comprehensive testing.
- Provides ECC error reporting to identify potential error correction problems.
- Monitors CPU and RAM temperatures during testing.
- Offers RAM benchmarking to assess memory performance.
- Generates comprehensive logs to record testing results.
- Enables saving HTML reports for further analysis.
- Integration and Third-Party Support:
- Supports command-line scripting for automated testing.
- Offers Intelligent Memory Surveillance (iMS) for failure prevention.
- Multi-Language Support: MemTest86 is available in several languages, including French, German, Czech, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan, Japanese, and Chinese.
Pros of Using MemTest86:
- Reliable Memory Testing: MemTest86 is trusted by both industry professionals and enthusiasts for identifying memory-related issues that can lead to system instability and data corruption.
- Diagnosis of Random Issues: Faulty RAM can manifest as unpredictable crashes and behavior. MemTest86 helps pinpoint these issues, making troubleshooting more effective.
- Industrial and Consumer Use: The tool is utilized by manufacturers and everyday users alike, underscoring its value for identifying memory problems across various scenarios.
- Comprehensive Testing: Its multiple algorithms and thorough testing processes ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the memory subsystem.
- User-Friendly: With a graphical interface and support for various languages, MemTest86 is accessible and easy to use.
- Industry Standards: MemTest86 is a standard tool used to ensure the reliability of computer systems, making it a staple in the realm of memory testing.
MemTest86 is a powerful, reliable, and widely recognized memory testing utility that aids in diagnosing memory-related problems, leading to improved system stability and performance. Its comprehensive testing methods, compatibility with different platforms, and user-friendly features make it an essential tool for anyone seeking to identify and resolve memory issues in their computers.
MemTest86 - Changelog:
- Improved performance and robustness of using non-default caching policy. This improves UI performance and fixes system halt issues with certain systems.
- Added support for additional caching policies in the main menu and MEMCACHE config file parameter.
- Extended SKIPDECODE config file parameter to apply to LPDDR4/LPDDR5 modules.
- Updated UEFI libraries to edk2-stable202405 (see https://github.com/tianocore/edk2/releases for details).
- Fixed incorrect test name for test 9 from "ones & zeros" text to "random pattern".
- Fixed multi-core issues on ARM64 chipsets due to unset mask interrupt bit for the ARMv8 performance counter register.
- Fixed incorrect slot being identified when ECC errors are detected on Intel Coffee Lake chipsets.
- Added address module decoding support for AMD Zen 3 chipsets.
- Added workaround when displaying DIMM test results to match the physical slot layout of various consumer Intel Meteor Lake motherboards.
- Fixed incorrect channel mode, speeds and timings reported for multi-socket Intel Skylake-SP chipsets.
- Fixed incorrect memory timings reported for Intel Emerald Rapids-SP chipsets.
- Fixed incorrect reporting of memory timings and channel mode on multi-socket systems.
- Fixed incorrect memory speed reported for Intel Sandy Bridge chipsets.
- Fixed incorrect memory speed reported for Intel Rocket Lake/Ice Lake/Tiger Lake/Alder Lake chipsets.
- Added support for reporting of LPDDR5-specific SPD attributes.
- Updated Japanese translations in localizations file.