Why does RAM break?

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Peder

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Why does ram stop working?

I can not for the life of me understand why RAM just stops working.

A specific computer:
Is 1year and 3 months old
Is always on a UPS
Gets switched off when it does not get used
Only games get played on it
Is not connected to the net.

But yet Ram testing fails the one memory module, even though the pc starts with it, it still gives blue screens etc.
 
Good question ????

One of our office pc's (gaming rig with 4x 1gb dominators) started acting funny the other day....took the memory in for testing.......ALL 4 were found to be faulty.....luckily with lifetime warranty, so swap-out was quick.
 
I've had this a few times.

RAM, especially the cheaper stuff, just doesn't last too long (guarantee period + 1 day) !

If you OC and up the voltage the life may even be shorter.

Temperature ( & cooling) will play a role.
 
Well its like any other product, it will fail after time. As for the BIOS pre-check, well thats just a minor sanity checker that really dose not do much.

Running memcheck or similar apps is the best way to check your RAM.
 
memtest86+ is a real lifesaver when dealing with suspect RAM...

I've had a perfectly good windowsXP install screw itself up horribly when transplanting the HDD to a new motherboard... but one of the RAM modules didn't liked being paired with other RAM modules, even of the same capacity and speed :confused:

The high clock speed and temperatures also might play a role in shortening the life span of memory modules. I can remember having a LOT of 386/486/Pentium2 PC's without any RAM issues...

The BIOS self-test merely count the amount of RAM, it doesn't test the RAM.
 
As a general principle it is not a bad idea to always boot with memtest86+ when you have fiddled with your RAM (and on a new computer).

Following this may save you a lot of trouble with corrupted OS installations.
 
Thanks Guys!

I ran memtest 86+ and it found a problem with the RAM.

I just don't understand why in a sealed case RAM does this?

What is wrong with RAM that this happens or is it just RAM, i never realised that so many ram makes have a lifetime warranty(or actually forgot)
 
RAM is a semiconductor - it is prone to failure just like any other piece of electronic equipment. Dry joints, bad design, voltage spikes, general failure.

+1 for memtest. You can get some weird and wonderfully intermittent problems with one bit in a byte being faulty.
 
Weird. I've seen maybe two or three memory modules fail in the last 15 years.
 
gregmcc said:
RAM is a semiconductor - it is prone to failure just like any other piece of electronic equipment. Dry joints, bad design, voltage spikes, general failure.

+1 for memtest. You can get some weird and wonderfully intermittent problems with one bit in a byte being faulty.
Click to expand...

but what is strange is that a whole motherboard/CPU doesn't go as often as a ram chip!
 
Peder said:
but what is strange is that a whole motherboard/CPU doesn't go as often as a ram chip!
Click to expand...

Don't buy cheap ram as the components and manufacturing process used is inferior.

i recommend getting yourself some gaming memory kingston ram is very good.

and always keep your pc clear of dust ram is very sensitive to static

and having a heat sink on the ram chips will also help protect against heat and static
 
I've got some corsair ram that needs to be swapped out. Also dominators. Where do i start?
 
I've got Some Corsair Flash Drive that also Failed ... Could it also be swopped out?
 
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