Ram dump crashes / ram testing software

[Chris Rizzo]

Hey Bullines,

 

I'm having crash-after-crash tonite on X (at least 7 or 8 in a few hours), and the error message is something to the extent of:

 

"unable to write ram 000xyz0000"

 

I then get the send-to-cnc-email form, which of course I fill out. Could these type of errors be indicative of a stick of ram going bad? Or is it a new method or crashing in X? I don't recall seeing that type of ram-related error before. In your infinite wisdom (or anyone else's for that matter) do you recommend any particular ram-testing apps.? shareware, preferably

 

thx again

[Bullines]

If that's a Windows dialog showing you that, it might be. If it's a Mastercam dialog, then probably not. Usually bad RAM results in BSODs, though. Does it crash when you do the same thing in Mastercam or is it random?

 

Either way, a good utility to test your RAM is Memtest86. Download the ISO, burn it using your favourite ISO-compatible burning software and boot off the CD. Let it run for as long as you can; definitely a few hours.

 

Another app that'll give your computer a workout is Prime95. If your hardware is getting shakey, this app will really make it show. But give Memtest86 a try first, to rule out RAM and cache, if you think this problem isn't restricted to Mastercam.