

This covers both 32-bit and 64-bit machines. The number 86 following the MemTest part of the name, refers to the original x86 CPU instruction set that all of today’s PCs use. As such it is often used by system builders, PC repair stores, overclockers and PC manufacturers.

MemTest86 can help diagnose faulty RAM (or rule it out as a cause of system instability). Bad RAM is one of the most frustrating computer problems to have as symptoms are often random and hard to pin down. Corrupted data, crashes and unexplained behaviour. Unreliable RAM can cause a multitude of problems.

Memtest86 writes a series of test patterns to every memory address, reads back the data written, and compares it for errors. It tries to verify that the RAM will accept and correctly retain arbitrary patterns of data written to it. MemTest86 boots from a USB flash drive and tests the RAM in your computer for faults using a series of comprehensive algorithms and test patterns. Memtest86 by PassMark is a comprehensive, free, stand alone memory diagnostic software It is designed to stress test an x86 compatible computer’s random access memory (RAM) for errors.
