RAM Test First Failure

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  • Meridian456
    Junior Member
    • Aug 2025
    • 5
    #1

    RAM Test First Failure

    Hi peoples,

    Apologies if this question has been asked tirelessly, but I have just put together a new PC build. Lately I have been noticing some odd behaviours, e.g. both monitors going black and having to press the power button after no response. Today I had a 'quick' BDOS after downloading a fix to bring my Windows 11 updater to the current standard. I say quick because it literally flicked on start up before disappearing.

    That sent me into Event Viewer where I can see an Event Log 41 error. I run chkdsk and dism and all read fine; two scans of SFC and there were corrupt files but repaired on either occasion.

    Someone recommended Memtest86 and I ran it today relieved at passing the first pass but then came the second pass.

    Finished pass #1 (of 4) (Total errors: 0, ECC errors: 0) Test: 8 Addr: 63DF16580 Expected: B24E1041 Actual: 924E1041 CPU: 0

    My question is - how should I interpret this? Is this a definitive indicator of RAM failure?

    Some points worth mentioning:
    - I have looked in the BIOS settings for my MOBO and see the XMP/EXPO profile was already set to disabled
    - Concerned it might be where my RAM is pressed against my CPU fan but I have inserted both properly in their correct slots
    2 Photos
    Tags: None
    • David (PassMark)
      Administrator
      • Jan 2003
      • 11092
      #2
      The difference between the expected value and the actual value was a single bit flip.
      This is the most common manifestation of a RAM failure.
      So likely it is bad RAM, with a small chance it is something else (motherboard, CPU, "soft error", etc..).

      If things were working properly, it should be possible to turn on XMP/EXPO.

      See also this page for more details.
      https://www.memtest86.com/troubleshooting.htm



        Comment

        • Meridian456
          Junior Member
          • Aug 2025
          • 5
          #3
          David, thank you kindly for taking the time to get back. I must confess I am overwhelmed by all of this and so any help is greatly appreciated.
          Three questions off the back of your reply:

          1) I have reseated both RAM sticks and rerun the test. Four passes in and I get one error notification but a different one pertaining to the modulo test - is a different error pick up a sign of something else or still bad RAM? e.g. should I look at replacing anyway?
          2) Could you direct me to which specific section I should be looking at via the link you provided?
          3) If I turn on XMP/EXPO and it works, this is a sign there is no issue with RAM?

          This is from the test today.
          2 Photos

            Comment

            • Meridian456
              Junior Member
              • Aug 2025
              • 5
              #4
              Update:

              I have tested both sticks individually and they have passed. Presume this now means the issue is with dual-channel or settings around the RAM?

                Comment

                • David (PassMark)
                  Administrator
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 11092
                  #5
                  I still think it is likely a RAM issue.

                  In answer to your questions:
                  1) Still bad RAM
                  2) Generally speaking, there is no fixing bad RAM (as a consumer). Probably doesn't need any deeper investigation. Just replace the RAM.
                  3) No. But I would be surprised if it started working at higher speeds when it doesn't work at low speeds.

                    Comment

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