Understanding different memtest86 results with same memory modules

Hi,

First of all, I'm sorry in case this is not the right forum. I thought "general" was the best fit because the one with bsods requieres other information.

I've had this PC since 2012 and never had a problem.
I had 2 memory sticks same brand same speed (1333), 2gb each.

For reasons, I exchanged one stick for a 4gb stick, different brand same speed.
For 3 weeks I didn't have a problem, up until a bsod memory management showed up on Windows 10 2004 x64. That's when I decided to run memtest86.

These are my results. I'll call the slots in the mobo "A" and "B". "X" means empty slot.

*try 1-> A: 2 - B: 4 - failed (8,5hrs)

*try 2-> A: X - B: 4 - failed (8hrs)

*try 3-> A: 2 - B: X - pass (4hrs)

*try 4-> A: 4 - B: X - pass (13hrs)

*try 5-> A: X - B: 4 - failed (10hrs, 1st error 5hrs)

*try 6-> A: X - B: 2 - pass (17hrs)

*try 7-> A: 2 - B: X - pass (19hrs)

*try 8-> A: 4 - B: 2 - failed (1hr)

So... I was ready to conclude that the 4gb stick is failing but it was ok for 11 passes (13 hours). But it failed in one slot and not in the other.

Can I conclude both sticks work ok but not together?


At this point I don't know what to do with the little money I have, if the case is that the 4gb stick is ok and I can't use them together.
Buy another 2gb same brand and speed and go back to square 0.
Sell my 2gb and buy another 4gb same brand and speed and have 8gb like I'd like.
Sell both and buy one 8gb stick and be done with it.

Also, is it ok to have different cache speeds shown every time I boot memtest86?

Mobo is Gigabyte h61m-usb3-b3 for reference.

Thanks in advance for any help someone can provide me.
I attach images with the tests for reference.

Regards!


Tries 1, 2 and 3
Tries 4, 5 and 6
Tries 7 and 8

Notice in try 8 you had the 4gb stick in slot A and the 2gb stick in slot B and the error surfaced at 5gb meaning it appeared in the 2gb stick (and yes those tests are done sequentially) also you tried the 4gb solo in slot A and it passed but solo in slot B it failed . So actually there seems to be something wrong about slot B .

So to roll this possibility out , try digging out the old 2gb you had and run try 9-> A: 2 - B: 2 to see if slot B will still show any errors .

Yet , There are 2 things to note still :

1 - Yes it is known on using different brands / sizes of stick or sometimes modules errors may surface

2 - Yet still there are often the need to Reset or Update Bios or sometimes even Adjust Memory Profile on certain mobos for them to recognize new rams installed so for starters make sure you have your bios up to date and if so do try to reset the bios data by jumper dedicated for that purpose on your board .

Memory can work on a single or dual channel mode.
In single channel mode the sticks are filled one after the other. (ex A1+A2 or B1+B2). Different memory sticks can work well.
On a dual channel mode the data is split-ted and sent hath to a channel, hath to the other channel. It is equivalent to a RAID 0 on drives. The memory sticks must be same size, same brand and same timings. You use the memory in a matched pair. (Ex A1+B1 or A2+B2 or (A1+B1)+(A2+B2). Different memory sticks on A1+B1 or A2+B2 can fail.

It's very important to know the memory specs and at what slots they are installed.
Download, extract and run HWInfo . It's a portable, don't need to be installed.
On the memory tab you will find the specs of your current memory.

Megahertz said:

Memory can work on a single or dual channel mode.
In single channel mode the sticks are filled one after the other. (ex A1+A2 or B1+B2). Different memory sticks can work well.
On a dual channel mode the data is split-ted and sent hath to a channel, hath to the other channel. It is equivalent to a RAID 0 on drives. The memory sticks must be same size, same brand and same timings. You use the memory in a matched pair. (Ex A1+B1 or A2+B2 or (A1+B1)+(A2+B2). Different memory sticks on A1+B1 or A2+B2 can fail.

It's very important to know the memory specs and at what slots they are installed.
Download, extract and run HWInfo . It's a portable, don't need to be installed.
On the memory tab you will find the specs of your current memory.

Despite that this is how they wanted us to believe for a while , with Lenovo releasing several economic laptops holding 6 gbs rams working on dual channel while holding sticks of a 4 and a 2 , and now a whole some of laptops are released with soldered ram with extra slot for expand-ability while stating ram upgradable up to 24 gbs on 8 gbs versions (now not just size of rams and modules that may change but brand too) they broke all they had me believe now :)

Now seems they applied better memory handling mechanisms on their bioses or maybe memory chips who knows hence why I recommended he'd update his bios just to insure he's on the latest of what this board has to offer .

If you have (2+4)G (same speed and same timings)
2+2 can operate in dual channel
0+2 will operate in single channel

Hi,

Thank you so much to both of you.
(I'll answer to both now)

Unfortunately, I don't have the other 2gb stick anymore so I can't try what was suggested.

The bios has the latest update.

I downloaded hwinfo and and it gave me some important info about the slot number and speed. Also, I finally learnt what dual channel really means.

I tested again the 2gb stick for ~9 hours on each slot and always passed (no errors).

I decided I'm gonna go ahead and buy two 4gb sticks in a store I called today because they told me I can try them for 3 days, and if I want they'll refund my money no questions asked. So I will probably do that next week when I have the money and order it online, and see how it goes, then post the results. Wish me luck.

Thank you so much again to both of you, you've been of great help.

I'll mark this as solved now because you help me understand the results, which is what I needed.

Regards.