Re: utility for testing ram?

Benjamin Grosman (bgrosman@healey.com.au)
Tue, 29 Sep 1998 18:11:56 +1000 (EST)

> > I think there is one listed in the gcc sig11 howto/FAQ. Last time I
> > checked there was one mentioned in there, which I used and which worked
> > for me. (pointed out that I had faulty ram).
>
> I took it out. When it detects memory errors, there must be an error
> somewhere between your CPU and the memory. That's:
>
> the CPU execution unit
> the internal CPU bus to the First level cache
> the first level cache
> the bus to the second level cache.
> the second level cache.
> the bus to main memory, including the datapath chips of the chipset
> the main memory.
>
> Summarizing if you detect RAM errors, either by gcc crashing on a
> kernel compile or by running any memory tester, either the CPU, the
> motherboard, or the RAM is bad.

That sounds correct. When I had the problem, I couldn't figure out if
it was the motherboard (cheap), the ram (cheap) or the CPU (non-intel, but
so what?).

Solved the problem by buying new ones of each.

> gcc-compiling-the-kernel is the best memory test that I know of.
>
> There still is a masters-thesis-level job to be done: find a way to
> integrate whatever gcc does into a memory tester. I'm available as
> an unofficial coach (i.e. I no longer work at a university where I
> could try to persuade one of the students to take the challenge...)

I'd be interested in doing this.

Care to provide me with details?

Ben

---
perl -wle '$_ = 1; (1 x $_) !~ /^(11+)\1+$/ && print while $_++'




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