RAM ok in memtest86+ == RAM ok after wake from sleep?

Posted by twon33 on Super User See other posts from Super User or by twon33
Published on 2011-01-31T15:24:27Z Indexed on 2011/01/31 15:27 UTC
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I have a Windows XP (32-bit) system that appears stable in normal operation, but was repeatably freezing (hard lock, no BSOD) a minute or so after waking from S3 sleep. Some Googling against the motherboard model and memory manufacturer suggested that I might need to bump up the memory voltage, so I tried it and it now seems to resume without freezing.

However, I don't really trust it and I'd like to validate that it's actually stable, especially after resuming from sleep. I've run Prime95 for a few hours with no issues, and am planning an overnight run of Memtest86+, which I expect to pass because the system has been solid whenever I've run it without putting it to sleep. Does something like Memtest86+ exist that actually invokes S3 sleep during operation? Clearly it would need an operator to wake the computer to resume testing, but I don't think I've ever heard of a memory test tool that can do this.

Alternately, am I wasting my time? Should a clean bill of health from Memtest86+ indicate stability regardless of whether sleep is involved, or, conversely, does my original problem indicate that Memtest86+ would have failed eventually with the stock voltage if I'd run it, sleep or not?

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