yergeau@helens.STANFORD.EDU (yergeau) (07/26/90)
Can RAM chips be TOO FAST for a system? I have a 20 MHZ '386 based system with 70 ns 1M x 1 chips. The documentation for the motherboard recommends using 80 or 85 ns chips (this was hidden very deep in the docs). I'm asking because I recently tried to install Unix (Esix) on this machine. The installation died repeatedly with parity errors (DOS and some DOS-based diagnostic programs tell me that nothing is wrong with the RAM). Anyway, I finally replaced all of the memory with a new set of 70 ns chips (bought before finding the recommended speed in the docs). This time the installation succeeded, but the system still dies occasionally with parity errors (only under Unix). Could the present problems be caused by the speed of the RAM chips, or is it more likely that they are caused by marginal chips? Are there any good programs out there that will rigorously test the memory (i.e. 32-bit mode w/ page mapping, etc.)? Please email. Dan Yergeau yergeau@sierra.stanford.edu #include <disclaimer.h>
rick@wet.UUCP (Rick Rutledge) (08/04/90)
yergeau@helens.STANFORD.EDU (yergeau) writes: >Are there any >good programs out there that will rigorously test the memory (i.e. >32-bit mode w/ page mapping, etc.)? > >Please email. Actually, I'm looking for good programs that will rigorously test *any* RAM (XT through 386). If you can recommend (and especially if you can tell *why* it's so good) one, PD, shareware, or commercial, please post. I'll summarize. In fact, I'm looking for good diagnostics in general. Thanks. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rick Rutledge {hoptoad|ucsfcca|claris}!wet!rick rick@wet.UUCP "Voici le secret." dit le renard. "On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible aux yeux." -Antoine de St. Exupery, _le Petit Prince_