I'm finishing a new AM5 build and accidentally bent some CPU socket pins associated with memory channel B. I carefully straightened them with a needle, and the system now boots into Windows. What's the fastest reliable way to check the DDR5 memory and confirm the repaired socket is stable? I'd prefer not to leave a memory test running for more than 10 hours, but I still want reasonably thorough coverage.
3 Answers
MemTest86 is the standard choice for a thorough check. Put it on a bootable USB drive and run at least a couple of passes. It may take a while, but memory errors can require more than a few minutes to appear.
You can also use Prime95 in Windows with a memory-heavy test. MemTest86 is generally more thorough, while Prime95 is convenient for checking stability with the operating system running. Since the socket repair affects a memory channel, test both sticks and verify that channel B is detected correctly.
TestMem5 is a practical Windows-based option. Running a suitable configuration for around an hour at stock settings can provide a useful initial check, especially if you’re trying to avoid an all-day test.
Yes, I meant TestMem5—the Windows memory-testing utility.