Dr. Blip's PC-Doctor Forum

General Category => Ask Our Experts => Topic started by: rhrtech on January 17, 2012, 04:57:33 pm

Title: Short Advanced Memory Test
Post by: rhrtech on January 17, 2012, 04:57:33 pm

Hello,

What does it mean when a computer fails the Short Advanced Memory Test? It passed the extended test portion but failed on the Short Advanced Memory Test.

Title: Re: Short Advanced Memory Test
Post by: James_PCD on January 18, 2012, 11:32:24 am

Hello rhrtech,

The memory tests perform different types of tests which includes some of the following:
verification of data
ability to retain data
memory address value
bit switching

The difference in the short and extended tests is mainly the range of test coverage.  The short test is designed to test a small range which included the area that reported the failure you were seeing.  The extended test may have run tests in the same range, but may not have performed the same test on the same cell or location as the short test.  What happens when you run the short test multiple times, does it always catch the failure at the same location?

Title: Re: Short Advanced Memory Test
Post by: rhrtech on January 18, 2012, 02:44:09 pm

Hello,

Thanks for the answer. Yes, it fails on the same location. The customer was saying that his computer would randomly get a gray screen. He has changed out the video card but the same thing happens. It looks like the RAM chips may be bad?

Title: Re: Short Advanced Memory Test
Post by: James_PCD on January 18, 2012, 02:58:33 pm

Hello,

Unfortunately I am not able to answer any questions outside of the use of our products. 

However, an additional step that I would use to answer the question is to use different memory in the system to see if the gray screen issue gets resolved.