Is My RAM broken/dead?

[Leothelion545]

I have been using 2 sticks of Corsair XMS3 8GB (2x4GB) for a bit more than a year now I think, and I fear that it may be broken? Can it even be broken? I've checked it on the motherboard and is clearly in properly, as well as that, when I go on Task Manager, then processes, it say's (this, at the time, is whilst using two chrome windows, and skype)

Physical Memory (MB)
Total 8076 (So it clearly recognises the 8GB of RAM)
Cached 2051
Available 4046
Free 2070

I don't particularly know what this means, but is this 'right', is my RAM performing as it should be? Might be also helpful to know that I have 67 processes running. On the Memory tab, below the CPU usage (the bar) it says 4.10 GB, I'm guessing that's what I'm using? Programs sometimes keep closing down, generally due to 'Memory loss' or 'Memory Failure'. If I do need some new RAM, what would be a good idea to go for?

 

[boosted1g]

Download and run memtest86 in order to test the ram, you could have a defective module.

The OEM offers warranty on the memory, unfortunally though you would have to send both sticks into them for replacment, so you would be without a computer until they ship replacments (at least without buying more ram)

 

[Guest]

Download and run memtest86 in order to test the ram, you could have a defective module.

The OEM offers warranty on the memory, unfortunally though you would have to send both sticks into them for replacment, so you would be without a computer until they ship replacments (at least without buying more ram)

Wouldn't the system create virtual memory if no RAM is present? Or is this feature no longer present?

 

[boosted1g]

You cant boot a pc without any memory, you need memory in there.
There is also a huge performance different between say 4gb of actual ram, and 4gb of virtual ram from hard drisk drive.

Virtual ram will also not help him with his issue as his issue is not that aram chip is completely down and that the motherboard is not recognizing it, the problem is likely that the ram chip is functioning but not functioning properly thus it looses the information saved to it and thus gives him the errors. The computer will still try to store data on the memory since it is availible.

 

[Guest]

Right, thanks.