Is my RAM broken?

[Ronaldo23]

Is there a way to know if my RAM is broken? i have 12 GB of DDR3 in my laptop, but when I check the task manager, it shows that it's locked using 8 GB since start up and idle.

It's not always like this, sometimes is less, sometimes more. I try restarting my laptop, but it only works few times. I also checked for malware with malwarebyte but found nothing.

 

[R_1]

MEMTEST86.
can be downloaded anywhere and is included in most linux iso's.
run the ram through a couple of passes. this will test the ram for any errors and report them to you.
Have you removed and reinserted the RAM into the laptop. verify that the ram is properly seated a loose connection can be all kinds of weird.

 

[Ronaldo23]

MEMTEST86.
can be downloaded anywhere and is included in most linux iso's.
run the ram through a couple of passes. this will test the ram for any errors and report them to you.
Have you removed and reinserted the RAM into the laptop. verify that the ram is properly seated a loose connection can be all kinds of weird.

I've never opened my laptop, it's a MSI gaming laptop, so opening it would destroy the warranty. should I open it regardless?

 

[drwho1]

I seriously doubt that your warranty be gone just for checking your ram.
It's not like you are actually "opening your laptop" like to try to change your video card.... that will certainly destroy your warranty.
So go ahead, is not a bad idea to check if the ram is seated well.

Also running MEMTEST is also a good idea.

Note: Sometimes ram can get loose by moving (or dropping) the notebook.

 

[R_1]

thermal creep too, the unit gets hot, it cools, rinse repeat, the differing materials of the ram socket and the RAM cause differing expansion and contraction rates, over time this can lead to loose connections.
there should be a memory access port on the bottom. RAM is one of the only user service ready parts on a laptop. hard drive and optical being the remainder. you can access these items without fear of voiding the warranty.

 

[Ronaldo23]

I seriously doubt that your warranty be gone just for checking your ram.
It's not like you are actually "opening your laptop" like to try to change your video card.... that will certainly destroy your warranty.
So go ahead, is not a bad idea to check if the ram is seated well.

Also running MEMTEST is also a good idea.

Note: Sometimes ram can get loose by moving (or dropping) the notebook.

I ran the MEMTEST86 and after a 3 hours long test I got 184 errors. Most errors were in test 7 and 5, but I don't know what that means. I haven't opened the laptop yet.

http://imgur.com/qPfvleG

 

[R_1]

you got an error now you need to identify the stick with the error and remove/replace it.
I would remove the 4GB stick and leave the 8GB stick in, then test the 8 GB stick. if no errors the 4GB is the issue. if errors replace with the 4GB and rerun memtest86.
this will require opening the system, no other way to test a single stick.