Speichertest

Speichertest is a term used in German information technology to describe procedures that check the integrity and reliability of a computer's memory (RAM). The objective is to detect faulty memory modules, memory controller issues, or incorrect timings and voltages that can cause data corruption, system instability, or crashes. Speichertest are performed by end users, technicians, and automated diagnostics to verify RAM health, particularly after a system build, upgrade, or error reports.

Testing methods fall into hardware-based tests performed during POST/boot by the BIOS/UEFI, and software-based tests run within an operating system or from a bootable environment. Hardware tests exercise memory through built-in read/write patterns to identify errors in specific banks or modules. Software tools such as MemTest86 and Windows Memory Diagnostic perform extensive passes with multiple bit patterns to stress memory and reveal timing-related faults. For robust results, tests should run with minimal other activity and may require several passes overnight.

Interpreting results: a clean run increases confidence in RAM health; any detected errors indicate faulty memory or compatibility problems, often necessitating module replacement or reseating. Tests have limitations; not all faults are reproducible, and some issues only appear under certain temperatures, workloads, or overclocked settings. Best practice is to test each module individually, verify correct voltage and timing, and consider testing with different DIMMs or configurations if issues persist.