How to interpret memtest 86+ results

Hello all,

I would reappreciate any advice that you all could give on interpreting memtest86+ results. I bought some cheap 2x512mb used ddr pc2700 ram on ebay. It is labeled USI, but I have never seen their memory advertised anywhere else. I installed the ram in a dell inspiron 5100 such that 2x512mb replaced the stock 2x256mb. I ran memtest 86+ overnight. In 11 passes, I received the following

test 2: 3 errors
test 3: 17 errors
test 4: 117 errors
test 6: 21 errors

I tried to isolate the sticks to see if the errors are only on one stick. However, when I run memtest 86+ tests with one stick 512 and one stick of my OEM 256 ddr pc2100, I do not get any errors with either of the new sticks. (I haven't had a chance to run overnight, but I have run tests for 2-3 hours.) Also note that my OEM/256 ram is pc2100, which is the max my chipset will run at (although, it can downclock pc2700 to 266).

So my question is do you think, I should:
1) run with the new 1 gb (2x512) set up despite the errors unless I notice instability
2) run with 1x512 and 1x256
3) junk the cheap ram I got from ebay- it was supposedly tested and pulled from a working machine for an upgrade.

I would really appreciate any help.

bahama_mama

 

That isn’t a good idea. Sooner or later memory errors will corrupt files and registry. Because each 512MB module ran okay the old module I don’t think the 512MB modules have any hardware defect. I suspect it’s the memory timing issue. Have you tried relaxing the timing?

 

Thanks for the reply. I don't know how to relax the timing, but I don't think that my chipset will allow the ram to run at 333 anyway. When I run memtest with the two 333 sticks, the reported speed is 132 (really 266). It sounds like I should try to run memtest overnight with one 512mb 333 and one 256mb 266 and see if that has any errors. This computer is already 2.5 years old, so I don't want to take any chances. Thanks for your help.