Hello friends,
Do you know how to check your RAM for errors? And do you know why it is important and how it can be useful?
If you are not familiar with this information and have never considered checking your computer’s memory, let me tell you — it is both useful and necessary!
But how exactly can you do it, and what application will help you with this? That is the topic of today’s article. The solution to testing RAM — Memtester. We will discuss what it is, how it helps detect problems, how to install it, and why it is important.

What is Memtester?

Memtester is a utility for testing RAM (Random Access Memory) for errors.
It is used to ensure that your computer’s memory modules operate stably and without failures.

How does Memtester work?

The process is quite simple — the utility performs a series of tests by writing and reading various data patterns into your system’s memory.
For example, it checks whether the memory correctly stores and returns data in order to identify:

Bit errors (where a bit “1” becomes “0” or vice versa);
Overclocking instability (if you have overclocked your RAM or CPU);
Power or memory controller issues;
Physical defects of memory modules (which often cause random crashes, game errors, BSOD, etc.).

Where is it used?

Memtester is used in various scenarios, but most commonly for testing the memory of servers or workstations.
On Linux servers, it is often used to check memory stability without overloading the system. On workstations and personal computers, it is helpful when the system reports memory errors or performance drops.
Recently, I noticed that my RAM was running at 4600 MHz instead of the declared 5200 MHz. After running Memtester for a while, I identified the issue and was able to restore its default speed and performance.

How to install Memtester?

Below are the commands to install Memtester on Ubuntu 22.04–24.04.

Update the system packages:
```
sudo apt update  
sudo apt upgrade -y
```
Install Memtester:
```
sudo apt install memtester -y
```

Usage Explanation:

<size> — the amount of memory to be tested (e.g., 300M, 1G, 2048M).
<iteration> — the number of test cycles.
Each iteration performs all test patterns (bit operations, random data, etc.). The higher the number, the more thorough the test.

Example command:


sudo memtester size iteration

To test 300 MB of RAM once, use:


sudo memtester 300M 1

If after the test you see Done. and no “FAILURE” messages appear, it means your RAM is functioning properly.

Video Installation Guide

If the commands above are not enough and you would like to see the entire installation process, I have recorded a video tutorial that demonstrates everything step-by-step:

Conclusion

Using Memtester allows you to check your server, workstation, or personal computer’s RAM for errors and identify potential issues.
This can help you detect the cause of blue screens or performance drops and fix them promptly.
Take care of your equipment and don’t forget to check your hardware components regularly!

Article Author — Anatolie Cohaniuc

What is Memtester and how to install it?