Do I have a bad RAM module?

[mr.sparkle]

The other day, I downloaded a 54-day-old movie post. Everything went fine. SABnzbd put it back together with no errors, nothing. While watching it, I noticed two instances of pixelation, albeit brief. I watched the file on another PC, with a different viewer – same problem spots. So, I re-downloaded the nzb. Again, SABnzbd put it together fine. I went to watch it and the original problem spots were gone. But new pixelation instances had appeared.

Is this a textbook RAM problem?

I’m gonna check with memtest when I can afford the downtime – that thing takes so darn long! I guess I’ll also try rebuilding manually with GPar/Unrar, although I suspect new problem spots will appear. Any other suggestions or input?

Thanks in advance.


Oh, I’m running 0.5.6 pulling from Astraweb on Lucid it that matters any.

[shypike]

If both par2 and unrar agree that the downloaded material is correct then
it's either a problem introduced by the uploader or faulty hardware.
There's isn't much SABnzbd can do wrong without being caught by par2 or unrar.

[mr.sparkle]

Thanks for the quick response, shypike.

An uploader issue would result in the same problem spots every time, no? Therefore a RAM problem?

[shypike]

An uploader issue would result in the same problem spots every time, no? Therefore a RAM problem?

It probably would.
I'd say it's a RAM problem.
Although I would expect more problems in the general working of your system.
Ah well, I spent weeks chasing after a bad RAM or bad  motherboard. In end it turned out to be a faulty videocard...

[mr.sparkle]

Just a little update,

I ran memtest+ 4.10 on the RAM and within seconds, errors galore

Well, problem solved, (unless that test gives false positives)

Thanks again