To check if your MacBook Pro M4's memory is faulty, you can use several methods, both built-in and third-party tools. Here's a detailed guide on how to perform these tests:
Symptoms of Faulty RAM
Before running tests, look for symptoms that might indicate faulty RAM:- Triple Beep on Startup: If your Mac beeps three times during startup and fails to boot, it could be a sign of RAM issues[2].
- Failure to Boot: Consistent boot failures might also point to RAM problems[2].
- Unexpected Software Crashes: Frequent application crashes, especially if they seem unrelated to specific software issues, could indicate RAM faults[2].
Built-in Tests
1. Apple Diagnostics:
- Restart your MacBook Pro M4.
- Immediately hold down the D key as it boots up. This will take you to the Apple Diagnostics screen[2][3].
- Follow the prompts to start the test. If you want a more thorough check, select the option for extended testing[2].
- If your Mac is newer, the diagnostics might start automatically, or you might need to hold Option + D to download the tests from Apple[2].
Third-Party Tools
1. MemTest86+:
- Preparation: Download the MemTest86+ ISO file from its official website. Use a tool like Etcher to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO[3].
- Testing:
- Insert the USB drive into your MacBook Pro M4.
- Restart the Mac and hold the Option key.
- Select the EFI Boot option to boot from the USB drive[3].
- MemTest86+ will start automatically. If not, navigate to Config and select Start Test.
- Allow the test to complete; it may take about 40 minutes depending on your RAM size[3].
2. Rember:
- Rember is a GUI for Memtest OS X, allowing you to test your RAM without using the command line.
- Download and install Rember.
- Run Rember and select the amount of memory to test and the number of loops.
- Click the Test button to start the memory check[1].
Additional Steps
- Swap RAM Modules: If possible, swap the RAM modules and run the tests again to ensure all addresses are tested[2].- Check Activity Monitor: Use Activity Monitor to monitor memory usage and pressure. If memory pressure is consistently high, it might indicate issues with RAM efficiency or capacity[7].
By following these steps, you can effectively diagnose whether your MacBook Pro M4's memory is faulty.
Citations:[1] https://whatsoftware.com/memory-test-for-macos-x/
[2] https://www.macworld.com/article/672101/how-to-test-for-bad-or-faulty-ram-on-a-mac.html
[3] https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/371363/any-good-memory-test-for-newer-macs-2015-and-later
[4] https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/diagnose-problems-mh35727/mac
[5] https://mackeeper.com/blog/how-to-check-mac-performance/
[6] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255132649
[7] https://support.apple.com/guide/activity-monitor/check-if-your-mac-needs-more-ram-actmntr34865/mac
[8] https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-is-my-m4-pro-using-so-much-ram.2444000/