What Your RAM Goes Through: the Die-hard Tester

Memory products are essentially commodity products these days.

This doesn't mean however that manufacturers don't pay attention to quality. A Computex this week, we caught up with Geil, a smaller manufacturer of memory modules, but a high quality producer nevertheless. Geil demonstrated to us its DBT, or die-hard burn-in technology system, which rigorously test memory modules before they ship out to customers.

Like many module producers, Geil sources high-quality memory ICs from many large name makers such as Samsung, and then custom manufacture modules for consumption.

Using a custom built system Geil calls the EVO III IC Tester, individual memory chips are tested for speed, voltage and leakage before they are embedded onto the memory modules.

From there, the modules are placed into Geil's DBT chamber. According to the Geil representative we spoke to, only Geil and Kingston possess such a system. The DBT runs the modules through a lengthy process, testing for module frequency and temperature stability Modules are tested in large temperature swings, from very cold to hot. Bad modules are sent back to manufacturing and good modules go to you. This isn't your typical Memtest86 test!

Check out the pictures.