Error Display Menu for the RAMCHECK DDR Pro

INN-8668-APN24
--Created 4-18-06

One of the useful features of the RAMCHECK is the "Error Display Menu" that is automatically displayed when it detects an error testing DDR devices. This information is also stored in the RAMCHECK's test log and remains in its internal memory until you run the test again or you turn the unit off.

The test log can be viewed anytime before you test another DDR device by simply pressing the "ESC" key to return to standby mode. Once in standby mode press "F4" then "F1" for "View Test Log", use "F4" to go forward through the screens and "F3" to go back to view the test log. Once finished, simply press the "ESC" key to go back to standby mode.

The following is an example of a data bit error which will automatically halt the test and display the "Error Display Menu" which consists of several menus via the LCD display. The menu below is an example of the first menu that the RAMCHECK displays. Pressing F2/F3 will move the highlight every 2 bytes and pressing F3/F4 will go through the remaining menus.



In the above example bytes 3 and 4 are highlighted showing that byte 3 has a bit error displayed as an "F". The corresponding 8 bits per byte are displayed in the next line showing an "F" in bit 17. Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



In the above example the bottom line confirms that the bit error is DQ17 as the previous menu detected and located on pin 24 of the DDR module.

If you are interested in troubleshooting and repairing your own modules and you have a block diagram of the DDR module you can use this information to track down the chip or chips that are connected to DQ17 and pin 24 of the module. If you do not have a block diagram and you have the same module of the same type and make that pass the test you can use an ohm meter to ohm out which chip or chips that are connected to pin 24.

The following menus are for advanced users who understand the memory mapping of a DDR device.

Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



The bottom line in the above example shows the address location where the error was encountered.

Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



The bottom line in the above example shows that the error occured in the address location as defined by the Row and Column. Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



The bottom line in the above example shows that the hexadecimal number marked by "E:" shows the pattern "00000000" was written to the module and the hexadecimal number "00020000" shows what was read to cause the reported error. Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



The bottom line in the above example only applies to DDR modules that are 72 bits or more. It shows that the hexadecimal number marked by CB: is the pattern written to the CB or parity bits of the module and the hexadecimal number marked by E: shows what was read to cause the reported error. Since in this example the module used is by 64 bits this line is not active. If this was a by 72 bit module and there was an error on the parity bits you might see for example: CB: 0000 E: 0033. Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.

The bottom line in the above example shows the "BY FUNC" which identifies the function that causeed the error to result, in this case the array. Other functions include shorts, march up & down, page burst and others. Pressing F4 will advance to the next menu.



The bottom line in the above example shows the states of the S Lines and the "Section under test Indicator" (B1/1).



The bottom line in the above example shows the "BUS CODE" which is used for product development. It details how we "internal map" the processor to the module. This is shown only so that the customer can provide us with this information in case of a compatibility issue. Pressing F3 will go back through the menus or you can press the ESC key to go back to standby mode and view the test log described above to further view the error or errors the RAMCHECK reported.

Many other errors can also be detected by the RAMCHECK including Data Lines Stuck, Control Lines Stuck and Address Errors to name a few. Below are some examples.



The above screen shows data line D8 (connector pin-12) stuck at logic '0'.



The above screen shows control line -WE (connector pin-63) stuck at logic '1'.



This address error example indicates an error in row address line A6 (connector pin 125) which affects some portion of the individual chips of the module. Since all address lines multiplex both rows and columns, an address error may affect ROW, COL (column) or ROW+COL. The bottom line further shows which data bits in the current bank are affected by the detected error. This allows an advanced user (e.g. a memory technician who can repair the module) to identify individual defective chips on the module. All DQ lines are divided into 4-bit groups called NIBBLES, and the hex number indicates which nibbles are affected by the address errors. In the above example, the nibbles code ...0303 is translated to ... 01100000011, indicating problems in nibbles 0,1,8 and 9.

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