An update for the RAM testing program, Memtest86+ 8.0, has been released. This program is unique as it is not tied to any specific operating system, allowing it to be launched directly from the BIOS/UEFI firmware or bootloader to perform a comprehensive check of RAM. In the event that issues are identified, Memtest86+ includes a built-in map of bad memory areas that can be utilized within the Linux kernel through the memmap option to address problem areas. The project’s code is distributed under the GPLv2 license.
Key enhancements in this release include the addition of an optional dark mode, support for new AMD and Intel CPU models, accelerated detection of multi-core CPUs, and the inclusion of temperature information for DDR5 memory. Furthermore, issues pertaining to the XMP 3.0 overclocking profile for DDR5 have been resolved. Additionally, support for BadRAM templates to exclude problematic memory areas from the address space has been improved, along with enhanced SPD (Serial Presence Detect) detection on older Intel ICH (I/O Controller Hub) systems. This update also features enhanced support for the VTxxx serial console, the LoongArch (LA664) processor architecture, and the CLang compiler and LLD linker. Notably, a transition has been made to providing a single executable file for systems with both UEFI and BIOS configurations.