MemTest64 vs smartmontools

MemTest64 is a free, standalone Windows utility for checking system memory for hardware-level problems. It runs inside Windows with a graphical interface, loading physical memory with test patterns and applying detection algorithms that identify errors automatically. You choose how much memory to test, which can limit the effect on other work. The utility runs without a reboot or DOS mode, does not require administrator privileges, needs no installation, and makes no registry changes. Listed processor support includes modern Intel Core and AMD Ryzen systems. Supported systems are 64-bit Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11. TechPowerUp describes it as useful to overclockers adjusting memory timings and DRAM speeds. The utilities listing identifies version 1.0, dated April 20, 2017, and the product page links to a support forum.

smartmontools is a free package containing smartctl and smartd for controlling and monitoring storage devices through SMART. It supports ATA/SATA, SCSI/SAS, and NVMe disks, as well as SCSI/SAS tape devices. smartctl can report SMART health status, show capabilities such as error logging and offline surface scanning, display vendor-specific attributes, start device self-tests, and read their logs. A failing health status can mean a device has failed or predicts failure within 24 hours. smartd periodically monitors SMART status, error and self-test logs, and attribute changes; it can schedule tests and report errors and attribute changes to syslog. It also supports warning emails and executable commands. The project says it should run on modern Linux, BSD variants, macOS, Solaris, Windows, Cygwin, OS/2, eComStation, and QNX systems, and can run from various Live CDs and DVDs. The package uses the GNU GPL Version 2 license and was originally derived from the Linux smartsuite package. Its capabilities focus on SMART health reporting, testing, and ongoing monitoring.