Run MemTest86 for a few hours. That's the test.

Do not trust Windows Memory Diagnostic or just “feeling stable.” Boot MemTest86 from a USB stick and let it run at least one full pass. For 32GB, that’s maybe 2–3 hours.

Why MemTest86 and not something else? Because it tests every address with specific patterns that expose marginal hardware errors. Windows’ built-in tool is fine for a quick sanity check but it can miss intermittent failures that only show up under heavy multi-threaded load.

How to do it: download the free version from memtest86.com, write it to a USB with Rufus (Windows) or dd (Mac/Linux), reboot and boot from the USB. Let it run. One full pass is the bare minimum. Three or four passes means you’re probably good.

If you get errors after a few hours: pull one stick, test again. Swap sticks. Try a different XMP profile. Sometimes the RAM is fine but the motherboard needs a little voltage bump or a slower timing. If errors persist with single sticks in different slots, return the kit.

A few hours of testing now saves days of random crashes later.