RAM (Random Access Memory) can be a significant cause of system instability, often leading to crashes, freezes, corrupted files, and even preventing proper bootup. While RAM issues may not be immediately apparent, they often display clear warning signs that can be confirmed with targeted software checks or manual inspections. RAM plays a vital role in a computer's performance, and any malfunction can lead to disruptions across the entire system.

Unlike a hard drive, which stores long-term data, RAM temporarily stores active computing data while the computer is running, which includes all open applications and background processes. Even minor corruptions can break those operations, leading to application errors, performance degradation, data loss, or even the Blue Screen Of Death (BSOD).

In most cases, however, RAM failure does not happen overnight. It wears down over time, causing increasingly severe problems as it continues to break down. RAM malfunctions can occur for many reasons, including poor handling, power fluctuations, cooling issues, or long-term wear. Recognizing these symptoms early is key to minimizing the damage and restoring overall functionality.

While faulty RAM can be detrimental to a PC, it shows clear signs of failure long before becoming completely obsolete. These signs often include frequent crashes or performance drops while playing PC games or editing videos. These crashes may involve a single application shutting down or giving unexplained errors, or even force a full system reboot. If these crashes follow no discernible pattern and occur under different workloads, it may be a sign that RAM is starting to fail.