Can see 8gb in BIOS, but only 4 useable

Indianatone · 04 Jul 2014

Britton30 said:

Let it run for the full 8 passes, unless you get any error, red lines at the bottom. If errors then go the single stick in each slot.

It shouldn't make a different, but Slot 1 RAM has a different part number unless it's a glitch in memtest.

Attachment 324150

Gary Memtest is also only seeing 4GB of the 8GB so either 4Gb is disabled in the BIOS or the motherboard is bad. After this the next step is to reset BIOS to defaults.

Britton30 · 04 Jul 2014

You're absolutely right Tony.

sygnus21 · 04 Jul 2014

Not sure which revision of the MB the OP has... Rev 1 or 2, but on revision 2, the latest BIOS version is F11, his board is showing F5. which is an early production BIOS . You can see here the OP have BIOS version F5

So looking at revision 1, which I'm going to now assume this is the revision the OP has since revision 2's lowest BIOS version is F8.

With that I believe the OP needs to update the BIOS, which that may solve the issue.

And Gary you're suggestion in post #4 won't work since it was noted already that the BIOS itself is only showing 4 gig of RAM.

Again I'm thinking updating the BIOS would solve the problem.

Thoughts?

Britton30 · 04 Jul 2014

sygnus21 said:

With all that said, I believe that if the OP updates his BIOS that may (help) solve the issue. Oh, and yeah, Gary, you're suggestion in post #4 won't work since it was noted already that the BIOS itself is only showing 4 gig of RAM. Again, I'm thinking updating the BIOS would solve the problem.

Thoughts?

Probably right Drew. Post #6 may help but no reply about checking the Advanced Memory options.

sygnus21 · 04 Jul 2014

The problem is the motherboard itself is only showing 4 gig of memory, so no matter which program you run, it's going to get the info from the motherboard, which again, is only showing 4 gig.

Edit... I see memtest sees 8, even though the motherboard itself is only showing 4. Odd

Britton30 · 04 Jul 2014

The BIOS setting need to be changed. Look in the upper right of the memtest image, it says MEMORY 4092MB although listing 4 populated slots.

Indianatone · 04 Jul 2014

Yeah Guys I think the answer is to update to the latest version of the bios (F11) so it can use the memory it is seeing but disabling. Maybe that is what Gigabyte mean by "Enhanced Memory Capability". Perhaps when the board was built that size ram stick was not available.

sygnus21 · 04 Jul 2014

Just a thought...

Before updating the BIOS, if the memory supports it, try enabling XMP if not done to see if it helps. It would also help to know the specs of the memory modules, and whether they are 1) - a matched pair, and 2) - what the voltages of those modules are. Looking at the BIOS screen, I see the DRAM voltage listed at 1.568, and wondering if these modules aren't rated for 1.6 volts?

So yeah, would help to know a little more about those modules and have those questions above answered.

Thanks.

Layback Bear · 04 Jul 2014

I have had one bad memorial module when installed cut the bios memory in half.
That is why it is important to test one module at a time.
I don't really know how that happens. That is why I'm running 24 gigs instead of 32 gigs.
If I install 32 gigs bios will show 16 gbs because of the bad module.
Some day when I can get to the Post Office I will RMA the bad ram.

Slartybart · 04 Jul 2014

Slartybart said:

nolube said:

.....
Have tried updating the BIOS but the update files appear to be for 32-bit from here .. GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1156 - GA-P55A-UD3 (rev. 2.0)

Haven't tried resetting the BIOS though
.....

BIOS is not bit wise

Before updating BIOS try resetting to defaults. You have two slots that are not enabled. I don't see why that would be the default.

nolube said:

Yes I tried resetting to default fail safe, also optimised default. Just running the ram checker now.

Thanks nolube,

When you get through the next memtest, please post another camera shot of the first image in post# 1.

I'd like to see if resetting defaults enabled the two slots. I think there's some confusion on this side, some members are asking you to set BIOS to defaults and I think you already have done that.

Thanks

Biill