6 GB RAM (4 GB usable)

Zeplash said:

I would not recommend any bios update activity..You HAVE to know what your doing there.. Trust me!!!

I suggest outdated bios as three of the revisions from the first release pertain to memory

LiquidSnak said:

Zeplash said:

I would not recommend any bios update activity..You HAVE to know what your doing there.. Trust me!!!

I suggest outdated bios as three of the revisions from the first release pertain to memory

its important to update your bios most manufactures make it easy now in days gone by you always *flashed it *
just always check your system at the website is there a tutorial on this in the forums?

I would try taking the first two sticks out and place the new stick in the number one slot and see if the system see's it. If so then add the other two and report back to us.

Clyde54 said:

I checked my BIOS and it say 4096 MB are installed so that is definitely wrong. I also downloaded the RAMMon program and it seems to be saying 6 GB are installed but only 4 are available. Why are 2 GB hardware reserved? What does that mean? See printscreen.

So I should update my BIOS? The machine is only 3 months old but I guess I can check on that.

2050 MB is reserved for hardware ( graphic card?) have you checked in msconfig? that the maximum memory box is unticked?
press windows key + r
in box type msconfig
press OK
click boot
click advanced options
boot advanced options window opens on desktop
make sure maximum memory is UNTICKICKED
click OK
click OK in msconfig window
if a window pops up asking for RESTART CLICK YES

you are using 3 sticks of ram G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM how do you have these seated in the slots?

please reed this (about memory mapping )

The usable memory may be less than the installed memory on Windows 7-based computers

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978610/en-us

To view the installed memory and the usable memory in Windows 7, follow these steps:
Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.
View the Installed memory (RAM) value under System.
For example, if it displays 4.00 GB (3.5 GB usable), this means that you have 3.5 GB of usable memory out of 4 GB of installed memory.

unifex said:

Clyde54 said:

I checked my BIOS and it say 4096 MB are installed

I think that's the point. If Windows or any other software sees the remaining 2 GB, then most likely the motherboard is capable of supporting 6 GB of memory, but the BIOS software is not. I recommend checking with the manufacturer if any BIOS updates are available. Also you may check with a forum specific for your manufacturer if it is indeed the BIOS that's limiting your memory.

As an example, I have Dell Inspiron 530 and the manual says 4 GB is the maximum amount of memory. However, Dell users forums are full of suggestions that after a certain BIOS update one can use up to 8 GB. So I went ahead and tried and indeed it works, now I'm using 6 GB. However, I do have the updated BIOS.

check the memory mapping in the bios (not all bios are the same for each machine it is normally in the advanced features) and check the memory settings in msconfig