Problem with RAM sticks. Not usable? Gateway Laptop.

[Pradatorius]

Heh.. Kinda new to this forum so yeah.
Kinda getting a bit desperate about this.

I've had a Gateway NV53A Laptop for about a year and a few months. No problems with it. Only problem I've found so far? It's REALLY slow. I mean on everything. Opening something, closing, shutting down, everything. The main thing was that it was slow on simple gaming even though reviews have stated it could handle it.

So, I found that the RAM Memory that came with the laptop, was only 3 Gigs! DDR3 Memory RAM.
So I searched around the internet and finally on crucial.com I found a compatible 8 Gigs of 2 sticks (4 Gigs each.) Of course after seeing this, I ordered them.
Awhile ago they came in and I installed them, all perfect, etc.
I checked on "My Computer's Properties" and it said 8 Gigs and next to it, only 3! Why is that?

Is there a way to fix this so I can at least use more than 6? I just want to get the full potential out of the two sticks. It also says on the crucial site that this laptop has the max memory of 8 gigabytes...

Umm... not exactly sure about the information I have to put up here for details but..
My laptop is a Gateway NV53A Notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Please help! :] Thank you to those that reply and contribute!

tl;dr Installed 8 Gigs into my Gateway laptop, only 3 usable. Why? Can I use the rest?

:shock:

 

[Sir George]

Heh.. Kinda new to this forum so yeah.
Kinda getting a bit desperate about this.

I've had a Gateway NV53A Laptop for about a year and a few months. No problems with it. Only problem I've found so far? It's REALLY slow. I mean on everything. Opening something, closing, shutting down, everything. The main thing was that it was slow on simple gaming even though reviews have stated it could handle it.

So, I found that the RAM Memory that came with the laptop, was only 3 Gigs! DDR3 Memory RAM.
So I searched around the internet and finally on crucial.com I found a compatible 8 Gigs of 2 sticks (4 Gigs each.) Of course after seeing this, I ordered them.
Awhile ago they came in and I installed them, all perfect, etc.
I checked on "My Computer's Properties" and it said 8 Gigs and next to it, only 3! Why is that?

Is there a way to fix this so I can at least use more than 6? I just want to get the full potential out of the two sticks. It also says on the crucial site that this laptop has the max memory of 8 gigabytes...

Umm... not exactly sure about the information I have to put up here for details but..
My laptop is a Gateway NV53A Notebook with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Please help! :] Thank you to those that reply and contribute!

tl;dr Installed 8 Gigs into my Gateway laptop, only 3 usable. Why? Can I use the rest?

:shock:
http://oi47.tinypic.com/2j68jrc.jpg

Run Resource Monitor and check the results below the Memory tab;

How to Use the Resource Monitor in Windows 7 - For Dummies

HTH

 

[Ztruker]

3GB to 8GB will not make any real difference for normal use. What will make a huge difference is to move to a SSD. I did and I'll never boot from a non SSD again.

 

[Pradatorius]

3GB to 8GB will not make any real difference for normal use. What will make a huge difference is to move to a SSD. I did and I'll never boot from a non SSD again.

I don't think I'd be able to spend a lot of money on a new SSD...
I saw on some sites that the lowest price for a new one is at least 100 dollars.

 

[AddRAM]

Have you reran your windows experience index to see if it has changed ?

 

[gregrocker]

Type Resource Monitor into Start Search box to see how your RAM is apportioned on the Memory tab. This was already suggested but we've heard nothing back.

If you have 64 bit then I'd want to Clean Up Factory Bloatware to get the freeloaders off of Win7's back and improve performance, or get the best performance of all by following the steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which should resolve the RAM issue.

 

[FuturDreamz]

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/158762-8gb-installed-ram-only-3-74-usable-help.html

It's possible you don't have the exact type of RAM your computer needs, so it can see the RAM but not use it. Your system seems to use 10666 instead of 10600, but don't ask me how that works.

I don't know which application to use to check your installed RAM's type...

 

[whs]

3GB to 8GB will not make any real difference for normal use. What will make a huge difference is to move to a SSD. I did and I'll never boot from a non SSD again.

Rich is absolutely right. The additional RAM will not buy you much. Look for SSD sales on Newegg.com. They often sell good 128GB SSDs for around $80.

I have installed SSDs on all my 6 systems (laptops and desktops) and would never want to deal with a spinning disk for the OS again. There is just a world of difference.

Additionally you may want to do what Greg suggested - install a clean system. That will help some.

 

[Ztruker]

I got my 128GB SSD from Amazon for $74, no shipping. Also had to buy the 2.5" to 3.5" mount for $9.

 

[whs]

For mounting I use Velcro dots - works really well.

 

[Pradatorius]

Have you reran your windows experience index to see if it has changed ?

I tried the most of the suggestions you guys have posted and most of them didn't affect the RAM memory. However, I stumbled across AddRAM's post and tried that, first time nothing happened. I restarted my laptop and cleaned up a lot of things, such as the temp folder, some files, used the disk cleanup, etc. Then I tried to rerun the windows experience index and it worked!

I now have 7.49/8 Gigs to work with, and my laptop isn't moving slowly anymore!
Thanks to all you replied! Somehow this did the trick!