Solved Ram halved by windows

[danil11]

hi,

have been having trouble with my ram for past couple of months, once every couple of days or weeks I will have 8gb usable but the majority of the time it only gives me 3.98 of 8gb which can happen without me changing any settings.

So far I have run windows memory diagnostic, memtest x86 with no errors, updated my bios to the most current and unchecked the max ram box in msconfig and made changes permenent, I'm starting to think that the socket could be intermittently faulty but that wouldn't make sense as every boot the ram is detected as 8gb but only reads 4096, I have also had a look at the pins on the motherboard and they look straight and I have not messed any installs up. Im fairly stuck so any help would be appreciated. I will detail the full spec of the system below.

MB: Asus F1A55-M LE
CPU: ATHLON X4 651K
RAM: 8GB (4GBx2) 1333MHZ DDR3
GPU: GT440 (GAINWARD 1GB GDDR5)
HDD: SEAGATE BARRACUDA 7200.2
BIOS VERSION: 1503
OS: WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE X64
souncard: sounblaster x-fi xtreme audio.

Doubt you need to know the soundcard but hopefully the info I've given helps.

thanks in advance

 

[sygnus21]

Hi danil11

Can you post a screenshot of your resource monitor....



Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Performance Information and Tools\Advanced Tools - click "open resource monitor"

Thanks

BTW you might also try running memtest - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

 

[danil11]

RESOURSE MONITOR ATTACHED.

Have run memtest x86 with no reported errors

 

[sygnus21]

RESOURSE MONITOR ATTACHED.

Have run memtest x86 with no reported errors

Well first thing that jumps out at me is that you have WAY too much (nearly 4gig) hardware memory reserved.

First, check your MSCONFIG settings by typing "msconfig" (no quotes) in the search bar and making sure the Maximum memory box is not ticked. See this post - http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...al-memory-but-1-74-gb-usable.html#post1649304

You can also check this post for clarification as well - http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...-memory-but-1-74-gb-usable-4.html#post1650067

If that doesn't work check to see if your motherboard has an integrated GPU. If so disable it in the BIOS.

Let me know.

 

[danil11]

already done step one , the igfx is disabled on the bios also.

thanks btw

 

[sygnus21]

You might want to go through that thread I linked as I seem to remember there was an issue with the type and age of the motherboard used in that thread. As I recall, the OP there also had an AMD board and memory being lost.

In short, if this is an old(er) board, it may not support that much memory.

Let us know.

 

[danil11]

That's not the case as the user guide for this board states that it will support up to 32gb 2x16gb which I never even knew existed lol. i'm reading through other thread now

 

[sygnus21]

That's cool, just making sure.

That's said, do you have the RAM properly configured? All motherboards want their RAM installed a certain way depending on the amount and number of sticks used. Check your user guide to make sure you're using the correct slots.

 

[danil11]

The board only has two slots and the sticks are identical make/model.

 

[danil11]

hi.
have just finished reading the thread and as mine is a custom build I don't think that sending it back will be an option for me as home builds are generally shunned by warranty stipulation. I have however had 8gb working in this system but that was previous ram which was not a matching stick, I used that one in another systemand replaced with a matching stick. does this help at all?

 

[sygnus21]

hi.
have just finished reading the thread and as mine is a custom build I don't think that sending it back will be an option for me as home builds are generally shunned by warranty stipulation. I have however had 8gb working in this system but that was previous ram which was not a matching stick, I used that one in another systemand replaced with a matching stick. does this help at all?

Well if 8 gig was working before your changes, than I'd go back where those changes were made.

Bottom line is you need to figure out what is eating so much of your RAM as I said before, you have way too much hardware reserved RAM. It should never be that high.

You might want to check out this article - Windows 7 memory usage: What's the best way to measure? | ZDNet

Also I fail to see how home builds are shunned unless you did something to actually void the warranty?

 

[Layback Bear]

Any time I have seen people with hardware that high it not Windows 7 causing the problem. My hardware is 9MB.
Normally it's the ram is not installed properly or mismatched. Not setting the ram properly in the bios has also cause the problem. I have on one of my computers had a seating problem cause this problem. I discovered this by using my palm heal and smacking the corner of the case while watching Resource Monitor. Reseated the ram and it was fixed.
You say you have matched ram. Matched ram has to be the same manufacture, same part number, same speed and the same volts. If possible they came in the same package. Yours would be one package of two modules.
Please post the exact ram (both sticks) you are using.

How often do you reboot/restart?

 

[sygnus21]

Actually Windows can also cause the problem, although usually user induced - 4 GB of Physical Memory but 1.74 GB Usable

 

[danil11]

hi I can tell you that I have two stick of 1333mhz pny 4gb ddr3 cl9 240 pin 1.5v in there but not the model numbers off by heart. I usually turn it on to use amd turn it off at the end of the day. I reboot whenever prompted throughout usage period. Unfortunately as regards to the earlier reply I cant go back the settings that worked as I haven't actually changed anything until I started trying to troubleshoot the issue

 

[Layback Bear]

Correct sygnus21. It's really not Windows 7 do it on it's own. It is being instructed to do such things by the owner/operator.

 

[danil11]

I understand that but i'm trying to get to the bottom of what I may have inadvertently told it to do hence why I posted the steps I have already taken to ensure that people reading can suggest thing that I may not have tried yet

 

[sygnus21]

I suggest you find out what sticks your motherboard supports/accepts and find a matching set for use. Mixing and matching RAM can and will cause problems.

You also need to clarify if you have 2 or four sticks of RAM and what densities (size) they are. It would also be helpful if you gave us exact spec as this statement leads me to believe you're mixing RAM....

I have two stick of 1333mhz pny 4gb ddr3 cl9 240 pin 1.5v in there

Unless you're saying you just have two sticks (4gig each) of PNY?

 

[danil11]

sorry.

Yes I do have two sticks of pny, just as an update though, as something that I haven't tried I have enabled the multi igfx monitor in the bios and after three resetsi am still seeing the full 8gb, with any luck that was the mystery setting but im not sure, what do you guys think?

 

[Layback Bear]

Your post #14
I have no idea what this means.
but not the model numbers off by heart

Set your bios to default. No over clock of anything.
Then give us another Resource Monitor picture of your memory.
Did you have this problem before you installed Windows Ultimate? Did it work correctly with the other Windows 7?

I would like to see one of these.

 

[danil11]

current state