Solved 8gb ram only reading as 4gb

[abyrne]

Hi,

I have an Acer Aspire 5742, and had been having loads of problems over the past six months with BSODs and other performance problems.

I managed eventually to narrow the offender down to my RAM, I had one 4gb card originally, so went on Crucial and bought two compatible 4gb sticks, thinking I may as well upgrade as well as replace.

I put the cards in today, and my computer is saying I only have 4gb of RAM?? I'm sure I've installed them properly, although they are a bit fiddly. Any advice on what to do next?

Thanks!

 

[Layback Bear]

Please post a picture like this from your computer.

Use this tutorial by Brink to post the picture.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html



Are you sure you have a 64 bit Windows 7?

 

[abyrne]

Yeah, it's definitely 64 bit.

 

[oscer1]

hi, test each ram slot. so put one stick of ram in then test then take that ram stick out and test other slot do they both work with the same ram stick

 

[Layback Bear]

For sure Windows is only seeing 4 gigs of ram and your hard ware is a little high by about 4X. (gray)

In most cases that means ram installed incorrectly or the wrong ram or ram settings.
Try something simple first. Re-seat both sticks of ram and then Reboot a couple of times and then take another look at the ram in Resource Monitor. It's possible that one stick of ram in a match set could be bad but not likely.

You have a laptop so someone else will have to help with ram settings in the bios. I don't do laptops.

 

[Thomas1963]

what version of windows are you running ?

is it 32 bit or 64 bit os?

 

[Layback Bear]

From the OP post #3

Yeah, it's definitely 64 bit.

 

[Thomas1963]

check and see if there is a bios update?

Very Strange

Good Luck

 

[dsperber]

Install and run CPU-z.

Then look at the MEMORY tab. Also look at the SPD and cycle through the memory slots, to see if your two 4GB cards are actually seen.

Post screenshots please.

 

[Layback Bear]

Install and run CPU-z.

Is a great idea.

 

[abyrne]

Here are my CPU-z results, it appears only Slot 2 is being read, so I'll try testing both slots and both ram sticks and see if that sheds any more light!

 

[Layback Bear]

Evey thing points to one module of ram being seen as 4 gigs.

Here is a tutorial to test you ram. It does take some time. At least 8 continuous passes need to be done or until bad ram is found.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

Could you post a web site of the exact ram you are using?

Is it this?

Crucial Technology CT51264BF160B.C16F 4GB
Description: PC3-12800, 1.5V, 1.35V , CAS Supported: 6 7 8 9 10 11
Other names: Crucial Technology CT51264BF160B.C16F
Memory First Benchmarked: 2012-12-01
Last Price Change: $44.99 USD (2014-03-31)

 

[abyrne]

Aaaah! Typical...it was me

I tested both slots with both sticks individually and they all worked, and after a couple more attempts at trying both sticks at the same time both are reading and I have 8gb of RAM working!

It was quite tricky aligning both at the same time, and the one in slot 1 must have not been properly connected.

Drama over and thanks all so much for your advice!

 

[oscer1]

Good to hear

 

[Layback Bear]

I'm I correct in assuming that both ram modules were not install properly and now they are?

Could you post another picture of Resource Monitor so I can have another look?

Remember post # 5

In most cases that means ram installed incorrectly or the wrong ram or ram settings.
Try something simple first. Re-seat both sticks of ram and then Reboot a couple of times and then take another look at the ram in Resource Monitor. It's possible that one stick of ram in a match set could be bad but not likely.