Solved Hardware Reserve Memory is way too high

[Bluehornet2297]

Okay. So I've recently purchased some new RAM to upgrade my computer. Before the upgrade, I was running my computer on 8 GBs (2x 4Gb sticks). When I was only using the 8 Gbs of RAM, I was able to use all 8Gbs of it. However, with the 16 Gbs of additional RAM I have installed (2x 8Gb sticks), windows decided to Hardware Reserve exactly 8Gbs. This led me to believe something was wrong, and I would like access to those 8 Gbs. I did some poking around in the forums and tried to find a solution, and no luck so far. My Goal is to be able to use as much of my total 24 Gbs of RAM as I can.

System Specs:

CPU: AMD Athelon II X4 620

Mobo: MSI 970A-G43

Memory: 2x 4Gb Hyperx Black (KHX16C9B1BK2/8X)
2x 8Gb Hyperx Fury (KHX16C9T3K2/16X)

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit


Troubleshooting I Have Done:

1. All 4 Sticks have been tested in all 4 of my comps DIMM slots and work perfectly fine

2. Ran Msconfig and unchecked maximum memory

3. Checked to make sure both BIOS and windows can see all 24 Gbs of RAM


From what I can tell, The RAM sticks themselves should be almost identical, aside from the amount of memory they contain (8Gb vs 4Gb). Both Windows and my BIOS detect all of the RAM. The most interesting part is that Windows lets me use the RAM properly when I only have a matching pair of sticks installed, i.e. both 8Gbs OR both 4Gbs. But if I use the 4 sticks together, windows takes my 8 Gbs again. I'm not sure what to do here; any, and all help would be super appreciated!! If there is anything else you may need to know about my system, feel free to ask away.

-Bluehornet2297

 

[logicearth]

It is not Windows. But rather the motherboard. As the name suggests, "Hardware Reserved" the hardware takes that before Windows boots up. I would say, the motherboard does not like the mis matched ram.

 

[JohnPC]

Hello,
Did you try placing same type of sticks in slots #1 & #3 and other same pair in slots #2 and #4?
That might make it a bit easier for the system to run mismatched RAM sticks.
Regards

 

[LMiller7]

The problem is that Windows 7 Home Premium is limited to a maximum of 16 GB RAM. Any RAM over that will be Hardware Reserved to prevent it's use. This is a licensing limit and cannot be circumvented legally.

It would be best to use only the 2 8 GB modules.

See this:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/windows/desktop/aa366778(v=vs.85).aspx

 

[Bluehornet2297]

Thanks everyone for the fast reply. LMiller you seem to be correct and that limitation is kindve a shame. Guess I'll just have to live with that. Thanks again everyone!

-Bluehornet2297

 

[JohnPC]

The problem is that Windows 7 Home Premium is limited to a maximum of 16 GB RAM.

Dang- that's a drag. I didn't know that either. I've only used Ultimate so far. I wonder if there's a way for Bluehornet2297 to upgrade...

 

[LMiller7]

16 GB RAM should be more than enough for most uses. Of course there are exceptions, such as when running virtual machines. Upgrading to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate would be an option, or to Windows 8 which supports 128 GB or more. That is more than what will be available in any home computer anytime soon.