Memory

[hiinhoc]

hi everyone, i have a DDR3 RAM, but how come it only show 4gb instead of 6gb on my system? I ran the memTest overnight got 11 pass n 2 fails, i went and exchange for the new one, but it still show only 4gb. Why is this? Thanks.

 

[JMH]

hi everyone, i have a DDR3 RAM, but how come it only show 4gb instead of 6gb on my system? I ran the memTest overnight got 11 pass n 2 fails, i went and exchange for the new one, but it still show only 4gb. Why is this? Thanks.

Hi hiinhoc and welcome

It may be as simple as having the maximum memory check at 4 gigs instead of unchecked.

I assume you have a 64bit OS (for 32 bit cannot see 6 gigs).

Can you type msconfig in search and go to the advanced options tab. You will find both maximum memory (which should be unchecked) and maximum cpu's ( which also should be unchecked) Are they ?

BTW you should re-run memtest with the new RAM to be sure it is ok

See enclosed snip

Let us know if you need further assistance

Jan W

 

[Night Hawk]

Welcome to the Seven Forums! hiinhoc

Since you replaced one of the dimms and seated the replacement in try reseating the other dimms present in case one of the others is raised up in the dimm slot if you are running three 2gb dimms. If a mix with 1gb dimms the smaller dimms may be seeing different timings or the wrong type.

With any old build you could expect that dust and debirs may cause this to be seen. That just happened here on one case being refurbished seeing a pair of 512mb dimm were suddenly only 512 out of 1gb was seen as usable? Reseated both dimms into air cleaned dimm sliots and 1gb is back.

 

[hiinhoc]

Welcome to the Seven Forums! hiinhoc

Since you replaced one of the dimms and seated the replacement in try reseating the other dimms present in case one of the others is raised up in the dimm slot if you are running three 2gb dimms. If a mix with 1gb dimms the smaller dimms may be seeing different timings or the wrong type.

With any old build you could expect that dust and debirs may cause this to be seen. That just happened here on one case being refurbished seeing a pair of 512mb dimm were suddenly only 512 out of 1gb was seen as usable? Reseated both dimms into air cleaned dimm sliots and 1gb is back.

thanks u guy for the reply, well this is brand new motherboard, brand new memory. And motherboard is compatible with DDR3 memory. And i did try to type in msconfig but i don't see the advance tab. Should i try different slot?

 

[Night Hawk]

When opening the msconfig utility up look in the "boot tab>Advanced options button". The image attached to DMH's post earlier shows where that is. You can see the item for setting the maximum amount of memory in the second screen that comes up.

When looking to see how memory is installed where are you looking? In the system properties? or on the post screen at start up? or in the task manager>performance tab?

The post screen without any factory logo screen should report the full total immediately on the initial post tests there. The 32bit 7 will report the total it sees installed in the system properties while the task manager only reports the amount being used along with what is seen as free ram.

In some cases the bios settings on some boards will limit the usable amount of memory as well depending how the memory is being allocated. This is why DMH had asked if you were running the 32bit or 64bit 7 there since the 32bit kernel is limited to roughly 3.5gb usuable while it will show 4gb in the Control Panel>System information there.

I would need to reboot into the temp 32bit Vista install here but remember seeing 8gb reported while only having the 3.5gb due to this limitation. Presently on the 64bit with 8gb installed I see 1.83gb being used with different things running with 6.321gb free as reported in the task manager.

 

[MK2]

Hi,

Maybe a simple question but if they are 2gb dimms did you put them in the same color slots?
Like slot 1, 3, 5 or slot 2, 4, 6

MK2

 

[cluberti]

hi everyone, i have a DDR3 RAM, but how come it only show 4gb instead of 6gb on my system? I ran the memTest overnight got 11 pass n 2 fails, i went and exchange for the new one, but it still show only 4gb. Why is this? Thanks.

2 things - one, is this x64 or x86 Windows 7? Two, if you run resmon and look at the memory tab, what does it show you for used/avail?

 

[hiinhoc]

Hi hiinhoc and welcome

It may be as simple as having the maximum memory check at 4 gigs instead of unchecked.

I assume you have a 64bit OS (for 32 bit cannot see 6 gigs).

Can you type msconfig in search and go to the advanced options tab. You will find both maximum memory (which should be unchecked) and maximum cpu's ( which also should be unchecked) Are they ?

BTW you should re-run memtest with the new RAM to be sure it is ok

See enclosed snip

Let us know if you need further assistance

Jan W
Attached Thumbnails

yup they both unchecked, and i did run the memTest and they is good. I'm using 64bits Windows 7. I"m using 1,2,3 slot. so i should use the same color slot or what? anyways, thanks you guys.

 

[hawkin90]

I have the exact same thing. I've given up though.
Every test shows I have 8GB RAM but my system only uses 6GB.
I just concluded that my graphics card is using it.
But maybe your problem lies in the slots though, try changing to 1,3,5

 

[MK2]

Yes you should use the same color slots, normally slot 1, 3, 5.

MK2

 

[cluberti]

Resmon should show you where the RAM is going (reserved by BIOS, etc).

 

[Night Hawk]

The 64bit Windows should be reporting a 6gb total when looking in the system properties or when running the free System Info for Windows(SIW) program. SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

The first there would rearranging the dimms between the correct slots when removing to reseat them since apparently memtest was only testing two out of the three 2gb dimms if 2gb in size with one possibly isn't seated down fully in the slot. You should actually feel the locking tabs go into place when reseating them.

Even on a new build you have to take an extra minute to recheck each item as you go along. That and watching the post screen at powering up should be displaying the total amount of memory installed when totaled during the initial tests there.

 

[hiinhoc]

hmmm. i try slot 1,3,5. My system won't boot. Anyways, thanks alot guy, i guess 4gb is good enuff for me for now, i havnt got time to fix it yet..

 

[MK2]

Are you sure you put them in slot 1, 3, 5?
You only would have to take out the dimm from slot 2 and put it into slot 5.

If you give us the name and type of motherboard we can find out wich are nr 1, 3, 5 and what color they are.

Better to fill out your systems specs anyway.

MK2

 

[hiinhoc]

yes, it an asus p6t se.... mine slot are black and redish orange...

 

[MK2]

According to the manual they should go into the orange slots.

 

[steve-pressman]

Ok I found this info about your memory and board.

Maybe one of our experts can advise you further.

Steve

 

[hiinhoc]

thanks you soooo much guys, its work its work.. yay lol..

 

[steve-pressman]

Glad we could be of help to you.


Steve

 

[Night Hawk]

Glad to hear the news!

At least now you will know to go over the manual for any board when installing memory and didn't run into any real hardware issues.