problem: 3.2GB RAM usable out of 8GB!!

[josencv]

Well, this seems to be a common problem. Before answering please read well this thread.

I Have Windows 7 Professional x64 with 8GB installed (2x4GB DDR3 Kingston). I installed the windows with the 8GB from the start. Windows recognizes 8GB installed but only 3.2GB usable.

In the Resource Monitor 4.9GB are "Hardware Reserved". I have a nVidia GTS450 graphic card, but the nvidia control Panel "System Information" shows that it uses 1GB from the card framebuffer and 1.4 GB shared system memory.

The M/B supports 8GB

I didn't find any memory remap option on the BIOS, but it clearly detects 8GB (the BIOS).

I tried checking (and unchecking) the "Maximum memory" option in the msconfig > Advanced Options. When i chek it it automatically appears "8192" (8GB?), but when i reboot and check again it appears "0" (which means auto??). Nothing happens at all.

Further PC specifications:

MSI H55M-E21 M/B (socket 1156)
Intel i5-760
nVidia GTS450
2x4GB DDR3 Kingston (PC3 - 10600 CL9 240 - Pin DIMM)

See the images below

Any Ideas?

P.S: please dont tell me to check if my OS is 64 bit. It is

 

[zigzag3143]

UN-check Max memory so itr will auto sense.

 

[josencv]

i did uncheck it... nothing happened

 

[cmd187]

Why use that motherboard with the CPU? The H55 is a cheapo chipset where you'd use the onboard graphics of a supported CPU . . . . try taking out one RAM module and see what happens.

 

[stormy13]

This is primarily dealing with the x58 chipset but can apply to pretty much any Intel chipset,

Asus X58 + 6/12GB memory overclocking - detecting less memory than installed - i4memory.com - different look at memory

Is this a recent build? If not has the full 8 GB ever been fully available? If not #8 from that link might be the cause. If you check would be a good idea to pull the heatsink and CPU and check the pins in the socket and see if any of them are bent, seen quite a few reports elsewhere where a bent pin or two can cause the memory to act like yours is (if the bent pins don't render the whole issue inoperative).

 

[josencv]

it is a recent build... i don't think #8 is the cause... i reinstalled the heatsink... but no changes

i removed the ram from slot 2.... result: 3.2GB usable out of 4

changed the memory stick..... result: the same

put then the second stick on the second slot.... result: back to "normal": 3.2GB usable out of 8...

conclussion: the memory sticks seems to be OK.

i also checked the socket pins... it looks like they're ok too...

nothing changed

 

[cmd187]

Try an Ubuntu live CD. Does it still happen? Or is all RAM usable?

 

[LiquidSnak]

As you can see, 5 GB of memory is "hardware reserved" which is usually due to the motherboard allotting it for graphics. Your motherboard might simply be confused or have it allotted still. I will check on some ways to fix this.

 

[MRValiant]

I have mine unchecked and its showing 2MB H/R

 

[LiquidSnak]

So far my research is putting the blame on a BIOS setting or update. Memory remapping in BIOS (or something similar) could fix the problem by unchecking that option. The other option is to look into BIOS updates and see if this issue is mentioned in any updates after your BIOS release.

 

[GeneO]

Memory remapping wouldn't help if you have 8GB installed and your motherboard only supports 8GB of address space - the motherboard would still need to map the PCI-x video hardware into the 8GB of address space.

A wild hunch - does your MB have two PCI-e graphics card slots and have you recently moved your graphics card between them?