windows 7 not using all 8gb of ram

[pastybuns]

ok, i just built my brother a new comp.

AMD Phenom II X4 965
G-Skill 4x2gb 1600MHz DDR3 (but the board sees it as 1333MHz, need to manually clock but too lazy)
300 GB laptop hdd (salvaged out of broken laptop and mounted with a special thingy)
EVGA GTX260 core 216
MSI 980a motherboard

I just installed Windows 7 64 bit on it and came across a problem. windows is seeing 8gb but only 2gb is usable. After a bios update, windows now notices 3.3gb usable and 8gb installed. I've tried going into msconfig and checked the max mem and unchecked... no difference. Ive also disable the onboard vga through the bios completely so i know no ram is being dedicated to that. I really don't know what the problem is. I have the same set up but different VGA and is using 8gb. we also checked to see if the sticks were some what bad and they all were fine. so all i can figure is maybe there is a bad mem controller or something needs patched in windows 7 or bad ram slots. Any suggestion would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Lemur]

When you boot your computer, do you see 8 GB listed in the bios?

If no, remove memory sticks and clear area of dust. Insert one stick at a time and see how much memory is recognized in bios.

Is the memory identical or different?

Please check the model of your mobo. I don't see 980a for MSI, but I do see a NForce 980a chipset.

 

[DocBrown]

If you run CPU-Z, see what it shows for total memory & for each slot.

 

[pastybuns]

The bios is seeing it 8gb in all. And ill have to check that cpu-z later im not at my brother house at the moment. And the hardware is brand new so no dust

heres the link to the mobo from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...3130236&cm_re=msi_980a-_-13-130-236-_-Product

 

[Lemur]

make sure you have the correct voltage for the memory

 

[DirtyElf]

the first thing you should do is carefully remove and reseat the ram, ensuring that you hear the "click" when they are in the slot

the second thing you should do is be sure that you have 4 good sticks of ram using http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html (check your memory slots at the same time)

once you determine that everything is good and working hardware, then move onto software solutions

 

[Petey7]

I just want to point out that new doesn't necessarily mean clean. Still try to clean the slots with a can of compressed air.

 

[Lunarpancake]

depending on video card and BIOS they may be sharing your ram.

In the BIOS make sure you disable any "integrated GPU" ...this can free up around 256-512mb possibly.

Check your video card next as this can be using 1 or 2 gig's of ram

 

[DirtyElf]

go through all of these suggestions and check each of these parameters. then boot again and post a snip of your resmon (start, run, resmon) also post the cpu-z showing your memory

 

[pastybuns]

When we put the ram in we made sure that we seated it in and heard the click. Also i disabled the onboard vga through the bios but idk if it relocated the ram to usable but i dont think it would use 4+ gb of ram . I plan on doing those tests to the ram and checking the voltage on monday. Im thinking that maybe the voltage wasnt set right by the motherboard as it is set to auto in the bios. will update when i have those shots or fixed it.

 

[Wishmaster]

This may sound silly but ...

Is windows reporting its the 64bit version and not 32?

3.3Gb useable sounds as if its a 32 bit system - GPU RAM or Integrated dedicated.

 

[pastybuns]

im pretty sure i installed the 64 bit version but i will check.

 

[DocBrown]

Can you post a system snip