Solved Windows wont use over half of my memory

[Starkiller2121]

Hello all

I just ordered and built my new custom PC a few days ago i have 8 gigs of Gskil ram in it and it shows that it can read it but it only is allowing 3.55 to be used. i checkd the MSconfig to make sure the max ram box isn't checked. i have read before that some of your parts will use ram like an on-board sound card or video but the only thing i have on board is the sound. and i dont think it would use over 4 gigs of my ram. is there any other ways to check or fix this problem.

thanks

OS Windows 7 64bit CPU Intel i5 2500k Motherboard GIGABYTE|GA-P67A-UD4-B3 P67 R Memory 4Gx2|GSKILL F3-10666CL9D-8GBRL Graphics Card(s) EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 (Fermi) Sound Card N/A Monitor(s) Displays LG E2360V-PN Glossy Black 23" 1080p 5ms Screen Resolution N/A Hard Drives Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s PSU CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V Case Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

 

[richc46]

Test memory with memtest.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/246994-guide-to-using-memtest86/

 

[dsperber]

Please provide screenshots from CPU-Z, from the tabs for CPU, Mainboard, Memory, and all the SPD slots.

Also, can you please provide a screenshot from task manager: Start -> Run -> Taskmgr, then select Performance tab, and push Resource Monitor button. Then select the Memory tab, and take the screenshot of the bottom of the screen where it shows the color-coded and numeric value memory allocations... including "hardware reserved".

 

[Starkiller2121]

here are the first five screenshots

 

[Starkiller2121]

and the last one.

 

[Britton30]

Welcome StarKiller. where did you get your figures from. I.e, 3.55 available and 8GB read?

 

[Starkiller2121]

i got it when i right clicked on computer and selected properties

 

[dsperber]

You are absolutely correct... that Task Manager -> Memory picture shows "4.5GB hardware reserved!!!" That's why only 3.5GB is available for Win7.

We need to get to the bottom of that.

I wonder, have you tweaked your BIOS for anything other than motherboard defaults?

I haven't looked closely at your peripheral cards and other hardware, but nothing I can think of would normally need 4.5GB of system memory.

 

[Starkiller2121]

i had a friend help me setup it up and am about to check the bios to see if he changed anything.

 

[dsperber]

Well, I'm baffled. That EVGA 01G-P3-1460-KR GeForce GTX 560 video card has its own 1GB memory, so it shouldn't be taking anything from RAM I wouldn't think.

 

[Starkiller2121]

is there any way to see what they have the memory reserved for

 

[Britton30]

Make sure your RAM is set to Unganged and the PEG slot to initialize display/graphics. PEG/PCIe Graphics.
My gigabbyte board was a real bear to get working right.

 

[dsperber]

is there any way to see what they have the memory reserved for

You should be able to get the breakdown using Device Manager.

Start -> Run -> DEVMGMT.MSC to get Device Manager.

From the menu bar, View -> resources by type, and then expand the "Memory" item.

All device usage in memory should be shown, in hex low-high address ranges for each device. See if you can spot something that's ENORMOUS, and which would explain where that 4.5GB went.

 

[Starkiller2121]

i found out what was the problem. one of the sticks of ram was corrupt and so i have to RMA it to new egg.

and thanks all for your help.

 

[Britton30]

You are welcome! Sorry about the bad RAM though.