1/2 of my 8GB RAM Reserved for hardware?

[Orcvader]

Glad to know it's all working now .

 

[Frozennova]

Coolers without backplates was a big thing a few years back causing the mobo to bend and causing RAM to be incorrectly recognised

 

[Scania]

Phew that was looking dodgy for a while, have you removed the CPU to check for bent pins, there may be one that's just off.
Andi.

Not yet, just loosened the vertical bracket screws (the bracket that clamps the cooler to the cpu) to the point of being barely tight where previously, I'd tightened them to the point of almost threading them - it wouldn't surprise me to see something bent on reflection but thus far all good.

Coolers without backplates was a big thing a few years back causing the mobo to bend and causing RAM to be incorrectly recognised

The replacement cooler I bought the other day was a Raijintek Aidos from OC/UK , only £15, but it still had a whacking great backplate and screws etc to fit, biggest ballache I've yet had with fitting a sodding CPU cooler !

All my previous ones have always been push in types, no backplate required.

I'd assumed - mistakenly - this one having a backplate would need screwing down tightly. although I'd have thought this wouldn't have resulted in the problem I've had, my cooler is now attatched to its mounting brackets with barely tight force, I'd previously applied tightening force captain caveman style...

Oh well, I've learned by it!

Back upto 3.8 O/C with 4.0 Turbo 8GB still showing and temps good, rocking cooler for under £15! https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raijintek-aidos-direct-contact-cpu-cooler-hs-002-rt.html