16GB installed 12Gb usable problem

[whitworth2001]

Hi

I have recently installed more ram into my motherboard all with same timing etc but when i right click on my computer then properties it says 16GB installed 12GB usable but CPUz reconises i have 16gb here are some screen shots.

I have swoped them around with no luck. also unticked the memory box in msconfig

Running windows 7 64 bit ultimate
M5a78l-M USB3
any ideas?

 

[Surveyor]

You seem to have access to all 16GB.

4114+1688+98+975+9609 = 16,384MB = 16GB

Please remove the first image and re-size it if you wish to replace it.

Images should be no wider than 1,024 pixels.

You'd also better hurry up and activate Windows.

 

[whitworth2001]

sorry did not realise but whys it say in windows am only usable 12gb? and in resource manager hardware reserved 4gb

 

[Surveyor]

Looking at it "hardware reserved" does seem very high at 4114MB, mine is only 20MB.

 

[whitworth2001]

any ideas how i can get that unlocked to use my full 16gb?

 

[Surveyor]

Take out the 2 new sticks of RAM and see how much hardware reserved you have.

Then try the 2 new sticks on their own and see how much hardware reserved you have.

Report back with the results.

 

[whitworth2001]

i carnt remember which ones are the new ones when moving them to different slots agrrrr

 

[wazza300]

Best sure way to know is to look at system info page in bios,if it says 12gb you know you have a faulty ram stick or ram slot or bent CPU socket pins,can also be overtightened CPU heatsink/cooler

 

[Surveyor]

i carnt remember which ones are the new ones when moving them to different slots agrrrr

I assume your 2 old sticks are in one pair of dual channel slots and the 2 new sticks you just slotted into the empty slots.

No?

 

[PiKe]

Try resetting bios settings to defaults, a setting in the memory area might be screwing it up.

 

[whitworth2001]

I assume your 2 old sticks are in one pair of dual channel slots and the 2 new sticks you just slotted into the empty slots.

No?

yes thats right i just set it to default still the same.

I assume they are working though because windows does reconize them. am i correct?

 

[PiKe]

They're working but there's a configuration issue as they're not usable.

 

[whitworth2001]

just noticed in bios it says 12gb in system information and not 16gb

 

[wazza300]

You have a faulty stick somewhere or ram slot,can be dram voltage not enough so set that to 1.55v,then test one ram stick at a time in second slot from CPU socket,go through all the sticks it will boot up into windows with just one stick,repeat test on third slot from CPU socket,try and find the faulty slot or stick

 

[Surveyor]

One of your sticks/RAM slots seems a bit temperamental.

Take them out one at a time.

If you take out a good one then it should drop to 8GB and you can put it back.

If you take out the temperamental one then it should stay as 12GB.

 

[wazza300]

Just so you know,it should say 16gb or 12gb with faulty ram stick removed it shouldn't say (usable) at all,that means there's a problem

 

[Surveyor]

I thought he'd moved on to looking at it in the BIOS?

It shows as 12GB now so will show 8GB if a "good" stick is removed and still 12GB if the "bad" stick is removed.

 

[wazza300]

Yh he said it shows 12gb in BIOS so 4 gb is missing,hence 16gb(12gb usable) if he finds the faulty stick and removes it or he gets the faulty stick or slot working it will say 16gb or 12gb

 

[whitworth2001]

right took out each one at a time and i think ive found my faulty new stick took it out and it now says 12gb.. the usuable message has gone so i guess its faulty then

 

[wazza300]

Try with just that one faulty stick installed,no others if it boots up its not faulty, if it doesn't boot up in any of the four ram slots then rma that kit