6GB RAM, 4GB usable

chickenroyal

chickenroyal

chickenroyal

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Joined
14 Apr 2010
Posts
13
Hi guys,

Noticed last night that Windows 7 (x64 Ultimate) says I have 6GB RAM, but only 4GB is usable. Not sure why it's saying this now, because it used to say all 6GB was available. CPU-Z is saying "Size: 6144MBytes" and "Channels #: Triple".

Posting this thread in general hardware because after some googling, I've found that it could be a number of reasons. Either a faulty RAM stick, mobo needing a BIOS update (GA-X58A-UD3R) or bent CPU pin on mobo. But as it was previously recognising all 6GB, I'm not sure what to try first.

Any ideas and help would be greatly appreciated. :)

PC specs:
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R Intel X58 Socket 1366 (F3 BIOS)
Intel i7 920 2.66GHz 8MB Cache Socket 1366
Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 (1600MHz) 1.65V
XFX ATI Radeon HD 5870 1024MB DDR5 PCI-Express
Corsair 750W TX Series
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
 
I had the same problem as you,

First step: Does BIOS see the RAM as 6gig or 4?

second step: If no: remove RAM 1 stick at a time and test each stick individually to see if its faulty.

If yes, go to the startbar in windows, type in msconfig and go to the boot tab in msconfig. click advanced options and uncheck max memory. Should be fixed then!

third step: Having done that, if your computer is overclocked, try giving the vdimm a little boost and possibly the qpi as well.

if none of that works, try a different brand of RAM. I swapped my Corsair Dominator for Hyperx RAM with exactly the same voltages and timings and have had no problems so far, touch wood that couldnt be fixed by following those three steps! :D
 
Showing 4GB during POST at boot and in BIOS. I'll test each RAM stick individually.

Got nothing overclocked, was thinking about doing that sometime soon - guess it'll have to wait a bit longer!

Thanks for the help so far. :)
 
Sounds like you may have a duff stick mate, sorry bout that! :(

try resetting the Bios to stock and then optimised defaults, see if that clears it. if not then take the CMOS battery out and see if that does anything.
My gigabyte x58 seemed a little fussy with the corsair RAM, dont think it likes it, but dont know why, overclockers supply it with their rigs so would have thought theyd have hand picked the best components! :S

all else fails, up the vtt and vdimm by a notch or two, dont go mental, especially on the vtt. Intel say 1.35 is tops for vtt, you could go safely to maybe 1.4 but theres no way you need to go that high if you arent overclocked. 1.35 would easily do it.

none of that works then your stick is likely pete tong!

If you do go down the RMA route, try the hyperx ram instead, exactly the same timings and I'm running 12 gig in my [email protected] ghz at 8-8-8-24 @1440mhz which is reasonably tight for 12gig in an overclocked pc! I could probably get it down around 7-7-7-20 or 22 if i tried but its a work pc so stability is foremost over performance, but i'd definately reccomend the Hyperx.
 
Tested each stick individually, one of them is faulty. Bought them in April from OCUK, so should be a case of RMA them? As this was my first build, never RMA'd something before. Do I get in touch with OCUK or Corsair?

Thanks again for the help, very much appreciated. :)
 
Yeah RMA would be the way to go, dunno what OC's policy is with regard to warranty and lifespan of memory, best to call the tech support guys and fill in an RMA form on the website. Glad you found the cause, shame it was a duff stick though! Like I said though, have a bash with the Hyperx RAM, my x58-UDA seems to prefer it to the corsair and its a little cheaper than the dominator as well if I recall!

Let us know if you have any other probs though,
Atb,
Rimfire :)
 
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