My computer can't use all it's Ram (Windows 7 64 bit)

Kyriptonite

Kyriptonite

Kyriptonite

Associate
Joined
15 Sep 2011
Posts
33
Hello. I just recently installed 4gb extra RAM to put it up to 8gb but for whatever reason its only using around 6gb of it. The system Information tells me exactly "8gb (5.75 usable)" and in the BIOS it tells me there is only slightly over 6gb on the main screen but then again when I go into the advanced setting it showed all DIMM slots have 2bg cards in them.

I am really confused about this and have looked around the internet but to no avail. These are the things I've tried: I have swamped out RAM using them all one at a time in different DIMM slots and the computer booted fine using all 2 gb of RAM. I have looked in my BIOS advanced setting for Memory Remapping and its enabled. And in MSConfig the use maximum RAM is unchecked. I have also read that Integrated Graphics Cards can use some of the RAM but my MOBO dose not have one.

One more thing thats making me more nervous is on the BIOS is tells me the RAM is or only using 1333mhz but on the website here (where i got them from) says they are 1600mhz. Is my computer under-clocking them or is something more devious at work?

My computer specs are:
Asus M5A97 Pro
AMD FX-100 Quad Core
ATI Radeon HD 6850
8gb Kingston Hyper X Genisis DDR3
OCZ ZS Seris 650W 80 Plus Bronze
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
 
You can run RAM at any speed up to and including (sometimes over) it's rated speed. I also have some 1600Mhz RAM and run it at 1360Mhz or something. For me the speed of the RAM is linked to the Base clock, which on mine is 170Mhz.

As for why it's not showing up, sorry I don't know.
 
"8gb (5.75 usable)" means you have just over 2g already used for running windows and page file etc and have 5.75 left to play with dunno why it says 6g in bios tho for the speed check the settings in bios for it might need changing to the correct speed
 
Look for "memory hole remapping" setting in BIOS.

EDIT: clearly I didn't read the op very well. Have your tried disabling?

I would also try updating your BIOS and flicking Memory hole remapping on & off.
 
Last edited:
@jeff6475 Is there any way to see whats going where? And I think the differences is in memory is because the bios and windows reads memory differently like when you but a 750gb hard drive but it actually only has like 700gb. Thats because a lot of companies rate a gig and 1000mb when a matter of fact its 1028mb or around that.

@m3csl2004 I have updated my BIOS to the latest one no that long ago and I have tried the memory remapping thing already to no avail.

I also found something new. In the resource monitor it says:
Hardware Reserved: 2102mb
In Use: 1422mb
Modified: 256mb
Standby: 1444mb

Available: 4343mb
Cached: 1743mb
Total: 6090mb
Installed: 8192mb
Free: 2969
 
Last edited:
The Asus M5A97 pro board will clock your DDR3 RAM at 1333mhz as default (if you have just added RAM to the system it may have defaulted back to 1333mhz). You can change the speed in bios to run at 1600mhz without needing to overclock (just triple check they are 1600mhz rated modules though). If the system runs, recognises and utilises each 2gb module seperately but with all 4 installed it only recognises/utilises 3 modules then it could be a problem with the board itself rather than memory. I would check each module using memtest first just to exclude them from list of probable causes.
 
Have you checked the advanced settings in msconfig?

Under Boot tab > Advanced options make sure Maximum memory is unticked. If its ticked untick and re-start, Windows should then show all the available RAM.
 
currob said:
The Asus M5A97 pro board will clock your DDR3 RAM at 1333mhz as default (if you have just added RAM to the system it may have defaulted back to 1333mhz). You can change the speed in bios to run at 1600mhz without needing to overclock (just triple check they are 1600mhz rated modules though). If the system runs, recognises and utilises each 2gb module seperately but with all 4 installed it only recognises/utilises 3 modules then it could be a problem with the board itself rather than memory. I would check each module using memtest first just to exclude them from list of probable causes.
Click to expand...

My board dose recognize all of the RAM but just to be on the safe side I will run Memtest tonight, before I go to bed to let it run a good while. And about the RAM speed. I dont really like Overclocking unless I need it so if the Motherboard like running the ram at 1333mhz, I ain't gonna argue haha. But i'ts nice to know I have that bit of extra power when needed :)
 
Hostile-17 said:
Have you checked the advanced settings in msconfig?

Under Boot tab > Advanced options make sure Maximum memory is unticked. If its ticked untick and re-start, Windows should then show all the available RAM.
Click to expand...

I have and it's un-ticked, but did I not say that in the OP? If not I'm going to go edit it now.
 
it should show memory like this,no (2gb usable)look in bios in system information and that will show the correct amount of ram installed or seen by the bios

http://i49.tinypic.com/2yxjdiq.jpg

Image too large so removed IMG tags

test each stick one at a time only in each ram slot one by one,it will boot up from any ram slot with just one stick installed,you need to find out which ram stick or motherboard ram slot is dead or faulty

1333mhz is the motherboards default ram speed to use 1600mhz you have to raise the memory multiplier in the bios,this is the same for any motherboard
 
I believe I found the cause. Three marks on one of the Ram sticks gold plated connectors. I have removed the stick now and everything is looking like its supposed to. Thanks for telling me to run memtest with one stick at a time Wazza300 otherwise I might have never known. Now I do believe I would not be able to RMA this stick but dose OC do returns on accidental damage? Or is there a way to "clean" it?

Edit: Okay. As it turns out one of the gold plated connectors was just dirty. Looked damaged but its amazing what a little bit of toilet paper can do. So just proves, the simplest explication is usually correct. Everything working now. Will keep an eye on it though. Thanks for helping an idiotic computer user.
 
Last edited:
Just before I read your final post I was going to suggest hardware issue with memory.

The hardware reserved can either be memory used for say on board graphics, or memory that can't be accessed due to hardware issues.
 
Friday job done - pack up & head to the pub. :p

Glad you got it sorted OP - I have had no end of issues with AM3 and RAM - I might try this when I get home.
 
m3csl2004 said:
Friday job done - pack up & head to the pub. :p

Glad you got it sorted OP - I have had no end of issues with AM3 and RAM - I might try this when I get home.
Click to expand...

Pub sounds nice. Could use a nice cold beer :D But anyways I think I just got very lucky from what it could have been. Thanks again to everyone who helped. If I was on my own my computer would have made it way out the window with the amount of problems I have had with it haha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom