14GB of RAM only 3.18 Usable

[Kohbe]

Im fixing a friends prebuilt for him. And Windows was corrupt or something along the lines. So I fixed that by reinstalling windows 10. It had 1x8gb of ram. I put 3x2gb in it. So it is now up to 14gb of ram. I know how channels work and understand that it is not optimal. But noone the less its 14gb in the order. 2-2-2-8. It is also 64bit. On Speccy it does say 14gb, and in propertys it says 14gb ram. 3.18 usable. I have done the thing with msconfig where you select max ram. It changes the value up to 14xxx. I dont know the other 3 numbers, but 14gb give or take a few mb. but after I apply changes and go back into advanced settings max memory is checked but its only at 2048. So something is wrong there. Need help with all that. I will include a picture with the prebuilt's spec's. Now as far is bios, from what I can see this computer is weird with the bios. I have did down key, f1,f2,f8,f10. and I have seen all screens. It takes me to a screen that I press f10 and it takes me to the "bios" but when I get there it is titled "setup unility" it is semi reminiscent of a bios. However there is limited options and nothing that would allow me to change ram. so if there is a key i missed or should try. Let me know. or a way from windows 10 that would boot me into bios. I would like to know about that.

In conclusion
1- What is up with the ram
2- How can I get into a real bios or change ram setting is the "setup utility"
http://imgur.com/a/DtMsw

 

[Paul NZ]

If youre using onboard ram its probably using some of the ram for it

 

[VincentP]

You don't need to change settings for RAM in the BIOS or Windows, it will be detected.
If you can get into the BIOS, restore default settings. Undo any tinkering you have been doing in Windows.

 

[Kohbe]

I havnt changed anything is Bios becuase there is nothing to change. And Paul can you explain what you mean? No onboard ram should use 11gb for a computer that had stock 8

 

[Kohbe]

You don't need to change settings for RAM in the BIOS or Windows, it will be detected.
If you can get into the BIOS, restore default settings. Undo any tinkering you have been doing in Windows.

Windows is picking it up. As I said Windows says 14gb Installed (3.18 Usable)

 

[VincentP]

You don't need to change settings for RAM in the BIOS or Windows, it will be detected.
If you can get into the BIOS, restore default settings. Undo any tinkering you have been doing in Windows.

Windows is picking it up. As I said Windows says 14gb Installed (3.18 Usable)

It sounds like you either have a 32-bit version of Windows (unlikely with Windows 10) or a 32-bit processor. Is this a really old machine? What is the CPU model?

 

[Paul NZ]

Ram maybe faulty or not in properly. Try updating the BIOS

 

[Kohbe]

You don't need to change settings for RAM in the BIOS or Windows, it will be detected.
If you can get into the BIOS, restore default settings. Undo any tinkering you have been doing in Windows.

Windows is picking it up. As I said Windows says 14gb Installed (3.18 Usable)

It sounds like you either have a 32-bit version of Windows (unlikely with Windows 10) or a 32-bit processor. Is this a really old machine? What is the CPU model?

I left a picture of the specs. It was default with windows 8 and I upgraded it to windows 10. and It was prebuilt 8gb of RAM so I doubt its anything todo hardware wise. And It is a "AMD Elite Quad-Core A10-6700 Accelerated Processor" It is an APU

 

[Kohbe]

Ram maybe faulty or not in properly. Try updating the BIOS

The RAM is not faulty. I have tested it multiple times and it is picked up by the computer and by windows. And I cannot update the bios because. As stupid as it sounds. Either there is no accesable bios. Or this bios is very weird from any of the other dozen and a half bios that I have seen.

 

[VincentP]

Ram maybe faulty or not in properly. Try updating the BIOS

The RAM is not faulty. I have tested it multiple times and it is picked up by the computer and by windows. And I cannot update the bios because. As stupid as it sounds. Either there is no accesable bios. Or this bios is very weird from any of the other dozen and a half bios that I have seen.

It is a 64-bit processor, so that's not the issue.
To update the BIOS, you run a utility in Windows. The only issue there is that they may not have made a utility compatible with Windows 10 for this model if it was sold with Windows 8.

 

[schaft]

could you try disable dual channel in bios? It might forced dual channel so the ram that work is only 2+2 (while 2+8 was regarded as unused). Maybe ganged or unganged in some amd motherboard version.

Good luck

 

[DSzymborski]

Does it still work with *just* the 1x8 and *just* 2x2? Mixing-and-matching RAM tends to be very iffy, even if the DIMMs are functioning individually.

 

[Kohbe]

I feel like there should be. Im not advanced on BIOS things. I build pc's and do stuff with GPU's never BIOS. I generally dont have any trouble with my BIOS. The most I've had todo is change 1 or 2 things around on mine. and get a get CMOS battery. other than that. I dont know anything about BIOS

 

[Kohbe]

Does it still work with *just* the 1x8 and *just* 2x2? Mixing-and-matching RAM tends to be very iffy, even if the DIMMs are functioning individually.

Im not at his house. Going back down tomorrow around noon and trying it back with just the 8. and Ill get back to you on that

 

[Kohbe]

could you try disable dual channel in bios? It might forced dual channel so the ram that work is only 2+2 (while 2+8 was regarded as unused). Maybe ganged or unganged in some amd motherboard version.

Good luck

I agree that this could be it, but the issue it. As posted. I cannot find a way to edit any of this. The BIOS on this pc is very unique to say the least. and There is something I am missing about it or something Im not sure. i cannot find anything past this weird "bios"