16 gb RAM only shows as 12 gb

[Lekingmoonya]

Hi, after I built my new PC, I realized something was off when I checked the Task Manager. I have 16gb of RAM installed (2x8) http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233835&cm_re=16gb_RAM_ddr4-_-20-233-834-_-Product

But it says only 12gb is usable. Is this a problem with the BIOS? Or is my RAM faulty? I checked in CPUZ, and it says 16 gb installed.

Thanks!

 

[Nuwan Fernando]

Do you have a separate GPU or using the onboard one? Resources such as RAM can be shared between components.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

have never seen this problem.

what CPU & motherboard are you using?

 

[Lekingmoonya]

@Nuwan Fernando: I am using the r9 390 so a separate GPU. My CPU doesn't have integrated graphics.

@JohnBonhamsGhost: My CPU is the i7-5820K and my Mobo is the asus x99-a.

Hope this info helps you help me... lol

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

well we know those boards support at least max of 64GB of RAM so it shouldn't be a limiting factor.
wouldn't really make sense for only 4GBs of an 8GB stick to work either.

i would guess it is a problem with the software reading the RAM. is it Windows itself reporting only 12GB usable or something else?

 

[Lekingmoonya]

Windows is reporting 12gb usable.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Windows is reporting 12gb usable.

you using Windows 10? Task Mgr's Performance tab > Memory should show exactly what all of your memory is up to in pretty detailed graphs/data. Haven't used 7 or 8 in a while so don't know about theirs anymore.

Have you tried reinstalling RAM? Try each stick separately in DIMM slot 1 and see if either of them shows up as only 4GB. If both show as 8GB separately than it would lead me towards the motherboard.

Before returning anything I would really try a Windows refresh/reinstall first though.

 

[Lekingmoonya]

Windows is reporting 12gb usable.

you using Windows 10? Task Mgr's Performance tab > Memory should show exactly what all of your memory is up to in pretty detailed graphs/data. Haven't used 7 or 8 in a while so don't know about theirs anymore.

Have you tried reinstalling RAM? Try each stick separately in DIMM slot 1 and see if either of them shows up as only 4GB. If both show as 8GB separately than it would lead me towards the motherboard.

Before returning anything I would really try a Windows refresh/reinstall first though.

I tried that, both sticks showed 8gb, then I tried again using boith sticks, and now it shows 15.9 gb as it's supposed to, maybe one was slightly loose? Anyway, fixed, thanks for the help guys!