Bios/Windows don't see all my RAM, BUT CPU-Z Does ???

[Cindy Warner]

I recently noticed by chance that Windows is reporting only 8 of 16 gigs of RAM.
I thought Id check out the BIOS, which also shows only 8.

I thought something must be configured wrong, or broken etc.

Then I took a look at CPU-Z and under memory it shows 16GB and each of my 4 Gig sticks ??

Why would CPU-Z show the correct config when both Windows and The BIOS dont ??

Here is a quick screencap.
http://i.imgur.com/b4hyR03.jpg

Ive read about similar issues around the web but very few mention any kind of solution ? or how to go about it.

Most of my system specs are shown in the image so I wont repeat them here.

 

[Y0GI]

Your screenshot shows that your RAM is running at 4 different frequencies: 518, 592, 666 and 800 MHz.

Are all 4 sticks different makes and models?

Yogi

 

[Cindy Warner]

Are all 4 sticks different makes and models?

I am using a 16GB Corsair Vengeance Kit (4x4)

Your screenshot shows that your RAM is running at 4 different frequencies: 518, 592, 666 and 800 MHz.

I didnt know much about ram frequency and found this,
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2480981/ram-running-frequencies-latency.html

The pic I provided only shows slot 1,
but each slot is running at the same frequency

 

[Y0GI]

Are all 4 sticks different makes and models?

I am using a 16GB Corsair Vengeance Kit (4x4)

Your screenshot shows that your RAM is running at 4 different frequencies: 518, 592, 666 and 800 MHz.

I didnt know much about ram frequency and found this,
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2480981/ram-running-frequencies-latency.html

The pic I provided only shows slot 1,
but each slot is running at the same frequency

My Bad! I was mis-reading CPU-Z! Disregard my previous post.

First, try each stick in one slot, like the one closest to the CPU to verify that they all work.

If all 4 sticks are OK, try taking one stick of RAM and try it in each slot, one at a time. Verify that the BIOS can correctly report the info for the single stick in each slot. Do this for all 4 sticks.

That is a start.

Yogi

 

[Tradesman1]

What CPU and mobo? Do you have the latest BIOS? What CPU cooler are you using? What OS version? - it's very common for the rig to 'see' the DRAM, but not be able to use all of it, the OS might not support more than 8GB, might be a bad channel or the MC in the CPU may be bad, often with third part CPU coolers, people tighten them down too tight in a corner or side which throws the CPU out of level so it doesn't have full contact on all pins which tens to 'lose' a channel of DRAM

 

[justajohn]

So CPU-z tells me two things.
1. You are running an i7-930
2. it is is showing as running triple channel mode even though it shows the 4 RAM modules slotted.

So at this point I'm on board with Tradesman1 as it possibly being hardware related and as far as getting more info to be able to get you some better help on the issue.
So what are the specs of your system... mobo, OS, how many RAM slots are actually available on your system.
And as Yogi asked have you tried shuffling the RAM to see if maybe you have a bad stick? try to keep track of each individual stick maybe place a piece of tape with a number on it for each one. Save yourself a headache that way.

I saw another persons post just recently that they had suffered using only 8GB of RAM out of a 16GB (2x8 GB kit) for over a year due to a bent pin on the motherboard RAM slot. They tried everything... only recently they looked at the actual physical slots and determined the problem... they bent the pin back and are using their full 16GB kit finally. Theirs reported the RAM in bios but not in the OS which was win7 Ultimate.

Don't know that this is your issue... but it is possible as we can only speculate with the info we have thus far.

Hiope to hear back from you so we can help you get to the bottom of this ...if it hasn't been figured out already that is..

-John