Computer has 10 GB RAM but only 5.77 GB usable, what gives?

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LittlestPCGamer

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May 21, 2013
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My computer was advertised as having 10 GB of memory which is awesome, but I just found out that it says in my computer's stats that only 5.77 GB of the RAM is usable. What gives? I don't even recall it saying that before a few months ago.

Specs:
GPU: Nvidia GTX 660 GPU (non-Ti)
CPU: AMD FX-6120
Motherboard: AMD I think
PSU: Corsair CX 600
Computer itself: pre-built HP Pavilion brand computer bought from Best Buy last year with Windows 7 64-bit OS
 
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where in the OS are you reading this from?

Control panel> view by: large icons> system / what does it say here?

Right click the task bar> select task manager> select performance tab> select resource monitor> select memory tab / what does it say here?

Both should say the total of ram installed. If they both say 10 GB then your fine. If your looking at the resource monitor and are worried about it saying you only have 5GB available you are still fine. The available in the resource monitor is an amount that is ready to be used and is not cached.
 
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Okay when I check "system" it tells me "Installed Memory (RAM): 10.0 GB (5.77 GB usable)

As for the resource manager, it says "hardware reserved" is 4329 MB, 2404 MB in use, 32 modified, 3115 MB on standby, and 366 MB is free. And then under that it says over 3400 MB is available, 3147 MB cached, 5911 MB total, and 10240 MB installed. So is this all good then? I guess maybe the fact I'm still pretty new to all of this just left me confused. Call me an elistest but I guess the reason why part of me was wondering what the heck is going on is because I'm trying to make sure my PC is still more powerful than the upcoming PS4 and Xbox One system, heh. (I'm going PC and Wii U this gen, the Wii U for all the great exclusives, and PC for everything else)
 
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the total number should be the same as the installed number. Are you using some ram as a ram disk?

EDIT: you realize that the Wii U will not be able to run the new Frostbite engine right? I'm just a bit confused about that part of the statement but it is Off topic.
 
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I said Wii U for the exclusives like Mario and Zelda, PC for everything else. I don't care for EA though. (plus Wii U can handle CryEngine3, which is more CPU intensive, so I'm personally calling BS on EA since apparently Xbox 360 and PS3 can use Frostbite 3 just fine and they're older hardware, and Epic themselves confirmed Wii U can run Unreal Engine 4 since it's so scalable, which also makes me think Frostbite must not be that user friendly then if it's not very scalable)

Okay back on topic, I have no idea. The computer came pre-built because that's all my father would help me buy (I probably won't make a custom rig until I get the money on my own, for now I needed my father's help to get my new computer last year because my old Windows XP computer wasn't working right anymore). The installed and total numbers are different, so I have no idea what this is supposed to mean. Again total is listed as 5911 MB, while installed says 10240 MB. The grey area of my bar says 4329 MB is hardware reserved.
 
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the grey area is where the extra ram went. At this point I can not help anymore as It is now out of my expertise area. Some one else will have to help figure out why the system is reserving the extra 4 GB of ram. Usually the system only reserves 2 MB of ram, I have no idea why it is reserving more.
 
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OH I forgot to mention two more things.

First is that my Windows Experience Index originally had me at 7.9 (maximum) but now says I'm 5.9 because of disk transfer rate lowering to 5.9. This relevant?

Also I had to have Best Buy's Geek Squad install some new hardware in this computer in the last three months. First was when I got my new graphics card installed (the OEM card was a hunk-o-junk), that was in February, and then last month I had to get a new 600 watt power supply from Corsair installed because the Dynex 520 watt that was installed in February broke and turned out to be a piece of junk anyway (last time I let a BB employee persuade me to buy the cheapo brand stuff). Do you think the Geek Squad installs had anything to do with it?
 
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The experience index dropped because of the HDD (hard drive). Standard platter HDD's only get a 5.9 score, Then Windows uses the lowest score as a base score so you see the lowest score as an index score. Common, nothing to be concerned about there.

Having the new hardware installed is most likely the cause but as to why I can't help with that. Let me do some googleing and see what I can find.
 
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Okay well that's good.

And let me know what you find. If it's only supposed to reserve 2 GB and not 4 GB then I want to know what the heck happened to my extra RAM, and if Best Buy is to blame then I'm going to expect them to fix this at no charge. They're supposed to be experts in this field and only seem to be causing me grief right now.
 
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Oh wow. If that's the case then I really want to know now. I could swear my computer originally did NOT say "5.77 usable" a few months ago next to the 10 GB of RAM.
 
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also go into the bios and make sure that the OnBoard video is turned off.

have a read of this also: http://www.codenamewindows.com/?p=1168

also you can try this first :
You can disable this setting by clicking on Start, and typing msconfig in the Search programs and files box, and then click msconfig from the Programs list. In the System Configuration window click the Boot tab, click Advanced options…, and uncheck Maximum memory:, click OK, close the System Configuration window, close all other applications and then reboot your computer.

 
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"Maximum memory" was never even checked to begin with. Also how the heck am I supposed to access my BIOS anyway? What would turning off OnBoard video do?

Here's the computer as it was when I first got it before the hardware upgrades:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=c03359045 (contains motherboard information)
 
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Normal startup is what was already selected and I rebooted, but that didn't do anything.
 
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to access the Bios requires a restart. durring the restart as soon as the PC starts, a splash screen appears, during this screen you press delete repeatedly and it will let you into the bios. Turning off the onboard video If ON will stop the PC from allocating ram to onboard video. You have a dedicated video card so the onboard video should be turned off.

caution on entering the bios. Make sure you know what you are looking for and don't change anything else as a wrong setting can cause major issues elsewhere.

IF maximum memory was not checked that is fine, that is one thing we know is not causing the issue. Please also read the link I posted, it has a few things you can try on your own to try to figure this out.
 
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Pre-built, so I have no idea how to find out that. Also in reply to bggunner, I have no idea how to access BIOS on my computer, it varies for everyone.
 
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I actually have already told you how in my last post.

1. restart PC
2. as soon as the first screen comes on It will most likely say "HP" press the Delete key repeatedly. Some use the F2 key
3. this lets you into the bios.
 
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Okay so first I did a system diagnostic and everything passed.

Then when I tried to access the BIOS the computer locked up. When the HP logo appeared I pressed delete a lot but when the menu popped up it said "press ESC for startup menu" and I did but then it seemed ot lock up so I had to do a hard reset. I also checked out a bit more on my motherboard. It's the Angelica2 motherboard from Gigabyte that uses the AMD 970 chipset. It turns out this motherboard has no integrated graphics according to what I read on HP's website. (or did I do the BIOS thing wrong?)
 
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I did but it seems like none of the others solutions will be things I can try. I guess at this point having Best Buy check it out would be best. The computer and the hardware is under warranty so there's that.
 
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The guy at Best Buy looked at it and told me this is normal for some reason, but other sites say it's not. I don't know what to do anymore, no one will give me a straight answer. msconfig is no help either because that box people keep mentioning was never checked to begin with. I also have no idea if my BIOS is up to date. Last update was April 2012, before I even bought it, and I can't find a thing on Gigabyte's website saying if there is an update.
 
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