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

[LittlestPCGamer]

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

 

[Tradesman1]

Well it's not normal, have you tried contacting HP or better yet, go to best buy and see what shows as available on their demo unit then take it to the manager at Best Buy, tell him his geek said this is normal and ask him to get someone on the phone from HP to tell you it's supposedly normal, or for him to fix or replace it... If it's advertised as having 10 GB then it should have 10 useable GB of DRAM, can pass along that if 40% of it is reserved and unusable then you would like DOCUMENTATION from HP explaining it.

 

[LittlestPCGamer]

Okay so the BIOS IS up to date according to what I found on HP's website. Now I really am at a lose, and what makes this worse? I think those demo units you're talking about were updated to Windows 8 recently. I don't know what to do anymore and this whole thing is annoying me. I'm just having such a hard time getting a straight answer from anyone and what makes all this worse is it's causing me undo stress, something I really don't need because I'm still in pain from a recent surgery. >_<

 

[Tradesman1]

Things like this can be hard to troubleshoot this way, butl ong and short of it, is there's something out of kilter, this is one where I'd love to get my hands on the rig but with it being under warranty, best to have them deal with it, and I know if your best buy is anything like the ones I have in town, you basically have to play hardball. Can't speak for the folks at yours, but the geeks here in town are generally lost and often make up whatever they think sounds good. Another option would be to email BBuy's HQ and complain to them - they'd prob get the store managers attention, in particular if you bring up the BBB and that if nothing is done you'll file a complaint

 

[LittlestPCGamer]

Sadly here's the thing... I cannot afford to go "hardball" or anything like that... I just simply want this problem fixed without having to pay for finding out the solution. I really don't want to get the BBB involved either... I'm simply not in a position where I want to bring that much attention to myself. This all just sounds like way too much trouble.

I guess all I can say now is this... the 2GB of memory in my card is GDDR5 but my RAM is GDDR3. Is that significant in any way? I can't figure out anymore what's going on. Why is 4GB of memory reserved for hardware? How can I get it back or use it? What's using it? My graphics card and processor? Just... what? I want to know, but I just can't afford to let this become a situation where it turns into a federal case or something...

 

[Tradesman1]

No GPU and PC DRAM have nothing to do with each other as far type of DDR. Generally you might have a little DRAM shared to your on board or discrete GPU, but nowhere near this much...You could contact HP and see if they will know of anything

 

[bgunner]

The hardware reserved should not exceed over 100 MB of ram. Myself I have 2 MB reserved for hardware. This is a section of ram the components need for them to work properly with the rest of the hardware. Here is a screen shot of what the resource monitor should look like. http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh316/bgunner0/Ramusage_zps52b030c3.png

yours would say 10 GB instead of 8 though. There is an issue no matter if Best Buy says there is not. the screen shot is proof.

 

[bgunner]

EDIT: double post Sorry.