Question Computer Not Recognizing All RAM and Processors

Feb 20, 2019
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I have a Dell Precision 690. I know its old but I like it and it worked well. I am a programmer more than a hardware guy so I am hoping someone here can provide some ideas. It has (2) processors, dual video cards so I can have (4) monitors, RAM risers as well as other components. I am using a new editor to program and started running into memory issues so I upgraded RAM. My issue now is that it only shows 4 gig of RAM as usable with 24gig installed. It also only shows (1) of the two processors. I have always had two processors but just learned it maybe hasn't been using it. This is within the OS and when looking at BelArc. If I look in the BIOS, It shows both processors. It shows all the RAM but again states only 4gig usable.

I was using Windows 7 Home Premium. I just upgraded to Windows 10 Home build 1809. It showed as 64bit before and still does so I am not sure why it is not using all the hardware. I am considering upgrading to 10Pro but not sure it will fix my issue. Before I drop the $100 to upgrade the OS, I thought I would see if other ideas get the system working or if consensus thinks Pro will do it.
 
Feb 20, 2019
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Had 8 gig in system before (8 1gig sticks), to be honest never noticed if difference between installed and usable prior to adding ram below

Added 16 gig recently (4 4gig sticks)

All are DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz ECC

This is a copy/paste from the BelArc report showing what is where. Hope this helps...
4094 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 1' has 1024 MB (serial number 62740009)
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 1' has 1024 MB (serial number 62740309)
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 1' has 1024 MB (serial number 62741208)
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 1' has 1024 MB (serial number 62740608)
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB (serial number EB270244)
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB (serial number 472B0241)
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB (serial number 07250243)
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB (serial number 56210244)
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 1C731FFB)
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 15613508)
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 30701611)
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 62251306)
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 4' is Empty

Does this answer your question?
 
Feb 20, 2019
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Not sure if this is related but I thought I would share...
I was reading some ideas on the internet and one was to go into msconfig.sys then advanced to uncheck options limiting processors and RAM. Both were already unchecked and I decided to check the boxes, set the values, reboot and see what happened. After the reboot, the boxes did not stay checked and the values reverted to 1 processor and 0 ram. I tried again and same result. I also noticed that the boot section was not set to normal but selected. I told it to boot normal, rebooted, it reverted back to selected as it was before. I get a sense the system is locked down somehow and not allowing changes. Could be coincidence or related. Thought worth mentioning.
 
Feb 20, 2019
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I removed the risers and RAM based on a forum article I read. Blew out and cleaned connections and reseated everything with one exception. I moved the 4gig ram sticks like below

Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 1' has 4096 MB
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 1' has 4096 MB
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 1' has 4096 MB
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 1' has 4096 MB
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 2' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 3' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 3' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 3' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 3' has 1024 MB
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 4' is Empty
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 4' is Empty

I now have 12gig of usable RAM so now I am wondering if I am filling the ram in the risers incorrectly or if one of the risers is failing. Would think if the riser is failing or failed, I would not see the sticks through BelArc. Thoughts?
 
Okay. Here goes. You have 16 Slots and I can only assume it is quad Channel. I am going to use a dual Channel as an example. I have 4 Sticks of Ram that are matched ( you need to do that ) The serial Numbers are as follows:
1535B6003212971
1535B6003212972
1535B6003212969
1535B6003212970
As I said, I have Dual Channel, 4 Slots. The DIMM slots run as follows from right to left, B2 A2 B1 AI. I am only going to use the last 5 numbers of the above as the rest are the same. 12971 would go in B2 and 12972 would go in A2. That is one Channel. 12969 would go in B1 and 12970 would go in A1 to cover the second channel. Judging from your serial Numbers, the RAM is mismatched and that never goes well usually.
 
Feb 20, 2019
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Coastie65,
Thanks for the response. I had given up on this post. Glad someone is still seeing it.
This one computer was one of a pair that were both bought at the same time. Both failed for different reasons (graphics card, Portion of motherboard failed). I took them for parts at first and then needed a big PC. I took them apart and mixed and matched to assemble a single PC. So (4) 1gig sticks came from one PC and the other (4) came from the other PC. I also took the processor and heat sink to make this PC a dual processor.

These were a 16gig kit all in a single package that I just purchased to increase the RAM.
Slot 'RISER 1 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 1C731FFB)
Slot 'RISER 2 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 15613508)
Slot 'RISER 3 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 30701611)
Slot 'RISER 4 DIMM 3' has 4096 MB (serial number 62251306)

Something I didn't try was just using the (4) 4gig sticks. I think I will try that. Then add the matching serials from the one PC and see if I get 16 then 20.
Will try in he AM and see what happens.