Half of my RAM isn't usable anymore!

[AK P]

Basically my CPU overheated and crashed my PC (I re-pasted the CPU and now my temps are fine), however following the crash my Bios no longer detects my 8gb of Ram, it only detects 4. I have tried both sticks and all sockets individually and they work, so the RAM is still working.

However the Bios only shows 4gb, Windows System Information shows 8gb but only 3.9gb usable, The task manager shows 3.9gb and CPUZ shows 8gb but says it is running in single channel mode at 800mhz (Should be 1600mhz).

How do I get my pc detecting both sticks simultaneously/ working in dual channel again?

To reiterate both RAM sticks are working and both slots they are in are still working (from booting using one stick at a time).

Everything else in the PC works fine, I tested everything.

 

[EasyLover]

First of all, as it is DDR so 800MHz means 1600 MHz (800 * 2 being double data rate).

It is possible that Memory Controller in CPU is partially damaged. Try to update the BIOS of the mobo. Reset the CMOS and give it a try.

 

[jbrown156]

ok you need to go to the bios and adjust the fram frequency to whichever you prefer ,, i dont remember each frequency by heart but i think 400 means 800mhz , 533 means 1066 and 667 means 1333mhz .. and so on ... you need to bring up the dram frequency to the one exactly after 667 and you should be back to normal.. and both of you ram sticks are being used its just that they are moving at the lowest frequencies of ddr 3 .. you can also remove the cmos battery for a brief second and will reset the bios back to default settings and you problem will be gone

 

[EasyLover]

Or you could simply enable the XMP profile and let it handle the things for you.

 

[AK P]

First of all, as it is DDR so 800MHz means 1600 MHz (800 * 2 being double data rate).

It is possible that Memory Controller in CPU is partially damaged. Try to update the BIOS of the mobo. Reset the CMOS and give it a try.

I have got a cap file off the asus website (I have M5a97 Evo R.2.0) I'm not sure how to update the BIOS though.

 

[EasyLover]

It is not difficult. Easiest way is to download and install the AiSuite from Asus website. Use EZ Update feature on the AiSuite to update the BIOS file. Just browse and select the downloaded bios file. It will do the job. Otherwise your mobo has a feature of USB BIOS Flasback. You can update bios using a bios file on a usb drive.

 

[jbrown156]

first of all a bios update can be extremely risky and can cause your motherboard to be permanently dead .. you said the ram was working before the crash so a bios update is definitely not gonna solve this problem think about it before you try an update and get your pc busted.. look just resetting the cmos thats really harmless and will get rid of your problem or you can check if the ram frequency was check with the crash because i have seen such things already ..for your own good sir think before you do a bios update

 

[AK P]

first of all a bios update can be extremely risky and can cause your motherboard to be permanently dead .. you said the ram was working before the crash so a bios update is definitely not gonna solve this problem think about it before you try an update and get your pc busted.. look just resetting the cmos thats really harmless and will get rid of your problem or you can check if the ram frequency was check with the crash because i have seen such things already ..for your own good sir think before you do a bios update

How do I reset the CMOS? I cant find that option anywhere in my BIOS (Asus M5a97 Evo R.2)

 

[EasyLover]

Extremely dangerous! A big wow! Yes, it could be risky.

 

[jbrown156]

the cmos is not inside the bios its the little shiny battery on the side of the motherboard just remove it for a few second and then place it back and its done and mr easylover am not saying what you said wont work i am saying that before he does something so risky he needs to rule out all smaller things first ,, seriously you know a bios update could cause to destroy the motherboard ..

 

[AK P]

Is the resetting the CMOS the same as clearing the RTC RAM? and doing that pin thing?

 

[EasyLover]

Power on your PC. Press F2/Dell or whichever key it prompts to enter into BIOS. Search for Load Defaults or Load optimal defaults. Once located use this option and that should do it.

 

[jbrown156]

Is the resetting the CMOS the same as clearing the RTC RAM? and doing that pin thing?

no you wont have to change any pin or anything just remove the cmos and put it back and you should be back to normal .. if that doesnt work then by all means go with mr easy lovers suggestion and do a update

 

[AK P]

Ok the CMOS thing didnt work, but I put in 2 new ram sticks (from my other computer) and suddenly it was showing as 8gb ram again, so I put the old ones back in and it stayed as 8gb ram.

The only strange thing is that now it shows my total ram as 8092mb instead of instead of 81... something before =/.

 

[jbrown156]

so then your good then .. thats an odd occurance .. see a bios update wasnt even needed ,, so is the ram running at 1600mhz once more or its till at 800mhz ?

 

[AK P]

so then your good then .. thats an odd occurance .. see a bios update wasnt even needed ,, so is the ram running at 1600mhz once more or its till at 800mhz ?

It still shows up as 800mhz in CPUz but in the Bios and everywhere else it says 1600mhz.

But I think that is normal for CPUZ right?

 

[jbrown156]

so then your good then .. thats an odd occurance .. see a bios update wasnt even needed ,, so is the ram running at 1600mhz once more or its till at 800mhz ?

It still shows up as 800mhz in CPUz but in the Bios and everywhere else it says 1600mhz.

But I think that is normal for CPUZ right?

if the bios says 1600mhz then thats the frequency ,,its most likely that cpu -z has glitch or something of that sort .. this little problem still dont feel normal so if i were you i would call it day because everythings just fine now .. get some hardware monitoring tool and watch heat and resource usage and and stuff like that because computer problems something tend to creep up on you and break your day ,,just keep on eye to see if nothing strange happen like the fsb changing again or ram not showing up again

 

[EasyLover]

Glad to know your problem is resolved.

There is no glitch in CPU-Z. That is the way it works actually. Read my first reply again please. Whatever the value CPU-Z shows, you need to multiply it with 2 as it is a DDR (Double Data Rate) whereas CPU-Z shows the basic/stock frequency. 1600 is the effective frequency whereas 800 is the stock/spd frequency. Nothing to worry about.

Seems like glitch was with memory sockets.

@jbrown156: Your contention is correct but my dear, don't say that bios update will destroy the motherboard.

 

[jbrown156]

Glad to know your problem is resolved.

There is no glitch in CPU-Z. That is the way it works actually. Read my first reply again please. Whatever the value CPU-Z shows, you need to multiply it with 2 as it is a DDR (Double Data Rate) whereas CPU-Z shows the basic/stock frequency. 1600 is the effective frequency whereas 800 is the stock/spd frequency. Nothing to worry about.

Seems like glitch was with memory sockets.

@jbrown156: Your contention is correct but my dear, don't say that bios update will destroy the motherboard.

mr easylover please carefully read my posts over please and thank you. i clearly said it can damage the motherboard i didnt say it will damage the motherboard ,, just take a second to review before you post stuff like what you just did.. i think you know very well that i said was the plain truth if something was to happen during the update is motherboard will be dead because of a corrupted bios ..

 

[EasyLover]

Relax bro. Someone is getting touchy here. Sorry if you are bothered and please spare some time to read my post as well in which I mentioned that "Your contention is correct"

Anyway, thanks for your suggestion.