[ HELP ] 8GB Kit 2x4GB 1 Stick only allowing 2GB

[iH Xenon]

Hi All, My friend give me his old 8GB kit of DDR3 ram because he upgraded to 16GB.
When putting the memory in my system i noticed only 6GB was usable even when checking in the BIOS it showed 6GB installed so after doing tests on each memory module and memory slot on my board i noticed that one of the sticks only shows up as 2GB yet the other from the same kit shows 4GB ( in BIOS ) so i know that its not reserved memory because of my on board graphics.
So i wondered if anyone knows what could be causing this issue ? i had thought that the stick might be broken but if the stick is broken why am i allowed to use 2GB of the stick.
I know that it is not my memory slots on my board because as i said earlier i tested them and they both are working fine.
Any help with this issue will be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance 😀

 

[Shaun o]

How much memory a motherboard can use is limited by the memory controller on the motherboard it`s self.

In order to find this out while your case is open, look on the motherboard in the system.
And write down the brand name of the motherboard and the model number of the motherboard.

Then do a search, via google for the support website, driver downloads of the brand and model number of your board.
On the page it will have a specification of the features of your motherboard.
Including how much memory, or ram capacity that can be fitted to your motherboard in total.
And what capacity or density of each ram module can be to be detected properly by the memory controller of your motherboard.
In each memory slot of the board.

Find that and post back if it says it can take the full capacity of memory you are trying to fit to the mother board.

 

[iH Xenon]

How much memory a motherboard can use is limited by the memory controller on the motherboard it`s self.

In order to find this out while your case is open, look on the motherboard in the system.
And write down the brand name of the motherboard and the model number of the motherboard.

Then do a search, via google for the support website, driver downloads of the brand and model number of your board.
On the page it will have a specification of the features of your motherboard.
Including how much memory, or ram capacity that can be fitted to your motherboard in total.
And what capacity or density of each ram module can be to be detected properly by the memory controller of your motherboard.
In each memory slot of the board.

Find that and post back if it says it can take the full capacity of memory you are trying to fit to the mother board.

The maximum memory my board supports is 32GB
my motherboard is MSI FM2-A75MA-E35
Link To MSI Site : http://www.msi.com/product/motherboard/FM2-A75MA-E35.html#hero-specification
Link To The Memory : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-BLS2C4G3D1609ES2LX0CEU-1600MHz-Ballistix-modules/dp/B00A14ZT6U

Also windows detects that 8GB is installed but only allows the use of 6GB and says 2GB hardware reserved but in my BIOS is shows 6GB of ram installed

 

[sizzling]

The stick that is showing as 2gb, what happens if you use it on its own or you swap the sockets?

 

[iH Xenon]

The stick that is showing as 2gb, what happens if you use it on its own or you swap the sockets?

if i put the 4GB stick in on its own it only shows 2GB installed within the BIOS. this is what lead me to believe that something is wrong with that stick

 

[iH Xenon]

Here is a screenshot of task manager.
It shows 8GB installed but BIOS shows 6GB installed. i have no clue what is wrong with it
http://s7.postimg.org/v7dqq5k2z/Windows_Task_Manager.png
Resource Monitor shows 8GB installed but my total memory 6GB
http://s15.postimg.org/rzpqx2rob/Resource_Monitor.png
I have run windows memory diagnostic tool and it did not find any error with either sticks