Help, RAM problems. New memory is not usable! (8GB installed, 3.98GB usable)

[VAATRI]

Hello, so i've been reading about this issue a lot, and theres always different solutions and i still didnt find one for my problem. So i installed additional RAM, 4gb on my existing 4gb, and windows says i have 8GB but only 3.98 usable and in Resource monitor it shows that 4 gigs are "Hardware reserved" (screenshots http://prntscr.com/ddjj6k and http://prntscr.com/ddjji4)

Things i've done:
Did "Mdsched" check and it said no errors.
Unchecked "maximum memory" in msconfig>boot>advanced
I installed CPU-Z so i can screenshot you if you need to see some details, cuz im not expert.
In Bios Ram is set to work on 1600. But it does tell me that its working in SINGLE channel.

This is the PS config:
Processor:
AMD FX-6300 Vishera 6-Core 3.5 GHz

Motherboard:
ASRock 960GM-VGS3 FX (Chipset SB750/SB710)

RAM type:
Silicon Power DDR3-1600 / PC3-12800 DDR3 (product number/model SP004GBVTU160N02)

Graphics card:
AMD Radeon R7 260

I also read some stuff on internet like people suggesting clearing Bios/CMOS and/or updating bios but i dont want to do it before i research more cuz i read that doing these things can harm my PC maybe so im worried since im not expert.

Thats all, excuse me for my english mistakes since its not my native

 

[thehutti]

Hi there is another thread on this forum that solves this problem for a similar mainboard: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2736121/4gb-ram-system-reserved.html

 

[MeanMachine41]

What is your OS VAATRI ?

32-bit versions of Windows have low memory limits. The maximum amount of RAM supported by a 32-bit version of Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP is 4 GB. if you have more than 4 GB of memory, you’ll need a 64-bit version of Windows to take advantage of it.

 

[VAATRI]

My OS is Win 7 Ultimate 64bit...

I guess i will try with BIOS update, although im not sure if i will do it right...

 

[MeanMachine41]

My OS is Win 7 Ultimate 64bit...

I guess i will try with BIOS update, although im not sure if i will do it right...

You update your Bios with Instant Flash utility in the Advanced section of Bios.
Download the Bios file to an empty USB stick that is formatted to fat32 from here: http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/960GM-VGS3%20FX/?cat=Download
Instructions are on page 40 in your MB manual.
It will not harm your computer however do not switch power off during Bios flash is your main risk.

 

[VAATRI]

My OS is Win 7 Ultimate 64bit...

I guess i will try with BIOS update, although im not sure if i will do it right...

You update your Bios with Instant Flash utility in the Advanced section of Bios.
Download the Bios file to an empty USB stick that is formatted to fat32 from here: http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/960GM-VGS3%20FX/?cat=Download
Instructions are on page 40 in your MB manual.
It will not harm your computer however do not switch power off during Bios flash is your main risk.

Will do later today (no time right now) and i will post updates on the situation.

 

[VAATRI]

Ok so i updated BIOS, checked RAM still not fixed, went back to BIOS set up RAM OC back to 1600 and adjusted timings (previosuly saw them in cpu-z) to 11-11-11-28-39 but still not fixed... Still says its in single channel mode.

Here is one more screenshot where it seems to recognize my 8gb of ram but not using i all... http://prntscr.com/ddm7nx

 

[MeanMachine41]

Hmm, I checked and your RAM is not listed on the ASRock QVL having been tested in conjunction with your MB. I can only find a tested kit at 1333MHz. The board does however support 1600MHz.
Try to up the DRAM Voltage in Bios to 1.5V then try 1.65V and see if that works.
If not then switch them out to a kit listed on the MB QVL.
If the DIMMs are installed into the two slots for dual channel and a new kit does not work then the MB is suspect.

 

[VAATRI]

Well it was on 1.5V all the time... I could try on 1.65V but is that safe to do since its recommended on 1.5?

Unfortunatly i dont have another pair of rams to try out and i cant afford to buy it right now, since i bought this one, i cant check mb that way... :/

 

[MeanMachine41]

Well it was on 1.5V all the time... I could try on 1.65V but is that safe to do since its recommended on 1.5?

Unfortunatly i dont have another pair of rams to try out and i cant afford to buy it right now, since i bought this one, i cant check mb that way... :/

Try it .05V at a time. Some ram does require up to 1.65V and should be OK to test.
Most decent suppliers will exchange them if they don't work. You can always say they don't work because you tested them with Memtest86+ from a USB stick and they failed. You should run the test anyhow to check.