Question I have 24GB RAM installed but only 8GB is usable because 16GB is "Hardware Reserved" ?

[pratikmewada]

Hello Everyone!

My system Info:
Processor: AMD FX-8370
Motherboard: Gigabyte 970a-ds3p-rev 2.0
RAM installed: 24GB DDR3
Windows 10 64-bit

I had 16GB of RAM installed and working without any issues. I recently installed another 8GB RAM stick on my motherboard.
But, after installing that, my usable RAM dropped from 24GB to 8GB. I can only use 8GB of RAM
because "Hardware Reserved Memory" is 16GB ?

here are some screenshots:
CPU-Z
Resource Monitor
Task Manager

What to do in this situation?

Thanks,
Pratik

 

[helpstar]

reset the BIOS, eventually update the BIOS if available
reseat the RAM, exchange the modules to other slots of the motherboard
which other RAM is installed?

 

[boohoo2u]

Remove the extra 8GB ram stick to see if the full 16GB becomes available again.
Note that your CPU-Z is reporting "Single" channel when you should be going for "Dual" channel, which means all 4 memory slots should be used.

 

[pratikmewada]

Remove the extra 8GB ram stick to see if the full 16GB becomes available again.
Note that your CPU-Z is reporting "Single" channel when you should be going for "Dual" channel, which means all 4 memory slots should be used.

Yes, I removed the new 8 GB stick. It shows full 16GB.

I am not sure how to enable Dual Channel on this motherboard.
970a- ds3p Rev 2

 

[pratikmewada]

reset the BIOS, eventually update the BIOS if available
reseat the RAM, exchange the modules to other slots of the motherboard
which other RAM is installed?

Yes, I reset the BIOS. The BIOS version is already up to date.

I reseated all the RAM. All the RAMs are from a company name "Irvine"

 

[pratikmewada]

I actually bought two new 8 GB RAM stick.

I had an issue with the last slot. As soon as I inserted the RAM, I was getting black screen (No display, system is running).

I added the fourth RAM again just now and re-adjusted and reseated all the sticks.

Now the system is detecting all four RAMs (32GB) but still 16GB Hardware Reserved.

This is really confusing.

 

[COLGeek]

I actually bought two new 8 GB RAM stick.

I had an issue with the last slot. As soon as I inserted the RAM, I was getting black screen (No display, system is running).

I added the fourth RAM again just now and re-adjusted and reseated all the sticks.

Now the system is detecting all four RAMs (32GB) but 16GB Hardware reserved.

This is really confusing.

With all 4 sticks of memory installed, re-flash the BIOS with the most recent version again. This will often force the system to "re-train" itself afterward and resolve the problem.

Since all four sticks of memory were not sold as a set, you may not be able to run at their rated speeds. Make sure, however, that the two pairs are installed in the proper corresponding slots (your motherboard manual will tell you this information).

 

[boohoo2u]

Check again using CPU-Z that your 32GB ram is being reported as Dual Channel.
Dual channel in your case will be when slots 1 & 2 both have 8GB in them or all slots have 8GB in them. (see your manual for slot makeup).
Using slots 1, 2 and 3 or 1, 2 and 4 will only give Single Channel.

Also have a look at:
Start button, Run, MSconfig, Boot, Advance options: make sure Maximum memory is unticked.

 

[pratikmewada]

Check again using CPU-Z that your 32GB ram is being reported as Dual Channel.
Dual channel in your case will be when slots 1 & 2 both have 8GB in them or all slots have 8GB in them. (see your manual for slot makeup).
Using slots 1, 2 and 3 or 1, 2 and 4 will only give Single Channel.

Also have a look at:
Start button, Run, MSconfig, Boot, Advance options: make sure Maximum memory is unticked.

All the Slots have now RAM installed (8GB each) and CPU-Z is showing single channel.

is it possible that the new RAMs I purchased is a Single Channel Variant?

 

[pratikmewada]

With all 4 sticks of memory installed, re-flash the BIOS with the most recent version again. This will often force the system to "re-train" itself afterward and resolve the problem.

Since all four sticks of memory were not sold as a set, you may not be able to run at their rated speeds. Make sure, however, that the two pairs are installed in the proper corresponding slots (your motherboard manual will tell you this information).

I will try that and get back to you.

Thanks!

 

[COLGeek]

I will try that and get back to you.

Thanks!

Matching memory must be in the paired slots for dual channel use. In addition, mixing makes/models/revisions may actually prevent you from being able to use dual channel use.

This is why it is ALWAYS recommended to installed matched memory, sold as a set, for optimal performance.

 

[pratikmewada]

Matching memory must be in the paired slots for dual channel use. In addition, mixing makes/models/revisions may actually prevent you from being able to use dual channel use.

This is why it is ALWAYS recommended to installed matched memory, sold as a set, for optimal performance.

So, I re-flashed the BIOS as you suggested. No changes.
Still showing 16GB/32GB usable.

Yes. I have installed the RAM in appropriate slots.

In slot 1-3 New RAM Sticks.
In slot 2-4 Old RAM Sticks.

All 4 are from same company.

 

[COLGeek]

So, I re-flashed the BIOS as you suggested. No changes.
Still showing 16GB/32GB usable.

Yes. I have installed the RAM in appropriate slots.

In slot 1-3 New RAM Sticks.
In slot 2-4 Old RAM Sticks.

All 4 are from same company.

Same company means nothing, if not 100% matching.

Does all still show as single channel?

If only using a single matched pair, in the proper slots, does the memory operate as dual channel (try both pairs independently)?

 

[pratikmewada]

Same company means nothing, if not 100% matching.

Does all still show as single channel?

If only using a single matched pair, in the proper slots, does the memory operate as dual channel (try both pairs independently)?

Yes. CUP-Z still showing Single channel.

 

[COLGeek]

Yes. CUP-Z still showing Single channel.

This could very well be a byproduct of the mixed models of memory. I have personally seen this with two pairs of Corsair memory. Same product name. Same basic model. Different revisions.

Both pairs worked as expected when used by themselves. Adding the second pair caused ALL to operate in single channel mode and no amount of tweaking would resolve it.

Then again, I have also seen it work, as you are attempting. So results can be mixed.

Seems, however, that you are experiencing the first scenario. Not the second.