Question Only Half RAM is usable. What gives?

[VanChester1234]

I recently installed the FX 8350 CPU inside my M5A99X EVO R.2 Motherboard.

I'm not quite sure but I feel that ever since then I've been having RAM issues. Then I noticed how only 3.9GB is usable out of 2x4GB Kingston Ram Modules.

What I have done since:
- I have updated BIOS to the latest version

- I have done Memtest86 with no errors

- I have tried the solution to uncheck the "Maximum memory" located at the boot menu of msconfig under "Advanced Options".

I am starting to think that since the install of the new CPU I might need to tinker with the voltage of the RAM modules but have never done so in the past.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

 

[Unolocogringo]

3.9 usable and 3.9 installed are 2 different things.
If you have 8 gig of ram windows occupies a portion of it, the programs you have running and open occupy memory space.
And finally windows will preload commonly used programs in memory for faster launching of that program, but can be reallocated at any time when needed.
Can you post a screen shot of task manager performance tab?

 

[VanChester1234]

3.9 usable and 3.9 installed are 2 different things.
If you have 8 gig of ram windows occupies a portion of it, the programs you have running and open occupy memory space.
And finally windows will preload commonly used programs in memory for faster launching of that program, but can be reallocated at any time when needed.
Can you post a screen shot of task manager performance tab?

https://imgur.com/MIOuZO3

View: https://imgur.com/MIOuZO3

 

[Karadjgne]

Where does it say there's only 4Gb usable. In windows task manager? Does it say that 8Gb is installed? Have you run cpu-z and seen if it'll pick up the full 8Gb? Or does task manager also say that 4Gb is hardware reserved?

 

[VanChester1234]

Where does it say there's only 4Gb usable. In windows task manager? Does it say that 8Gb is installed? Have you run cpu-z and seen if it'll pick up the full 8Gb? Or does task manager also say that 4Gb is hardware reserved?

Maximum memory in msconfig should be checked, not unchecked.

It says there are only 4gb available in the PC properties shown here:

https://imgur.com/ik6eqYZ

View: https://imgur.com/ik6eqYZ


CPU-Z says 8gb:

https://imgur.com/DFvCQdF

View: https://imgur.com/DFvCQdF


I have checked Max memory in msconfig but it did not change anything.

 

[Unolocogringo]

What slots are the modules installed in?
Are you running AMD's ram disk software?

 

[VanChester1234]

What slots are the modules installed in?
Are you running AMD's ram disk software?

RAM Modules are in slots 2 and 4
Never heard of AMD's ram disk software and not running it. Should I? is the free version sufficient?

 

[Karadjgne]

If you look at the bottom right line in task manager: Hardware reserved: 4Gb.

You have 8Gb installed, it's all there, but windows has blocked 4Gb from your usage.

You can try reseating the ram, and try using slots #1, #3 instead. You don't have an igpu on that cpu, so that shouldn't be relative, but in bios, look anyways.

Last resort would be to pull the cpu and look to see if any of the pins underneath are bent or if there's thermal paste slopped over the side and has interfered with the socket.

 

[Unolocogringo]

No I thought it might be the problem. It allowed people with 8 gigs of ram on 32 bit systems to use 4 gigs as a ram disk for page file and fast scratch disk for editing.

 

[VanChester1234]

If you look at the bottom right line in task manager: Hardware reserved: 4Gb.

You have 8Gb installed, it's all there, but windows has blocked 4Gb from your usage.

You can try reseating the ram, and try using slots #1, #3 instead. You don't have an igpu on that cpu, so that shouldn't be relative, but in bios, look anyways.

Last resort would be to pull the cpu and look to see if any of the pins underneath are bent or if there's thermal paste slopped over the side and has interfered with the socket.

I moved RAM modules from slots #2-4 to #1-3 and it did change something.
now on PC properties it shows 6.92GB available instead of the 3.9GB

screenshot of PC properties:

https://imgur.com/SU8zdaq

View: https://imgur.com/SU8zdaq


Screenshot of Task manager:

https://imgur.com/4tnrYyn

View: https://imgur.com/4tnrYyn


weird how the slot position really did do a difference.

I have verified thermal paste application and all is neat and as it should be. No bent pins on the CPU form my visual inspection.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Alright looks like a windows registry /bios problem.
Take both sticks out.
Boot computer. You should get a few beeps stating no memory.
Shut down.
Install one stick in slot 2.
Boot computer. It should boot with 4 gig reported.
Shut down. Install second stick in slot 4 and boot.
this should boot to windows with 8 gig ram no hardware reserved.

 

[Karadjgne]

I'd suggest you not use windows shutdown. Just hold the power button for 5 or so seconds and hard shutdown. This bypasses cmos and forces the pc to go through a full bios startup and hardware recognition search. Windows shutdown saves bios info in the cmos, so skips everything and loads prior data in an attempt to fastboot.

 

[VanChester1234]

Alright looks like a windows registry /bios problem.
Take both sticks out.
Boot computer. You should get a few beeps stating no memory.
Shut down.
Install one stick in slot 2.
Boot computer. It should boot with 4 gig reported.
Shut down. Install second stick in slot 4 and boot.
this should boot to windows with 8 gig ram no hardware reserved.

Sorry for the long delay as I was not physically with the computer and exams were in.

this is what I have done:

• removed both ram modules and powered on the system
• shut down, installed 1 ram module into slot 1 ---> 4gb shows up on my pc properties with all 4gb usable
• shut down, installed 2nd ram module into slot 3 ---> 8gb shows up on my pc properties with 6.92gb usable

 

[VanChester1234]

I'd suggest you not use windows shutdown. Just hold the power button for 5 or so seconds and hard shutdown. This bypasses cmos and forces the pc to go through a full bios startup and hardware recognition search. Windows shutdown saves bios info in the cmos, so skips everything and loads prior data in an attempt to fastboot.

Hello and thank you for your response. I appologies for the delay.

I have tried this method but without success. I have also tried to shut down by powering off the power supply with no success.

 

[Karadjgne]

Slots 1+3 as in A1/B1. Did you try 2+4 (A2/B2)? as those are usually recognised as primary gate in the cpu.

 

[VanChester1234]

Slots 1+3 as in A1/B1. Did you try 2+4 (A2/B2)? as those are usually recognised as primary gate in the cpu.

Hey,

I have switched from Slots 1-3 to slots 2-4. still shows up at 6.92gb usable unfortunately

 

[VanChester1234]

@Karadjgne any ideas? still the same after many windows updates and all the mentioned solutions tried above.

Thank you.

 

[Karadjgne]

7Gb usable out of 8Gb is pretty normal. There's going to be some ram that's reserved for direct pc usage etc. The 7Gb usable is what Windows has to work with. Part of that 1Gb you think you are missing is hibernation, himem.sys, hiberfil.sys, hardware reserved etc.

With just 4Gb showing up in slots 1-3, and the full 8Gb showing up in 2-4, you have 2 possible issues to begin with. Either the mobo slots have failed (finally) or there's an issue with the Northbridge chipset, but right now you have 8Gb recognised, 7Gb usable by you/windows out of a possible 8Gb.

 

[VanChester1234]

@Karadjgne thank you for your input. I actually just performed the most recent windows update and after all this time, this is what solved it!

Thank you both @Karadjgne and @Unolocogringo for your help