[SOLVED] RAM not recognized on Task Manager

[cordeirooo]

I have 4 sticks of RAM for a total of 24GB of RAM, but sometimes when I boot and check the Task Manager, it only shows 11GB*. It SEEMS like the PC is only recognizing these 11GB instead of the full 24GB, because it's slower - or so it seems. I'm not sure where is the fault because CPU-Z DOES see the four sticks.
If I reboot, most of the time it corrects to 24GB.

Already messed with the voltages on BIOS but it keeps happening.

Any idea what's going on?

Task Manager:


CPU-Z:


MOBO: SaberTooth 990FX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz


* I just now realized it also shows 20GB on the top right corner, wtf. I'm lost.

 

[Nemesia]

Is this new RAM you added or did this issue just started?

 

[Third-Eye]

I have 4 sticks of RAM for a total of 24GB of RAM, but sometimes when I boot and check the Task Manager, it only shows 11GB*. It SEEMS like the PC is only recognizing these 11GB instead of the full 24GB, because it's slower - or so it seems. I'm not sure where is the fault because CPU-Z DOES see the four sticks.
If I reboot, most of the time it corrects to 24GB.

Already messed with the voltages on BIOS but it keeps happening.

Any idea what's going on?

Task Manager:


CPU-Z:


MOBO: SaberTooth 990FX
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 1600MHz


* I just now realized it also shows 20GB on the top right corner, wtf. I'm lost.

You are running your ram in single channel mode, which tells me you have not staggered the modules correctly across all four slots and this may be the cause of some of your issues. It should be one module per kit in one slot per channel and would be 4GB/8GB/4/8 in that order. Also, you can't really expect two or more different kits to work together without issues unless you tweak the ram settings.

 

[cordeirooo]

Unfortunately I'm seeing this issue for at least 7 years. When I had free slots, I tried seating the RAM with different setups but it still happens.
I might add that this is occasional, hence my unsureness on the cause, and most of the times when I reboot the Task Manager shows the correct amount.

Another question, related: which one is the 'true' RAM being used? The amount shown on TM or CPU-Z?

 

[cordeirooo]

You are running your ram in single channel mode, which tells me you have not staggered the modules correctly across all four slots and this may be the cause of some of your issues. It should be one module per kit in one slot per channel and would be 4GB/8GB/4/8 in that order. Also, you can't really expect two or more different kits to work together without issues unless you tweak the ram settings.

Excellent points, but they are seated as you stated: 4/8/4/8. They are actually 3 different kits, though, might be why it's single channel.
I don't expect them to work perfectly, sure, but I came here to ask what to do (and if there is anything to do).

 

[Third-Eye]

Excellent points, but they are seated as you stated: 4/8/4/8. They are actually 3 different kits, though, might be why it's single channel.
I don't expect them to work perfectly, sure, but I came here to ask what to do (and if there is anything to do).

Check the capacity of each module in the drop down box in CPU-Z SPD tab, list the part number for each kit as well as the highest XMP setting or upload screenshots.

Edit - I should add that it;s possible your CPU or the motheroard are faulty. Apin might have broken off and is connecting sometimes in the socket which is super not good. The motherboard may just have some faulty components or some other issue that happened over the years.

 

[Unolocogringo]

Pitfalls of mixing ram.

How To - Troubleshooting problems with PC memory (RAM) and XMP profile configurations

In the beginning, there was......BIOS Before you go ANY further, go to the manufacturer product page for your specific motherboard model AND revision. Revision is an important aspect because for any given motherboard there may be more than one version of that model which will be identified...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[cordeirooo]

Pitfalls of mixing ram.

How To - Troubleshooting problems with PC memory (RAM) and XMP profile configurations

In the beginning, there was......BIOS Before you go ANY further, go to the manufacturer product page for your specific motherboard model AND revision. Revision is an important aspect because for any given motherboard there may be more than one version of that model which will be identified...

forums.tomshardware.com

Gonna check it out. Thank you!

Check the capacity of each module in the drop down box in CPU-Z SPD tab, list the part number for each kit as well as the highest XMP setting or upload screenshots.

Edit - I should add that it;s possible your CPU or the motheroard are faulty. Apin might have broken off and is connecting sometimes in the socket which is super not good. The motherboard may just have some faulty components or some other issue that happened over the years.

It is possible the motherboard or the CPU is faulty, you might be on point here. It is old and sometimes I had to unseat/seat the CPU.

When I get all the RAM to be recognized by TM, it shows as Dual Channel on CPU-Z:


On the capacity, XMP and Number for each slot.
Slot #1 (A1):

Slot #2 (B1):

Slot #3 (A2):

Slot #4 (B2):

 

[Nemesia]

Your RAM is in the wrong slot.

Slot 1 and Slot 3 is one Dual Channel. Slot 2 and 4 is the other

At the moment it's 4-4-8-8. Should be 4-8-4-8 or 8-4-8-4.

 

[Third-Eye]

Gonna check it out. Thank you!


It is possible the motherboard or the CPU is faulty, you might be on point here. It is old and sometimes I had to unseat/seat the CPU.

When I get all the RAM to be recognized by TM, it shows as Dual Channel on CPU-Z:


On the capacity, XMP and Number for each slot.
Slot #1 (A1):

Slot #2 (B1):

Slot #3 (A2):

Slot #4 (B2):

As Nemesia stated, you have your modules in the wrong slots and not staggered as you said they were. Slots 2/4 should be the mismatched 2x8GB and your 2x4GB kit should be in slots1/3. The timings should also be using CL10 and not CL9 since the lowest end module is CL10. All 4 modules will work at 1333 CL9 though.

 

[cordeirooo]

Will set the latency to 10. Damn, such a rookie mistake. 😑


The manual for the mobo says dual channel is A+B. They are seated as such:




Also, if they weren't, wouldn't CPU-Z show as single channel?

 

[Third-Eye]

The manual for the mobo says dual channel is A+B. They are seated as such:




Also, if they weren't, wouldn't CPU-Z show as single channel?

Well the issue was you had shown a screenshot with CPU-Z saying single channel with one module not functioning. Next time one module isn't working or ram is missing, check CPU-Z to see which slot(s0 is missing to narrow down the issue. For now, I would take all the modules out and only use the 2x8GB and see how they work in A2 B2. You may not even need more than 16GB of ram if it's just for gaming.

 

[Nemesia]

Slot 1 is A1. Slot 2 is A2. Slot 3 is B1. Slot 4 is B2.

Something is wrong here. Slot 1 and Slot 3 should be the 8GB and Slot 2 and 4 the 4GB.

 

[cordeirooo]

Exactly. That is the crux of the situation as I tried to explain in the OP: sometimes it shows 11GB (first post, images) and if I reboot it recognizes the rest (later post, images).
CPU-Z always sees all RAM (whether Task Manager is showing 11GB or 24GB), but as single channel when is the first case and dual when all RAM shows up on TM.

It's quite frustrating to keep rebooting the PC, but is not the end of the world. I'll change the latency and see if it helps, then tackle the tutorial from Darkbreeze.

 

[Nemesia]

That headache can be easily fixed by just not mixing your RAM.

What happens if your put the 2 8GB sticks in A2-B2? The second and fourth slot starting from the CPU side. Does Windows recognize all 16GB in Dual Channel?

If yes then please do not put back the 4GB sticks but since your 2 8GB stick are different it might now even work either with the 2 8GB sticks.

In the future if you want 16GB of RAM you buy a 2x8GB sticks RAM Kit. If you want 32GB you buy a 2x16GB RAM Kit and you remove any RAM not from that kit installed.

 

[cordeirooo]

Yes, surely you understand I bought these at different points in time. I looked for the same RAMs, but failing to find those, I had to purchase whatever was closer to the first 2.
In an ideal world, I would never mix my RAM, unfortunately that is not the case. If I had the money to buy them all together at first, I would.

I tried the A2-B2 configuration with just the 8GB and at first it showed 16GB, dual channel. I reset a few times and it still shows 16GB, but I can't be sure it fixed the issue, since sometimes I go a whole month without the 11GB showing on TM.

Also, should I trust the Task Manager over CPU-Z? The latter always shows the total amount of RAM and in their respective slots, even when TM is showing 11GB available. My experience with it being slower in those cases could be just confirmation bias.

 

[Third-Eye]

Yes, surely you understand I bought these at different points in time. I looked for the same RAMs, but failing to find those, I had to purchase whatever was closer to the first 2.
In an ideal world, I would never mix my RAM, unfortunately that is not the case. If I had the money to buy them all together at first, I would.

I tried the A2-B2 configuration with just the 8GB and at first it showed 16GB, dual channel. I reset a few times and it still shows 16GB, but I can't be sure it fixed the issue, since sometimes I go a whole month without the 11GB showing on TM.

Also, should I trust the Task Manager over CPU-Z? The latter always shows the total amount of RAM and in their respective slots, even when TM is showing 11GB available. My experience with it being slower in those cases could be just confirmation bias.

When it's showing 11GB and single channel mode, it means one of your memory channel is at fault and not working. So the issue has to be either the CPU pins or the motherboard has a fault. I would take theCPU out and check the pins for damage.

 

[cordeirooo]

Indeed a pin on the CPU was bent, I thought it wouldn't even work in such cases.
I tried to straighten it out, wasn't perfect, but hopefully solves the issue.