Ram unusable in windows rabbit hole

[Ramdude1]

I have a real toughie here.

So I got a used mobo and cpu ga970a ud3p fx6300. I decided to face my fears and replace my motherboard. Everything went well until I booted windows and saw out out my 8g of ram only 4 was usable....

First thing I tried was msconfig boot options made sure max mem was unchecked. Then again about 8x

Ok so I then rearranged the ram every way thinkable and learned that ram slots 3 and 4 were not working in windows but they read as installed in BIOS and CPUZ.

Slots 1 and 2 no problem in windows. Very strange..
Slots 1 and 3 are and 2 and 4 are the ones recommended in manual for dual channel.
Computer will not boot without a stick in slot 1.

I then thought this must be an OS problem so I contacted Microsoft and after an hour of remote assistance the tech guaranteed it was a software issue and told me to reinstall Windows.
So I did and no luck.
So I talk to Microsoft techs again for hours. (who were really really nice by the way and tried their hardest thank you guys) They were baffled and told me to contact Gigabyte because it has something to do with BIOS

The only change I made in Bios was to use optimized default settings.
I talk to Gigabyte guy and he said if the board reads the ram as installed the board is fine it must be CPU related..

So today I take the CPU out carefully examine it and no broken or bent pins. Re seat it. No luck.

Woohoo what a great time. Building computers sure is fun hey guys?

So what I am going to do now as my swan song grand finale is to run Prime 95 to test CPU and see what that info tells me. BUT if you think you are the smartest person in the room please speak up. Any info would be appreciated.

WARNING: I have combed forums for info, computer tech chat sites, I have talked to Microsoft techs, Gigabyte people, AMD people, multiple IT professionals and I have not come to a solution. I would like to hear other opinions and I would like there to be a record of this in case anyone else suffers with this horrible rabbit hole I have been running down

 

[Ramdude1]

Btw windows 7 64 bit

 

[rgd1101]

What is the exact model of the ram? was it a kit or 2 individual stick?

 

[Rhinofart]

Have you run MemTestx86 on the sticks of RAM? Are the RAM chips all the same? All running at same speed? Have you tried installing a CD Bootable OS like Ubuntu, TAILS, KALI or anything like that to ensure those OSes see all the RAM? And you did do a Load BIOS Defaults, save, and reboot from within the BIOS?

 

[Ramdude1]

the ram is 2x 2gb kingston 1333mh cl9 1.5v I have tested it in 1 and 2 works fine. I have not tried the memtest86 but I did try some games with it installed in 1 and 2 no stability issues. I guess I should try that?

 

[Ramdude1]

I have only tried to re install windows. I have not tried ubuntu talis or kali. I figure no matter what that tells me I am stuck in the same boat no? Rhinofart rgd1101?

 

[Ramdude1]

Have you run MemTestx86 on the sticks of RAM? Are the RAM chips all the same? All running at same speed? Have you tried installing a CD Bootable OS like Ubuntu, TAILS, KALI or anything like that to ensure those OSes see all the RAM? And you did do a Load BIOS Defaults, save, and reboot from within the BIOS?

I have only tried to re install windows. I have not tried ubuntu talis or kali. I figure no matter what that tells me I am stuck in the same boat no?

 

[Rhinofart]

If the other OSes tell you same thing, then there is something wrong with the RAM, or BIOS settings. If Ubuntu, or TAILS tells you it sees the whole 8Gb, then you have an issue with your Windows Install.
What is the Version of Windows you are running? There are OS versions that do only see a certain amount of RAM regardless of if it's 64Bit or 32Bit.

 

[Ramdude1]

If the other OSes tell you same thing, then there is something wrong with the RAM, or BIOS settings. If Ubuntu, or TAILS tells you it sees the whole 8Gb, then you have an issue with your Windows Install.
What is the Version of Windows you are running? There are OS versions that do only see a certain amount of RAM regardless of if it's 64Bit or 32Bit.

Windows 7 Home premium 64. Even if it tells me there is something wrong with my windows install what do I do? Reinstall it? I tried that. What if its something to do with my bios? There are no changes to be made in BIOS. What changes to make? I am not trying to be negative or anything I just want to figure this out.

 

[Ramdude1]

Is it normal that when using 2x2gb ram single channnel in windows only 3.25 are usable? If I torture the cpu in prime 95 will this tell me if this is a cpu related issue? Thanks for the info guys I am a total newbie to this.

 

[Ramdude1]

Have you run MemTestx86 on the sticks of RAM? Are the RAM chips all the same? All running at same speed? Have you tried installing a CD Bootable OS like Ubuntu, TAILS, KALI or anything like that to ensure those OSes see all the RAM? And you did do a Load BIOS Defaults, save, and reboot from within the BIOS?

Yes I saved and booted from BIOS with optimized defaults multiple times

 

[GhislainG]

Is it normal that when using 2x2gb ram single channnel in windows only 3.25 are usable? If I torture the cpu in prime 95 will this tell me if this is a cpu related issue? Thanks for the info guys I am a total newbie to this.

Yes. Do you have 2 kits (4 modules) for a total of 8 GB?

 

[Rhinofart]

Are you absolutely sure you have the 64 Bit version?
Version Limit in 32-bit Windows Limit in 64-bit Windows
Windows 7 Professional 4 GB 192 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium 4 GB 16 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic 4 GB 8 GB
Windows 7 Starter 2 GB 2 GB

 

[Rhinofart]

Is it normal that when using 2x2gb ram single channnel in windows only 3.25 are usable? If I torture the cpu in prime 95 will this tell me if this is a cpu related issue? Thanks for the info guys I am a total newbie to this.

Are you using a CPU with built in Video? If so, then yes, seeing some of it set aside from the 4Gb is normal. That would mean that 512Mb is assigned to Graphics Memory.
Edit: Forgot to mention. Prime 95 Will torture the CPU itself, not necessarily the Memory Controller portion of the processor.

 

[GhislainG]

Is it normal that when using 2x2gb ram single channnel in windows only 3.25 are usable? If I torture the cpu in prime 95 will this tell me if this is a cpu related issue? Thanks for the info guys I am a total newbie to this.

Are you using a CPU with built in Video? If so, then yes, seeing some of it set aside from the 4Gb is normal. That would mean that 512Mb is assigned to Graphics Memory.

The FX-6300 doesn't include internal graphics.

 

[Ramdude1]

Is it normal that when using 2x2gb ram single channnel in windows only 3.25 are usable? If I torture the cpu in prime 95 will this tell me if this is a cpu related issue? Thanks for the info guys I am a total newbie to this.

Yes. Do you have 2 kits (4 modules) for a total of 8 GB?

Yes but I only have 2 sticks in now. I have 2 separate kits both kits work in 1 and 2 slots together and mixed.

 

[Ramdude1]

Are you absolutely sure you have the 64 Bit version?
Version Limit in 32-bit Windows Limit in 64-bit Windows
Windows 7 Professional 4 GB 192 GB
Windows 7 Home Premium 4 GB 16 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic 4 GB 8 GB
Windows 7 Starter 2 GB 2 GB

absolutely 100% genuine windows 7 home premium 64 bit

 

[GhislainG]

Either kit works fine in slots 1 and 2, but then you have issues when you add modules in slots 3 and 4 for a total of 8 GB? What happens if you install a third module in slot 3 or 4 (memory will be in single channel mode, but the OS should detect and use 6 GB)? The memory controller is on the CPU; therefore you need to determine if that's where the issue is.

 

[Rhinofart]

OK. Hmmm. Have you underclocked the system at all to see if the RAM is picked up at a lower speed? Can you dial back the RAM speed in BIOS a bit as well? And we have confirmed they are matching pairs I believe. I would really like to see if Ubuntu, Tails, or Kali see the whole 8Gb when you boot up from one of those. Just download the ISO, burn it, and boot from it. You don't have to install it onto your HD, just boot from the CD WITHOUT the option of installing.

 

[Ramdude1]

Either kit works fine in slots 1 and 2, but then you have issues when you add modules in slots 3 and 4 for a total of 8 GB? What happens if you install a third module in slot 3 or 4 (memory will be in single channel mode, but the OS should detect and use 6 GB)? The memory controller is on the CPU; therefore you need to determine if that's where the issue is.

Yes slots 3 and 4 are not usable in windows if i use both or either 3 and 4 - 6 or 8 gb. Again all ram configurations are read as installed in BIOS and cpuz

 

[GhislainG]

It will show in teh BIOS even if it's defective (controller or memory). Does Memtest86+ see all 8 GB?

 

[Ramdude1]

It will show in teh BIOS even if it's defective (controller or memory). Does Memtest86+ see all 8 GB?

Interesting. I will run a memtest with all 8 sticks installed. Will it tell me whether it is a problem with mobo or with the cpu? How will I know what part is defective?

 

[Ramdude1]

OK. Hmmm. Have you underclocked the system at all to see if the RAM is picked up at a lower speed? Can you dial back the RAM speed in BIOS a bit as well? And we have confirmed they are matching pairs I believe. I would really like to see if Ubuntu, Tails, or Kali see the whole 8Gb when you boot up from one of those. Just download the ISO, burn it, and boot from it. You don't have to install it onto your HD, just boot from the CD WITHOUT the option of installing.

What would be the setting for the ram speed that you would try in BIOS? Yes 2 different pairs. Both tested working in this mobo in slots 1 and 2.. I tried mixing them in 1 and 2 also worked. Can you do a USB boot with ubuntu?

 

[Ramdude1]

If you guys were trying to decipher whether a ram problem existed in the mobo or CPU. How would you figure that one out?

 

[Rhinofart]

Take your 2 Ram sticks you know work well in slots 1 & 2. Move them over to slots 3 & 4 and see if they work in there. If they work in there, then we know it's NOT your RAM slots on the Motherboard. It would be something to do with the CPU / Memory Controller. BIOS sees 8GB of RAM, but OS doesn't. Try a different OS to see if it's the OS that doesn't see the RAM. If that other OS doesn't see the RAM then you know for sure it's a CPU / Memory Controller problem. If the other OS does see the full 8 GB of RAM, then you know for sure you have an OS issue. I've told you to try a different (temporary os) quite a long time ago. In the time since I first suggested it, you could have had it downloaded, and the ISO burned to a CD and booted off of it.
Yes, you can do a USB boot with Ubuntu, TAILS, and Kali. Just follow the instructions on creating a bootable USB drive for whichever distro you choose, and go for it.