Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

The 'ol 8.00 GB of installed RAM/MEMORY but only 3.99 GB "usable"

Tags:
  • Windows 7
  • RAM
  • x86
  • Memory
Last response: in Memory
Share
March 15, 2014 10:01:23 PM

Yes...I know this question has been asked multiple times before...but I have tried everything to no avail :( 

Here is my system:

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
CPU: Intel i5 750 @ 2.67Ghz
Motherboard: MSI P55 GD65
Ram: G.Skill 4x 2gb 240-Pin DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) dual channel memory (8gb total)

BIOS shows 8gb of installed RAM, Task Manager shows 8gb installed RAM, Resource Manager shows 8gb installed RAM (but 4105mb is Hardware Reserved). Right-clicking My Computer > Properties shows "Installed Memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (3.99 GB usable)"

With all the research and other forums posts I found, I have:

- Tested all 4 ram sticks individually (before the G.Skill I had the same problem with 2 Kingston sticks of 2gb each - was 4gb installed, 1.99 usable)
- Unchecked maximum memory in msconfig.exe > BOOT > ADVANCED
- Updated BIOS to latest version (1.11 a.k.a 1.B0)
- Loaded BIOS optimized defaults
- Cleared CMOS and loaded optimized defaults again
- Tested memory with Windows Memory Diagnostics tool with no errors
- Removed CPU to check socket for bent pins...no bent pins...reseated CPU

I have not:

Enabled "Memory Remapping" in BIOS because I do not have that option available in BIOS

I did read this post about G.Skill ram: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=178019.0 and checked my ram settings and they are automatically already at the 9-9-9-24 timings, 1T command rate.

Yikes! What else is a man to do?

More about : installed ram memory usable

March 16, 2014 12:30:01 AM

look in the resource monitor at the memory at the far left it will say hardware reserved theres your .01 it should be gray liike 86mb
m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 16, 2014 12:49:10 AM

pls verify that your windows is 64 bit and not 32 bit
m
0
l
Related resources
March 16, 2014 11:16:32 AM

coolcole01 said:
look in the resource monitor at the memory at the far left it will say hardware reserved theres your .01 it should be gray liike 86mb


I think you misread the title of the post...what about the other 4gb?
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 11:18:04 AM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
pls verify that your windows is 64 bit and not 32 bit


Yes, this is a custom build I did myself. Definitely installed Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, just as the My Computer > Properties window states.
m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 16, 2014 1:20:03 PM

your heatsink could be to tight and pinching the memory channel
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 2:10:32 PM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
your heatsink could be to tight and pinching the memory channel


Hmmm...it's just the stock Intel CPU fan that came with the i5. No way to just loosen it. And from what I've read, CPU fans are supposed to be white tight to ensure proper cooling.

m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 16, 2014 2:27:48 PM

here is a forum thread with the proper answer
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/260642-29-tight-heats...
but you dont want the heatsink to tight because it has cause problems with memory channels
you dont want it loose though you want to tighten it down to where the cpu heatsink wont move but not to where you are torquing it down
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 3:11:54 PM

oopps i did if its missing and entire stick either its not seated correctly or the slot itself is not being powered correctly sorry
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 3:14:48 PM

coolcole01 said:
oopps i did if its missing and entire stick either its not seated correctly or the slot itself is not being powered correctly sorry


Each slot has been tested with a single stick of ram...all 4 slots work and read the proper amount of ram.

m
0
l
March 16, 2014 3:15:59 PM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
here is a forum thread with the proper answer
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/260642-29-tight-heats...
but you dont want the heatsink to tight because it has cause problems with memory channels
you dont want it loose though you want to tighten it down to where the cpu heatsink wont move but not to where you are torquing it down


Stock Intel CPU fans have a push & click mechanism (for the 4 pins/arms/claws). There is no way to loosen. It's either secure or not secure (on the CPU or off)

m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 16, 2014 3:18:01 PM

it isnt for all situations sometimes you can screw the thing in until the board almost cracks lol, but it has been known to cause mem channel issues if to tight on some boards and loosening the screws a turn could resolve the issue if it is one of those cases. othere than that it may be a weak mem controller in your cpu.
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 3:22:45 PM

I sure hope there is a solution to this, because I have the same problem.
m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 16, 2014 3:27:42 PM

im afraid you have a weak mem controller in your cpu or a bad mem channel
m
0
l
March 16, 2014 3:28:05 PM

You say it was happening with the other sticks so its probably the board but try putting the sticks in none dual channel mode also i had a friend who had a similar problem he tried holding the sticks with his hand at start up with a little pressure and it did recognize it right but still had to be rma'd
m
0
l
March 17, 2014 11:41:19 AM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
im afraid you have a weak mem controller in your cpu or a bad mem channel


Because all 4 sticks are recognized in each slot, individually, I don't see how it could be a bad memory channel. Seems to be the BIOS or Operating System is limiting the installed RAM (that they both see all of) somehow, for some reason. Would be nice if my BIOS had the "Memory Remapping" option to enable.
m
0
l
March 17, 2014 11:45:26 AM

coolcole01 said:
You say it was happening with the other sticks so its probably the board but try putting the sticks in none dual channel mode also i had a friend who had a similar problem he tried holding the sticks with his hand at start up with a little pressure and it did recognize it right but still had to be rma'd


Hmmm...the BIOS and the OS see all 4 sticks, though (and each stick installed alone) so I don't see how the motherboard could be the problem. I've actually had this build for 5 years and this is the only problem I've had over the years (had it from day 1 but just decided to live with it once I replaced the RAM and the problem continued after trying to fix it with all the solutions listed).

m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 17, 2014 2:47:27 PM

have you tried running in different dual channel setup... if you have in slots 1,3 put in 2,4 or vice versa

if this doesnt populate them try it in a single channel setup.... slots 1,2 or 3,4
m
0
l
March 17, 2014 8:20:03 PM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
have you tried running in different dual channel setup... if you have in slots 1,3 put in 2,4 or vice versa

if this doesnt populate them try it in a single channel setup.... slots 1,2 or 3,4


I stand corrected from my earlier comments (I had written down that each stick worked in each slot, individually, but these notes are from 5 years ago...so...however):

With only 1 stick installed (2gb), starting closest to CPU:

- Slot 2 (blue plastic slot): PC will not start, motherboard beeps 3 long beeps (ram error, from what I Googled)
- Slot 1 (black plastic slot): PC starts, 2gb read and usable by BIOS and OS
- Slot 4 (blue plastic slot): PC will not start, motherboard beeps 3 long beeps (ram error, from what I Googled)
- Slot 3 (black plastic slot): PC attempts to start (3 times, fans and lights start and then stop) and then it hangs (with fans and lights on but does not start)

Would I be right to assume my Slot 3 has been the problem all along? Or is the motherboard supposed to only start with 1 stick of ram in slot #1?

Also of note: since I first built this computer it has always took 3 attempted starts (fans and lights go and stop) to finally fire up (I know, I should have realized this red flag sooner and probably mentioned it).

Also of note: with 3 sticks installed - in slot 2,1,3 - the system reads all 6gb but only 3.99 usable by the OS again. Indicating, I would think, that only slot 2 and 1 are being used.
m
0
l
a b } Memory
March 17, 2014 8:35:53 PM

i would try a single channel setup see if you get all 8gbs to populate, in slots 1,2
then if it does try to use in slots 2,4
m
0
l
March 18, 2014 4:09:04 AM

Would definitely try slot 2 and 4 together
m
0
l
July 16, 2014 6:06:32 PM

Bad_Kitty13 said:
i would try a single channel setup see if you get all 8gbs to populate, in slots 1,2
then if it does try to use in slots 2,4


My apologies for the the very late response to this. I did not see that anyone responded to my last comment and now months later I'm back to trying to solve this problem (I'm a bit of a masochist I guess) and I looked up this old thread...

To answer your question/suggestion - when populating slot 2 only or slots 2 & 4 only, the computer does not start. It does 3 short beeps (indicating a RAM problem).

Should any PC boot with 1 RAM stick in any RAM slot? Or does 1 stick always have to be in the motherboards slot 1?
m
0
l
July 16, 2014 6:07:02 PM

coolcole01 said:
Would definitely try slot 2 and 4 together


My apologies for the the very late response to this. I did not see that anyone responded to my last comment and now months later I'm back to trying to solve this problem (I'm a bit of a masochist I guess) and I looked up this old thread...

To answer your question/suggestion - when populating slot 2 only or slots 2 & 4 only, the computer does not start. It does 3 short beeps (indicating a RAM problem).

Should any PC boot with 1 RAM stick in any RAM slot? Or does 1 stick always have to be in the motherboards slot 1?
m
0
l
!