New CPU and now half the RAM? What do i need to change to get the full amount again

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

I bought a new cpu (AMD Athlon X4 860K Quad-Core 3.7GHz) to replace my old one and now my computer has only 4gb of ram when before it had about 6 avaliable of a total of 8 from 2 4gb ddr3 ram sticks.

When i check the bios screen on startup it recognises that i have 2 4gb sticks but says i only have 4gb total ram, in windows it doesnt seem to even recognise i have the 2nd stick.

here is some other info which may help
motherboard
Asus A78M-A Micro ATX FM2+
operating system
windows 7 64 bit 3 month trial

one thing i am suspicious of is i downloaded java to test what games i can play via systems lab and it downloaded a 32 bit version.

eatmypie · Mar 13, 2015

Right click computer>Click properties>look where it says system>look for where it says system type and it will either say 32bit or 64

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

it says 64, i ran the re-check thing as well and still says 64.

i also re set the cpu and changed the slots for the sticks, going to restart now after a load of updates from microsoft, doubt it will fix this problem though

eatmypie · Mar 13, 2015

Did you also replace the motherboard with the processor?

Vic 40 · Mar 13, 2015

Look at msconfig->tab boot->advanced options,see if max. memory is unchecked.
You can also check the bios for the setting "memory remapping",see if that is enabled.
You could even reset the bios to optimal default values,see what that does.

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

motherboard is the same, should match with the new chip.

i checked the msconfig before and it was unchecked, i manually put in the 8gb and it then reset it to 0 with the box still checked, i think i'll just leave it unchecked.
i also tried the optimal thing the bios but it didnt change anything, i'll try and find the memory remapping as dont recall seeing it last time i checked.

Vic 40 · Mar 13, 2015

The motherboard has the latest bios?

Bakhus Mps · Mar 13, 2015

If you are using the internal GPU of the CPU, this might take ram for better gaming performance. Go in BIOS and check how much it has assigned to the onboard GPU

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

it did with the last cpu, and it automatically downloaded drivers for current new cpu. i will check anyway as i'm out of ideas and the computer is so slow now.

i couldnt find anything like memory re mapping in the bios unfortunately and looked at everything

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

Bakhus Mps :

no, got an r7 graphics card, not sure this cpu has on board graphics anyway

Bakhus Mps · Mar 13, 2015

then I'm out of ideas....

EDIT one more, if you havent checked:

open a Run window, type msconfig, go to boot, then advanced and check if max memory is set to 0

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

here is pretty much all the system info

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name JOHN-PC
System Manufacturer System manufacturer
System Model System Product Name
System Type x64-based PC
Processor AMD Athlon(tm) X4 860K Quad Core Processor, 3700 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 0701, 01/04/2014
SMBIOS Version 2.7
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume5
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7601.17514"
User Name John-PC\John
Time Zone GMT Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 3.94 GB
Available Physical Memory 1.32 GB
Total Virtual Memory 7.88 GB
Available Virtual Memory 4.64 GB
Page File Space 3.94 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

not sure what the virtual memory at almost 8gb is about

eatmypie · Mar 13, 2015

I really doubt your problem is within the OS. I'm pretty sure it has something to do within the bios or your memory malfunctioning for whatever

jazzzola · Mar 13, 2015

i re arranged the ram a few times and now it says i have potentially 8gb (on system info page) but still only 4 being used (according to task manager). i give up for now but making progress at least

eatmypie · Mar 13, 2015

Did you check your bios to see if your motherboard is still trying to barrow memory for the graphics? I know you have a 860k now but I'm guessing you had an apu with graphics running off it as well. Bios should of switched that part off but you never know.

Vic 40 · Mar 14, 2015

jazzzola :

It seems you don't have the latest bios and not even the one (1001) that supports that cpu.The latest even even provides more stability with that cpu,

A78M-A BIOS 1301
Improve stability with CPU Athlon X4 860K.

Update the bios with the former cpu and see how it goes.

jazzzola · Mar 14, 2015

i updated the bios but still only half the ram being used even when all is recognized. slightly more serious problems though as fan and temperature seem to be higher than usual, i'm no expert on this stuff though so cant tell if its a major problem.
Also every time i shut down it says its waiting for other programs to close, sometimes doesn't even bother after half an hour so i need to hold down the power button, and sometimes doesn't turn on requiring me to turn it off and on again.
Non of this was a problem with the previous cpu

eatmypie · Mar 14, 2015

Your memory and cpu might not be playing nice with one another, try running memtest86 and let me know if it gives you any errors. I can help you tune your memory a little bit to try to fix the issue

jazzzola · Mar 14, 2015

eatmypie :

i ran the memtests once and it took 9 hours with the fan on max by the sound of it, apparently temperature was about 62 somethings (not sure if Celsius). No errors but same problems, recognises 2 ram sticks but doesnt add the ram together.

when i tried to restart it took about 6 attempts, maybe because of overheating after the tests. i will try the old cpu tomorrow if this one doesn't improve and i'm sure it will be fine.

jazzzola · Mar 14, 2015

i think i may have found the problem although its not one i anticipated. it seems the cpu is compatible with ram at 2133 and i have it at 1600.

is this a noob error on my part? it also says it runs sdram which i assume is something i'll need to look into.

Bakhus Mps · Mar 15, 2015

2133 ram auto downgrades to 1600

jazzzola · Mar 15, 2015

just tried playing morrowind for the first time with this cpu, the fan started going crazy and i could feel the heat from the computer. that never happened with the old cpu.

think i'll just stick to the old cpu and keep this one as backup or something.

Vic 40 · Mar 15, 2015

No bent pins on the new cpu?

jazzzola · Mar 15, 2015

i dont think so. would it not say there is an error if that was the case?

i cant remember where i found it at the moment but there was a feature in windows showing performance of the ram and it kept saying there was a few errors every second, i'll try and find it again in case its significant

update
it was in computer management - performance manager
in memory it has a section cache faults per second which sometimes reaches 200.000

eatmypie · Mar 15, 2015

Increase your NB voltage by +.1 and see if it helps, normally if you call any company like g.skill or corsair about memory for an amd system that is the first thing that they have you do.

New CPU and now half the RAM? What do i need to change to get the full amount again

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