Two 2 GB ddr2 ram sticks installed. But only shows 2.75 GB installed memory on my computer.

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

Hello,

I've come across a problem while building a second pc with old parts.
I installed Two 2 GB DDR2 ram sticks on my motherboard but my computer properties, Dxdiag and BIOS shows that i have only 2.75 GB installed.

Yes I've seen a lot of similar threads but my problem is different. It does not show
"Installed Memory: 4 GB (2.75 GB usable)"

OS isn't a problem either since its Win 8.1 Pro.
I would greatly appreciate any and every attempt to help so please feel free to post.

Im guessing my motherboard could be the limiting factor since its ages old. Correct me if im wrong.

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

did you reset bios/cmos after installing the new ram?
is the o.s. 64bit?
is the bios updated?

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

Yes, i reset the the bios to default settings.
Yes, the OS is 64 bit.
I have a Phoenix - Award bios.

bartNL · Jul 12, 2015

Could it be that those 1.25Gb are hardware(video chip or something) reserved in one or another way? For example, I can allocate up to 2gb of ram to my graphics chip, it then says 8gb(6gb usable).

jitpublisher · Jul 12, 2015

What does the PC show if you only use 1 stick at a time, testing each stick.

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

bartNL :

Sadly, that's not the case..

my GPU isn't sharing any dedicated memory with ram. I've checked up on that.

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

jitpublisher :

It shows 2 GB on both sticks when i use them 1 at a time.

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

ExileStudio :

what are your full pc specs?

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

de5_Roy :

Core 2 Duo E4500 2.29 Ghz
2 X Corsair 2 GB DDR2 Ram
Nvidia GTX 650 1 GB DDR5
500GB WDC 7200RPM HDD
Win 8.1 Pro 64-Bit

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

motherboard?
ram kit's model number? is it a dual channel kit or 2 single sticks?
if you're having trouble figuring out the specs, run hwinfo or speccy,

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

de5_Roy :

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

thanks.

can you post a screenshot of the gpu section? it seems that your mobo's igpu may be enabled in the bios and is taking up ram. i could be wrong.. i just want to make sure..

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

de5_Roy :

will this do..?

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

check windows resource monitor. see if there's a part of ram "hardware reserved".

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

de5_Roy :

de5_Roy · Jul 12, 2015

okay. let's try another way then.
from msconfig, go to boot options. select advanced options -> check maximum memory -> 4096 MB. from bios, disable the igpu. save and reboot.
if it doesn't work then revert to previous settings or reset the bios.

shamelessly taken from here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/59516-63-installed-75gb-usable-64bit-win7

ExileStudio · Jul 12, 2015

de5_Roy :

Can't do it. I check the maximum memory box, then set it to 4096 but when i try to save, it goes back to 2816 by itself. :/

de5_Roy · Jul 13, 2015

ExileStudio :

what about disabling the on board graphics from bios?

at first i thought that some kind of platform limitation or igpu taking up system ram. it seems like the system reserved 1GB for the nvidia card and .25 GB for pcie data.

Vic 40 · Jul 13, 2015

de5_Roy :

This normally needs to be unchecked.

That thread at the end also gives this solution,

Until a friend looked at my msconfig settings and notice that every time I changed my "BOOT advanced options to max memory it automatically changed my "Startup selection from Normal to Selective startup". After restarting with Normal startup selected, well hello, I now have all 8gigs!

maybe something to try.

Can you get into the bios? Look for "memory remapping" and set it to enabled if not.

ExileStudio · Jul 13, 2015

Vic 40 :

I can't do any bios stuff without proper guidance. Im not good with that stuff. can you guide me. my bios is a Phoenix - Award bios.
and btw, i've searched everywhere in the bios settings but can't seem to find an option which lets me remap ram shared memory or anything to do with GPU.

Vic 40 · Jul 13, 2015

Maybe look at "memory hole",
http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5633/1000158y.jpg
put that to enabled.
Or something like this,
http://media.bestofmicro.com/T/T/225281/original/IMG_2828.jpg

The "msconfig" part didn't work?

ExileStudio · Jul 13, 2015

Vic 40 :

Enabled this. Ram still 2.75 GB.

There was no memory remapping option in my BIOS.
i didn't get the msconfig bit. what do i do in msconfig..?

Vic 40 · Jul 13, 2015

Vic 40 :

ExileStudio · Jul 13, 2015

Vic 40 :

Tried. still 2.75 GB.

Vic 40 · Jul 13, 2015

Maybe set the voltage for the ram a bit higher,it may help to recognize all.Go into the bios and set the vram to 1.55V and see how that works out,this doesn't damage the ram,it could go up to 1.65V.

Two 2 GB ddr2 ram sticks installed. But only shows 2.75 GB installed memory on my computer.

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