8gb of memory installed 4gb useable

Disgracefull

Reputable
Nov 22, 2015
1
0
4,510
so i have looked through a lot of threads on here and tried all kinds of different solutions, but none have worked for me, so im getting quite annoyed. i have had this computer for 3 years or so now and the memory only stopped working a few weeks ago.
im running
windows 7 ultimate x64
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T
MSI 880G-E45 MOBO
8gb Crucial Ballistix Sport DDR3 1600 (2x4gb) (in Dual Channel)
Kingston 120gb ssd
WD 1tb internal (blue)
EVGA GTX 650 TI Boost

all drivers are up to date, and bios is up to date.
CPU-Z tells me there is 8gb in dual channel, but windows system tells me there is 8gb with 4gb useable. could windows be messed up and lying to me?
i even went out and bought a new stick of the exact same ram to test with and it gives the same result.
any help would be greatly appreciated and any other information needed i can provide.
thanks in advance.
 

clutchc

Titan
Ambassador
I would trust CPU-Z more than Win at this point. If CPU-Z shows "size 8GB" under the memory tab, I'd say you are good. Double check BIOS at boot. If it agrees, then something is amiss in System Information. Or you are reading it wrong.
I'm on my Dell Optiplex right now and Sys Info is telling me I have 7.96 GB total and 5.73 GB available. I think it uses the term "available" in a different manner than we think. Maybe it subtracts what Win is using and has set aside for its housekeeping, along with what is being used by whatever is running at the moment.