8GB RAM (3.9 usable)

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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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Hey guys I have been having a problem as of late. about a week ago I looked in my system settings and noticed that it said i have 8GB of ram and only 3.9 usable.

After looking up the issue I found a lot of articles on the matter however none of the solutions worked for me. I am not a huge tech guy but here is the relevant information I found.

I have 2x4GB of ram installed
AMD FX-8350 processor 8 cores
mother board m5a99fx_pro_r20

I copied down all information I found relevant as follows

CPU
Type-------------------------AMD FX8350 8-core
Clock------------------------4014MHZ(Turbo 4044.6MHZ)
Temp------------------------25C
# logic processors--------8
L1 cashe--------------------8x80k(36119 MB/s)
L2 cashe-------------------8x2048K (25408 MB/s)
L3 cashe-------------------1x8192K (10163 MB/s)

Memory
Total Physical Memory---4056M (5892MB/s)
Mem Latency---------------60.200NS
ECC Enabled---------------No

Detailed Ram SPD info
1 PC3-14900 DDR3 XMP1866MHZ/9-10-9-28/G Skill INTL F3-14900CL
2 PC3-14900 DDR3 XMP1866MHZ/9-10-9-28/G Skill INTL F3-14900CL

[strike]I still have MEMTEST open at home so if there is anything else useful i should copy down just tell me to grab it.[/strike]

What I have tried
Checking and unchecking the max memory box in MSCONFIG
Replacing the RAM sticks
Replacing the RAM sticks one at a time (they both worked
A1 and A2 Slots and B1 and B2 slots
Setting Default settings in BIOS

In BIOS the it also says i only have 4 GB of memory however when looking closer it sees dimm 1 and 3 are being used.

If you need any other info feel free to ask.

UPDATE

Okay guys big update to the issue here so bear with me.

First we tried loosening the heat sink and that got the pc up 7.42 GB out of 8.
Since I am getting more ram in a month I had my friend bring his 16GB of ram.
We plugged 2 more 4GB sticks into the other two slots and that for some ungodly reason brought it up-to 7.9 GB out of 16GB???

On top of that we tried just pluggin in his two remaining sticks without my original two sticks and the pc wouldnt even post. Neither him nor I know what to make of this anymore.
 
Solution
A
Honestly, at this point, if possible, I would just RMA the motherboard, cpu or both rather than spend more time trying to fix it. Just take care when installing CPU and cooler second time around.
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apk24

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Looking at your motherboard's manual, the recommended memory config for 2 dimms is A2 and B2. I assume you have tried this, but just double checking.
Have you tried resetting the bios (clearing CMOS)?
When you say works, I assume you mean that all 4GB shows up in a single DIMM.

This isn't an OS issue since the BIOS only reads 4GB RAM.

Well I started typing this before I realized that I have no real recommendations for you because what you have is a puzzler indeed.

 
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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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I am on a x64 version of windows 10 i will try driver booster when i get home in a few hours. Is there anymore relevant information i need to get before i shut off MEMTEST? It takes many hours to run
 
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spotexx

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I am on a x64 version of windows 10 i will try driver booster when i get home in a few hours. Is there anymore relevant information i need to get before i shut off MEMTEST? It takes many hours to run
 
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spotexx

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I currently have in set up XIXI and i have tried IXIX

It shows the RAM sticks fine in BIOS (In the DIMM slots) but still shows only 4GB in EZ Mode

-EDIT-
I also by the CMOS thing did you mean the memok button? Cuz that is the only other thing i have touched on the motherboard itselft. MEMOK also said 4GB
 
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Snipergod87

Snipergod87

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May 26, 2009
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I would try removing all the RAM and reseating it. Another step I would try is clearing the CMOS (should be a jumper, or pulling out the CMOS battery while the computer is unplugged).

What happens if you remove the RAM from slots 1&3 and put the RAM from slots 2&4 into 1&3.
 
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spotexx

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I will try the CMOS thing in a few hours when i get home. I have tried moving the ram cards to the other 2 slots and same problem stays however the dimm slots change in advanced menu in bios
 
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apk24

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No I meant resetting the motherboard to factory default. This is usually done by shorting the pins on a header or pushing a butoon called CMOS Clear, RTC RAM clear, RTC Battery disconnect, or something like that. If no such header or jumper exists, pull out the RTC battery and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in.
 
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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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Sorry I'm not super amazing with tech to be sure is this what you mean?

1.2.7Jumpers1.Clear RTC RAM (3-pin CLRTC)This jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) RAM in CMOS. You canclear the CMOS memory of date, time, and system setup parameters by erasingthe CMOS RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data inCMOS, which include system setup information such as system passwords.To erase the RTC RAM1.Turn OFF the computer and unplug the power cord.2.Move the jumper cap from pins 1-2 (default) to pins 2-3. Keep the cap on pins 2-3 forabout 5–10 seconds, then move the cap back to pins 1-2.3.Plug the power cord and turn ON the computer.4.Hold down the <Del> key during the boot process and enter BIOS setup to re-enterdata
 
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photonboy

photonboy

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Jun 20, 2006
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that's weird.
I would have said a bad memory slot, but you tried that too.

Here's something to quickly check before looking deeper:
1. Make sure memory setup in original slots, then

2. set system to factory settings

3. just change memory to whatever is same as "XMP" for Intel. Is it "AMP"? Anyway, it's the thing that checks SPD on the sticks to setup the optimal profile.
- do that and SAVE

4. Then:
a) Windows
b) type "msconfig" into start and launch "system configuration"
c) BOOT
d) Advanced options
e) check "Maximum Memory" and change to 8192MB, save if that's an option. May ask you to reboot.

Other:
Memtest or Memtest86 only takes roughly 30 minute per 8GB to run a full pass. That's all you really need.

*Your main issue right now anyway is only 4GB detected. If Memtest shows 4GB (or 4096MB) then your issue is with the motherboard or memory sticks themselves.

Problem is you appear to be showing 8GB and 4GB depending where you look and have swapped almost everything I would have.

SUMMARY:
At this point I'd guess an issue with a memory stick first, motherboard second though I can't actually explain why.

Other than trying a different memory KIT I don't know what to suggest. I would consider going with 16GB though that's mostly future proofing. (I would still avoid running web browsers when gaming).
 
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apk24

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That is exactly what I mean. It will basically reset everything on your motherboard to the factory default settings. That will help eliminate accidental messing with settings as a factor to the problem.
 
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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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okay i will try this tonight and update if it worked

-EDIT-

So hopefully I did this correct but i shut off the pc all the way then moved this thing over and back
https://puu.sh/syJff/7b16a02337.png
It still has the same problem
 
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apk24

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Both are irrelevant to the problem at hand IMO. Good to have up to date, but not critical.

If I am reading correctly, OP is seeing reduced RAM capacity in BIOS and Memtest meaning Windows and Windows drivers are not the issue.
 
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elbert

elbert

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Understand the IRQ controller is called before the memory is scanned. Thus old drivers causing IRQ conflicts can cause many issues.
 
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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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Ok I dont know what to say anymore because i woke up this morning and it was back to 3.9 i tried loosening the heat sink again and nother changed but now i have the ram sticks set up XXII and am back up to 7.42

Question: it is brining me up to 7.42 when the sticks are XXII so does it have anything to do with the separate channels?
 
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spotexx

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Jan 19, 2014
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well it is staying at 7.42 gb does that mean anything?
 
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