OK to ignore RAM reported by BIOS?

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1g507ph

Mar 27, 2018
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My BIOS POST reports that it detects 12GB of RAM, even though I have 24GB installed. However, Memtest86 detects 24GB and tests it all successfully, and Windows and CPU-Z also reports 24GB detected. (Yes, I've tried to rearrange the RAM modules in different configurations, sometimes BIOS reports 8GB detected, sometimes 12GB, sometimes 16GB - but never all 24GB & the BIOS was updated to the latest version available from the manufacturer).

Is it OK to ignore what the BIOS says, and safe to presume that all 24GB are actually working in Windows?
 
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1g507ph

Mar 27, 2018
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Thanks clutch,

PC: HP EliteDesk 705 G1, RAM specs on page 78 & 79: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04497146
RAM: G.Skill I bought: http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f3-1600c11d-16gnt

The PC has installed/originally came with 2 sticks of 4GB each, 1Rx8 PC3L-12800U-11-13-A1 DDR3L-1600, HP-branded Hynix memory, HP p/n 698650-154.

The 16GB of Gskill RAM I purchased are 2 sticks of 8GB each, DDR3-1600, PC3-12800
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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Odd...
Do you have the matched pairs in like-colored DIMM slots; i.e. 2x8 in one color slots and 2x4 in the other color slots?
Have you tried just the 2x8 pair to see if the BIOS reads those correctly? Likewise with just the 2x4 pair.
Which version of Windows are you using?
Is your BIOS updated?
Other than that, I have no answer. Might want to pop over to the HP forum and ask. One of the reps may jump in with the answer.
 
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1g507ph

Mar 27, 2018
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Yes, matched pairs are in like-colored slots. With just the 2x8 pair, BIOS sees only 8GB. With the 2x4 pair (the ones that originally came with the PC from HP), BIOS sees 8GB. I'm using Windows 7 64-bit. BIOS is updated to the latest version. HP had no answer except I needed to swap out the Gskill RAM for HP-branded RAM. The HP forum people were stumped too. I'm suspecting a buggy BIOS ...

But as long as Windows sees all 24GB, it should be using 24GB, correct?
 
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clutchc

clutchc

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I presume you've run Memtest on each stick individually to verify that the stick is 100% and no errors?
Try CPU-Z again and check the SPD tab. Verify each stick shows up with the correct value. Then yes, I would have to agree that Windows is seeing and using the full allotment of memory. And that the problem is in the BIOS itself.

Apparently, the BIOS is not able to read that memory correctly for some reason. It would be interesting (but added cost) to experiment with another matched pair of 8GB sticks. Maybe even so-called "HP-branded" RAM.
 
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1g507ph

Mar 27, 2018
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Yes Memtest86 ran through all tests multiple times with no errors from addresses 0 to 0x63F000000. CPU-Z/SPD tab does show the correct values for all sticks.

I wish I had/could afford more RAM to test with, but I'm stuck with what I have.
 
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