Kingston HyperX 1600mhz RAM running at 1333mhz; 3.78gb / 4gb usable

[ihuazai]

My Core i3 3.07ghz desktop is running my 2x2gb 1600mhz Kingston HyperX RAM is running at 1333mhz according to my BIOS.

Also, under Windows 7: Control Panel: System, only 3..87gb of my 4gb RAM is usable.

Appreciate help to resolve the 2 issues.


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Specs:

MB: Gigabyte P55A-UD3 Rev 1.

Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-N981-TR GeForce 9800 GT 1GB DDR3 PCI-Express 2.0 Graphics Card

 

[ekoostik]

In your BIOS settings, what is the max memory multiplier (SPD) that is available? I believe that the Clarkdale CPUs (your i3) are handled like the i5 750. In which case the highest memory multiplier you can pick is x10. This means that without OCing your CPU, you cannot run your RAM faster than 1333MHz anyway.

If you don't want to OC, don't worry about it. There's not much difference between 1333 and 1600 anyway. http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/core-i7-870-1156,2482.html

 

[saint19]

Hi newcomer and welcome to the Tom's hardware forum.

Your mobo don't support the 1600 by default, so, for that speed you need set all the specifications of your RAM manually in the BIOS.

And like ekoostik says, you won't see a big difference between 1600 and 1333

 

[ihuazai]

i think i will stick to the default settings then. My cooling ain't great, better not do any OC.

 

[ihuazai]

Anyone knows why only 3.87gb out of 4gb of RAM is usable for my configuration?
I checked the BIOS, there's no onboard graphics for my mobo. IT may be the core i3 CPU using up the RAM for its onboard graphics, but i'm not sure how to disable it if so.

 

[saint19]

That lost RAM that you have, is usually used for list the components of your rig, and another stuffs, and don't count as available RAM for your rig.

 

[ekoostik]

The OP shows they are running a 64-bit system. Isn't "lost" memory with 4GB only a side effect of a 32-bit OS?

 

[ihuazai]

thats what i tot too. i suspect its the i3 core cpu onboard video thats taking up the ram. anyone has any insights? maybe i should add in or take out some ram sticks and see if the reserved memory stays unchanged?

 

[ihuazai]

Best answer selected by ihuazai.