6 GB ( 4GB Usable) -- What??

[gunthersun]

Why does my computer --> properties -- say I only have 4 GB usable??

64 bit OS W7 professional

 

[Lmeow]

Check for bent motherboard pins.

 

[Nowa]

Which motherboard are you using and what kind of memory setup (3x2gb eg.) ?


Does your BIOS recognize all of the 6 GBs of memory at boot? If not try reseating your memory sticks, or try different slots if you can.

If this is a Windows only problem you might want to check Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools -> System Configuration, select the boot tab and advanced options. If the maximum memory is set to 4GB there disable the memory limitation option there.

 

[gunthersun]

It seems to recognize it --

it says Installed memory (RAM): 6.00GB (4.00 GB usable)

3x2 GB

mobo is MB GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P 1366 X58 R
mem is MEM 2Gx3|OCZ OCZ3G1600LV6GK R

 

[Nowa]

Could be bent pins then like Lmeow said. A link here that should illustrate what we mean:

http://www.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-030850.htm

Also there is a small guide concerning this in toms forums. Here's some advice borrowed from that guide.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/272698-12-gigabyte-guide-read-first

If you have 'X' amount of memory installed, and either the BIOS, or Windoze is only showing 'Y' amount available, the very first thing to do is: pull your CPU, get a flashlight & magnifying glass, and check your socket for bent or distorted pins:

Nineteen times out of twenty, you will find 'em! Excellent pictorial guide to installation/examination from Intel.
...if the pins are not too badly mangled, they can often be 'teased' back into place, using:
a jeweler's tweezer (most large hobby shops)
a jeweler's screwdriver (any dollar store)
a dental pick/tool (often found at dollar stores or hardware store counters)
or
a 'pin-vise' with a sewing needle mounted in it (a 'pin-vise' is a little thing the size and shape of a kid's crayon, that has a tiny chuck at one end, much like a drill chuck - they are used to drill ultra-fine holes in small work, and can be found, again, at any large hobby-shop or hardware store...)
...just takes a steady hand, and a bunch of patience

 

[gunthersun]

Thanks for the pin bending ref. I might have to do that.


I pulled all three of my ram sticks out and tested each one individually. With one of them, the computer would not start up. The other two worked fine and reported 2 GB.

What do I do from here? It is MEM 2Gx3|OCZ OCZ3G1600LV6GK R. Can I get a single stick replaced somehow?

 

[gunthersun]

All of a sudden it is working??

Installed memory 6.00GB RAM

hmm weird. Well I guess I don't need to RMA it anymore.

 

[gamerk316]

Run a memory test; might have a bad stick that kinda-sorta works.