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Post by Jarhead on Mar 18, 2013 12:33:47 GMT -8
I received my new PC today. Didn't have time to do much with it before I had to go to work. I downloaded about 500MB of windows updates, updated the video drivers and set up the triple screens. Then I was just taking a look at computer properties and I noticed that it said 16GB installed, 8GB usable. WTF? I did order it with 16GB. I also ordered Windows 7 Professional because I heard that Windows 7 home only supported 8GB of RAM.
Do any of you geeks or nerds know why my PC is only using half the RAM. I did a quick google search and found a few other people reporting this problem, but could never get a definitive answer for why or how to fix it.
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Post by spazsterian on Mar 18, 2013 13:23:45 GMT -8
Go to msconfig( click on start icon and typ it in the command line- go to boot tab select advanced button), clear the max memory checkbox in the advanced boot option(if it is on), restart. They may have set something up at the factory. I have the exact same MB with 32 gig in and showing. Only other thing i can suggest is try swapping memory sticks... while reporting both you might have one that is wonky and not actually useable ( tho not likely but hey anything is possible.)
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F1Fan07
Race Director
Ludicrous speed. Gone to plaid.
Posts: 9,364
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Post by F1Fan07 on Mar 18, 2013 13:25:39 GMT -8
Windows 7 Pro 64-bit will definitely use 16 GB RAM. Why you are only using 8 is a mystery to me. I'd start with the BIOS and ensure the RAM shows up there and also look for any option related to extending the memory.
The builder didn't put any sort of RAM Disk utility on there, did they?
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Post by Jarhead on Mar 18, 2013 14:14:28 GMT -8
I didn't have time to look at much before I went to work. But the computer properties did show 16GB of physical RAM, but only 8GB being usable. I will check the BIOS when I get home tonight. The computer came with a big piece of foam inside the case to keep everything from shifting around in transit. When I took the foam out, I checked that all the cards and memory was seated properly. If I can't get it to use all the memory, I will try pulling it out and re-seating it. One other question. Which slots is the memory supposed to be installed in? I have 2 sticks of 8GB memory and 4 slots on the MB so I can add 2 more later. According to the picture of the MB I found on Gigabyte's website, the sticks are mounted in slots 4 and 3. Here are pics of the MB. The first pic has arrows showing where the RAM is mounted. The second pic is zoomed in on the area to show the memory slot numbers.   |
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Dan W.
Race Steward
Posts: 5,377 
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Post by Dan W. on Mar 18, 2013 14:20:01 GMT -8
Sounds like the builder put them in backwards if that's the case. Should be in 1 & 2. As the ram is checked by the bios from 1-4 in that order. Unless I've been wrong all these years.
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Post by Jarhead on Mar 18, 2013 14:24:47 GMT -8
Sounds like the builder put them in backwards if that's the case. Should be in 1 & 2. As the ram is checked by the bios from 1-4 in that order. Unless I've been wrong all these years. I think you are right Dan. I just downloaded the manual from the GigaByte website and it says the same thing, that for optimum performance with 2 sticks of memory they should be installed in 1 and 2. I will switch them when I get home and see if that fixes it. |
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Post by smokey on Mar 18, 2013 14:38:50 GMT -8
hmmm im pretty sure my gigabyte mobo needed them in 1 & 3 for optimum could be wrong though
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Post by spazsterian on Mar 18, 2013 15:02:17 GMT -8
Greg..older dual channel has 1-3 , 2-4 config. Most newer boards are 1-4.  Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards |
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Post by Knight of Redemption on Mar 18, 2013 15:03:50 GMT -8
I had the same issue, but! As I built it no one could have set anything, I solved it by checking the Max memory check box that was unchecked, it then showed 16 gigs and so did everything else. My MB also recommended 1&3 I think, but I have 4x4 so not relevant in my case.
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Post by zedarchitect on Mar 18, 2013 15:07:46 GMT -8
My board that I just got is 1&3 first as well.
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Post by zero7159 on Mar 18, 2013 16:13:01 GMT -8
My board, which I got in August 2011, is 1&3, then 2&4.
Jarhead, I would try moving around the memory sticks. If that doesn't work, you might have a bad one.
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Post by Jarhead on Mar 18, 2013 16:37:53 GMT -8
My board, which I got in August 2011, is 1&3, then 2&4. Jarhead, I would try moving around the memory sticks. If that doesn't work, you might have a bad one. That is the first thing I'm going to try when I get home. I didn't have much time before work, but I have been researching here and I know the sticks are in 3 & 4 when the manual says they should be in 1 & 2. |
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Post by smokey on Mar 18, 2013 17:27:47 GMT -8
mines cheap mobo but i got it when i joined here  |
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Post by Jarhead on Mar 18, 2013 20:39:57 GMT -8
I figured it out. It was in the BIOS. The XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) was disabled. I have 1600 MHz memory and it was capped at 1333 MHz. So I enabled XMP and that set the memory to 1600 MHz and now windows recognizes all of it.
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Post by spazsterian on Mar 18, 2013 22:10:11 GMT -8
Awesome  Sent from my SPH-D710 using proboards |
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