Memory Only half my RAM being utilised

Hey all,

I'm running an MSI P55-GD65, i5 750, 500W Seasonic PSU, HD 6870 Graphics, windows 7 64 bit and all the usual other junk.

I've been running this system with 2x2Gb of Gskill ram for a couple of years with no problems. I'd always stuck the ram in slots 3 and 4 (furthest away from the CPU) because the CPU fan was mounted over 1 and 2. Worked fine.

So a couple of nights ago a friend gave me 2x2GB of Corsair Vengeance RAM he had lying around to boost me up to 8GB. Unfortunately, although I've managed to get the system to see the extra 4GB of RAM, it's only using 4GB. If I go to My Computer > Properties, then I get told:

Installed Memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (3.99 GB usable)

Now, I've done some googling and have tried a few things already, so I'm hoping one of you can suggest some things to try. I've already tried:

1. Every permutation of the four sticks I can think of in the four slots
   
2. Removing my overclock (dropped down from 3.00 to stock, whatever that is)
   
3. Upping the voltage on the RAM to 1.651V from 1.5V.
   
4. Reseating the CPU cooler (some people report the RAM isn't detected due to bending, or bent CPU pins)
   
5. Straightening out the one ever so slightly bent CPU pin I could find.
   
6. Upgrading the BIOS from 1.00 to 1.11

Anyone got any final ideas before I just give up and live with 4GB, because I can't think of much else to try at this stage - I'm starting to think the mobo just hates me a bit. Cheers all!

 

Are you running 64 bit Windows?

 

Sounds like your running a 32-bit os, you need 64-bit to access greater than 4gb RAM

 

Windows Key and Pause break will tell you the system information including whether it is 32 or 64 bit

 

It's not an OS issue I don't think. I'm confident that spec knows the 32 bit limits lol Try upping the VTT voltage to 1.4 in BIOS that might help. I had the same board and I don't think there's any options in BIOS for above 4GB mapping.

Oh and a 32 bit OS would give less than 3.99GB useable if this was the issue.

 

Dammit, sorry I always forget to mention something:

64 Bit windows 7.

Thanks Noizdaemon666, 1.4 is the max safe VTT it seems, according to Intel. Reckon it's safe to run the system at that long term without bricking the CPU? Cooling is certainly adequate, but we all know volts do tend to kill regardless.

 

What speed are the 2 memory modules? is one 1333 and the other 1600?
Have you tried booting with only the 2 corsair sticks installed?

The manual suggests DIMM1 & DIMM3 and DIMM2 & DIMM4 for dual channel

A quick google seems to show people experiencing the same issues but the fix was at best patchy ranging from bent pins to put memory in an invalid configuration then a valid config and it fixed it.

 

Both are 1600, the Gskill wants 1.4V and the Corsair wants 1.65, so they're all on 1.651 (I'm mean to my hardware) - I've booted multiple permutations of 2 sticks. I've also tried 1/3 and 2/4, no joy. Come to think of it I've tried 1/2 3/4, 1/3, 2/4, and 1/4, 2/3. None of have worked

The timings are slightly different, since the corsair can do 8-8-8-24 and the Gskill only 9-9-9-24 but they're all at 9-9-9 so that shouldn't be an issue.

I'll try ramping the VTT if it is indeed safe to go longterm at 1.4.

 

specofdust, is there an option in the BIOS for "Memory Hole Remapping" or something along those lines?

 

I've been hearing about this and can not find one. I feel like I've looked everywhere for it too.

 

Try setting the voltage of your memory to 1.45V or 1.5V.
Sometimes, depending on the motherboard, giving a bit more voltage to your RAM is needed in order to be detected by the system properly, and be used.

They were a few people here with 1.5V memory which had to boost it to 1.6V or 1.65V to get all their memory working.

 

Think you may have missed the third thing in my list in the OP there Goodbytes, RAM's at 1.65 already. Cheers anyway.

 

Oh sorry about that.

 

What seems odd is that Windows recognises all 8GB - try booting into a live Linux environment and see if it gives you any different results.

 

I see that you've updated the bios, but have you tried a cmos reset too?

 

I only said 1.4 as if it doesn't work with that voltage, it isn't a VTT issue Your board will also send the voltage red after 1.35V. If it works with 1.4V then you can lower it down until it's a safer voltage and still stable.

There isn't one on your board. I had the same one not long ago.

 

Ok, running at 1.4V VTT atm and no change, so that rules that out. Going to play around with clearing the CMOS, since this mobo is like an insane old granny and that might just do it....

edit: Meant to say, can't try a live disc because my optical drive seems to have finally kicked the bucket. I never use the thing so I guess I hadn't noticed.

edit2: Tried resetting CMOS, no joy

edit3: So since resetting my CMOS my computer is now doing the following :|



Those missing squares are god knows what. The size of that strip is about right, but I can't think what they should be. They're unresponsive to any clicking or anything though.

edit4: Fixed the issue in edit3.

 

I had a board do that, i'll check the bios later and tell you what I did to remedy it

might be worth looking for Enable dynamic memory remap in the bios

 

Looked for anything like that, unfortunately my BIOS lacks any such feature.

 

There's an option within Windows which can dictate how much RAM is used. I'm on my phone though so I can't really Google it to tell you where it is And I can't remember off hand. Might not be that but worth a look.