16GB ram issues

[Pete301]

Hey Hexus!

I recently purchased an extra 8GB RAM (exactly the same manufacturer/model as my existing ram). I installed it and booted the computer thinking that it would all go swimmingly and I would have my precious 16GB.

Unfortunately it has not all gone to plan. My computer boots perfectly fine and there are no crashing problems whatsoever, but I look at my computer properties and it states that I have:

'16.0 GB (7.17 GB usable)'

The task manager seems to agree that I only have ~8GB active RAM.

Some useful info:

my PC is dual-booted with Ubuntu (GRUB is used to boot).

I do not have access to the advanced options in msconfig to increase maximum usable memory, it just won't let me click it.

The tech specs of my PC are correct in my profile (apart from the RAM).

[Splash]

What version of Win7?

[Pete301]

Windows 7 professional. Version 6.1 Build 7601 Service pack 1.

[Agent]

Can you provide a dxdiag output please? (save all, bottom right). Ideally, with a CPU-Z output as well

What is the RAM configuration? (stick sizes, which DIMM slots are populated)

[Pete301]

I hope dropbox is ok. Here are the outputs...

dxdiag:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ieqbdiduedzoici/DxDiag.txt

CPU-Z:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mr47eyond0n07va/DEREK.txt

I have 4 sticks of 4GB, all Corsair Vengeance 1600mhz, and all 4 slots of the motherboard are taken.

[Jonj1611]

Hmm thats odd I have the same mainboard and CPU, but I have 4 x 4GB Crucial Ballistix and mine shows up just fine. While that doesn't help you, it does say that that board has no problems with 16GB of ram.

[Jonj1611]

Does linux also says 7GB useable?

[Pete301]

No, linux says that all 16GB are useable. Makes me think it's something to do with windows. I probably should have mentioned that, sorry.

[Bonebreaker777]

Hmm.Latest BIOS updated? - Try it. Otherwise it smells of some OS mismatch (Win7 Home Basic has 8GB of RAM limit). Maybe latest chip set drivers but I don't believe that.

[stilkun]

Are the RAM paired up in matching channel? Have you tried removing and check if there is a speck dust in the RAM slot?

Edit:
Ah you mention dual booting with Linux that sees full 16GB. As BoneBreaker777 mention, it could be the limitation could be the OS version.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/libr...mits_windows_7

[Bonebreaker777]

Are the RAM paired up in matching channel? Have you tried removing and check if there is a speck dust in the RAM slot?

Edit:
Ah you mention dual booting with Linux that sees full 16GB. As BoneBreaker777 mention, it could be the limitation could be the OS version.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/libr...mits_windows_7

I think that contact issues wouldn't be limited to one operation system only. His problem got to be software related.

[Jonj1611]

He has already stated he has Win 7 Professional so it wont be the operating system limitation, also its identical ram so all memory banks will have matched pairs.

I am sure there was a recent post with a similar issue which came down to the memory being hardware reserved, will have to try and find it.

[Bonebreaker777]

Ye,I noticed that he said it is Pro,even the dxdiag extract confirmed it,still odd. Update BIOS,update drivers,reinstall OS.

In that other post what was the reason to hardware reserve it?

Quick question: you haven't installed a RAMdisk,right?

[Jonj1611]

Do you know I dont think it was ever resolved and searching on here brings up a real mixture of results.

[Jonj1611]

I would go back to basics on this just to rule everything out, take out all cards, plug the video cable into the onboard graphics connection, use one stick of ram at a time and fire up windows, after all individual sticks tested add one more stick on each boot until all are populated then start adding back in any cards you may have took out.

Before that though maybe worth running http://www.memtest86.com/

[Bonebreaker777]

I would go back to basics on this just to rule everything out, take out all cards, plug the video cable into the onboard graphics connection, use one stick of ram at a time and fire up windows, after all individual sticks tested add one more stick on each boot until all are populated then start adding back in any cards you may have took out.

Before that though maybe worth running http://www.memtest86.com/

An idea as good as any. Can't actually to wait to find out the reason. Would love to try to doodle with it...