Installed Memory different from Physical

[Section_Eight]

So I followed the advice I got from a fellow forum member and now I have a new issue. The computer recognizes that there are now 32GB of RAM installed but still only lists the total physical memory as 15.9GB. Does anyone know how to fix this?

 

[The_russian]

What advice did you follow? Are all of your memory modules firmly seated?

[Section_Eight]

5 minutes ago, The_russian said:

What advice did you follow? Are all of your memory modules firmly seated?

Just to add two more 8gb sticks to take it to 32. Yes they are all firmly seated.

[Kanna]

7 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

Just to add two more 8gb sticks to take it to 32. Yes they are all firmly seated.

Same frequency? Same brand? Max RAM support for cpu and mobo aka specs

[The_russian]

9 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

Just to add two more 8gb sticks to take it to 32. Yes they are all firmly seated.

What are your specs? Try taking out the original set and keeping the new set in, see how much is detected then. 

[Section_Eight]

I'm really new to this so let me answer what I can. No to frequency but I was told the BIOS would just bring it down to match. No to same brand again told it wouldn't matter only that its best if they are matched. As for the others I do not know. 

 

[Section_Eight]

Just now, The_russian said:

What are your specs? Try taking out the original set and keeping the new set in, see how much is detected then. 

I will try that, as for specs I'm unsure. My processor is a Ryzen 7 2700x and the Mobo is a AsRock B450m Steel Legend

[Windows7ge]

Does Windows Task Manager report 16GB under Hardware Reserved?

[Section_Eight]

2 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

Does Windows Task Manager report 16GB under Hardware Reserved?

Yes Yes it Does

 

[Windows7ge]

1 minute ago, Section_Eight said:

Yes Yes it Does

 

That's definitely part of the problem. Try doing as The_russian stated and boot the system with only the new kit installed. See what happens (don't move the new sticks to different slots).

[Section_Eight]

Just now, Windows7ge said:

That's definitely part of the problem. Try doing as The_russian stated and boot the system with only the new kit installed. See what happens (don't move the new sticks to different slots).

Ok and then what?

[Section_Eight]

8 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

That's definitely part of the problem. Try doing as The_russian stated and boot the system with only the new kit installed. See what happens (don't move the new sticks to different slots).

So now it says I have 8gigs with 8 reserved

[Windows7ge]

6 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

Ok and then what?

If it works and all 16GB show up try moving the sticks to the other pair of slots. We're basically checking if the issue is compatibility, bad sticks (not super likely), bad slots, or if Windows is reserving 16GB for some other reason.

[Section_Eight]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

If it works and all 16GB show up try moving the sticks to the other pair of slots. We're basically checking if the issue is compatibility, bad sticks (not super likely), bad slots, or if Windows is reserving 16GB for some other reason.

Ok I'll move them over to the other slots but it is still reserving half of the memory instead of giving me all 16

[Section_Eight]

7 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

If it works and all 16GB show up try moving the sticks to the other pair of slots. We're basically checking if the issue is compatibility, bad sticks (not super likely), bad slots, or if Windows is reserving 16GB for some other reason.

Now I have access to all 16

[Windows7ge]

2 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

So now it says I have 8gigs with 8 reserved

Windows is probably reserving the RAM then.

 

2 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

Ok I'll move them over to the other slots but it is still reserving half of the memory instead of giving me all 16

I'm going to read into it more but since it's taking 50% regardless of how much you have installed swapping slots likely won't change anything. This sounds like a Windows software problem not a hardware problem.

[Windows7ge]

Just now, Section_Eight said:

Now I have access to all 16

16GB with physically 16GB installed?

 

Well, try putting in the other 16GB back in and see if you get all 32GB.

[Section_Eight]

1 minute ago, Windows7ge said:

16GB with physically 16GB installed?

 

Well, try putting in the other 16GB back in and see if you get all 32GB.

Yes will do

[Section_Eight]

8 minutes ago, Windows7ge said:

16GB with physically 16GB installed?

 

Well, try putting in the other 16GB back in and see if you get all 32GB.

I really don't understand what kind of sorcery the unplug and plug back in method holds but its working now. Thank you so much for your help and bearing with me while I learn.
Last question it is running at a lower MHz rating than all 4 sticks are rated for is there a way to fix that or just roll with it?

[Windows7ge]

3 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

I really don't understand what kind of sorcery the unplug and plug back in method holds but its working now. Thank you so much for your help and bearing with me while I learn.

Computers do that sometimes. It could have been hardware it could have just been Windows it's hard to say but reseating devices, swapping them around is all you need.

 

4 minutes ago, Section_Eight said:

Last question it is running at a lower MHz rating than all 4 sticks are rated for is there a way to fix that or just roll with it?

The Speed in Task Manager is a value you can't trust. Use something like CPU-Z to verify what the RAM is running at. You can also push the RAM up to it's rated clock in the BIOS but if you're using non-matching kits you may have some trouble if you enable XMP/DOCP.

[Section_Eight]

Haha just messed with it while waiting to see your answer went into BIOS and set it to run the ram at the rating of the lower of the two and it seems to be good now. Again thanks for your help.