8GB RAM 4GB Usable

[shezow]

This is the most frustrating error I have ever encountered. As the title says, I can only use 4GB out of my 8GB of Memory. This just came out of the blue, nothing changing hardware wise.

This happens around once or twice a month, and is fixed by the frustrating process of re-seating the RAM, followed by the PC refusing to POST for a few hours until I've fiddled around with it some more.

I've already tried the MSConfig thing.

 

[ProjectBox153]

Do you have a 32 bit version of Windows?

[shezow]

2 minutes ago, Jamiec1130 said:

Do you have a 32 bit version of Windows?

No, it's Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

[Valley_]

4 minutes ago, shezow said:

This is the most frustrating error I have ever encountered. As the title says, I can only use 4GB out of my 8GB of Memory. This just came out of the blue, nothing changing hardware wise.

This happens around once or twice a month, and is fixed by the frustrating process of re-seating the RAM, followed by the PC refusing to POST for a few hours until I've fiddled around with it some more.

I've already tried the MSConfig thing.

 

You sure you got the RAM sticks in the correct DDIM slots?

[rhyseyness]

Sounds like a stick died... If it's all one stick, sounds like a component failed.

Got any other RAM to test with?

 

EDIT: Sorry just read properly.

Sounds like there's some crap either building up in the slot or on the contacts.

Have you tried giving both a clean with IPA?

 

Sounds like something is causing a bit of a dodgy connection between the stick and the slot.

Can't think of anything else hardware-y that would cause such a problem.

 

Hope this helps

[shezow]

Just now, GlynDavies said:

You sure you got the RAM sticks in the correct DDIM slots?

I've checked with the Motherboard manual and yes, they are.

 

if it helps, I have an Asrock 980DE3/U3S3 motherboard and 8GB of Kingston Hyper X Fury DDR3

[shezow]

Just now, rhyseyness said:

Sounds like a stick died... If it's all one stick, sounds like a component failed.

Got any other RAM to test with?

The thing is, this happens on and off every month, and is temporarlily fixed by re-seating the RAM. I don't think the problem is with the sticks

[rhyseyness]

Just now, shezow said:

The thing is, this happens on and off every month, and is temporarlily fixed by re-seating the RAM. I don't think the problem is with the sticks

Yea sorry, just edited my post

[shezow]

2 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Sounds like a stick died... If it's all one stick, sounds like a component failed.

Got any other RAM to test with?

 

EDIT: Sorry just read properly.

Sounds like there's some crap either building up in the slot or on the contacts.

Have you tried giving both a clean with IPA?

 

Sounds like something is causing a bit of a dodgy connection between the stick and the slot.

Can't think of anything else hardware-y that would cause such a problem.

 

Hope this helps

I've tried cleaning the slots, but normally they work fine after re seating without cleaning.

[Valley_]

Have you tried clr cmos?

[shezow]

Just now, GlynDavies said:

Have you tried clr cmos?

Yes, I have.

[rhyseyness]

3 minutes ago, shezow said:

I've tried cleaning the slots, but normally they work fine after re seating without cleaning.

Interesting... Anything weird with your setup?

Is it extremely hot/cold/humid or anything where you keep your PC?

Other than this, the only thing I can think of is the module is not working correctly and needs a full reset (taking out motherboard) every now and again to reset it.

Is it during use that it changes or after you've shut down?

If it's only after a shut down a solution might be to sleep your PC rather than shut it down.

 

Does all software show it going to 4GB usable or just task manager?

Does it say 8GB is installed still?

[shezow]

7 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

Interesting... Anything weird with your setup?

Is it extremely hot/cold/humid or anything where you keep your PC?

Other than this, the only thing I can think of is the module is not working correctly and needs a full reset (taking out motherboard) every now and again to reset it.

Is it during use that it changes or after you've shut down?

If it's only after a shut down a solution might be to sleep your PC rather than shut it down.

 

Does all software show it going to 4GB usable or just task manager?

Does it say 8GB is installed still?

There's nothing particularly abnormal about my setup, and it happens in the middle of use.

it still says 8GB installed but 4GB usable, and GTA V is running at 18FPS so it's right.

it just confuses me, why does this happen out of nowhere, as what is using all that RAM?

And re-seating my RAM is frustrating too, because afterwards my PC will refuse to post until it feels like it.

[rhyseyness]

Just now, shezow said:

There's nothing particularly abnormal about my setup, and it happens in the middle of use.

it still says 8GB installed but 4GB usable, and GTA V is running at 18FPS so it's right.

it just confuses me, why does this happen out of nowhere, as what is using all that RAM?

That's really strange.

 

I'd run a virus/malware scan first and foremost.

Sounds more like a software thing than hardware.

 

I don't think anything is using that memory, as it would still say 8GB usable even if a program was using it (I think).

Check BIOS and motherboard drivers are up to date (althought I highly doubt this the cause).

Other than that, can't really think of anything other than a windows re-install.

 

If you have any other memory you can test with, do it.

[shezow]

10 minutes ago, rhyseyness said:

That's really strange.

 

I'd run a virus/malware scan first and foremost.

Sounds more like a software thing than hardware.

 

I don't think anything is using that memory, as it would still say 8GB usable even if a program was using it (I think).

Check BIOS and motherboard drivers are up to date (althought I highly doubt this the cause).

Other than that, can't really think of anything other than a windows re-install.

 

If you have any other memory you can test with, do it.

Actually I'm pretty sure my BIOS is out of date, you think that could be it?

[rhyseyness]

Just now, shezow said:

Actually I'm pretty sure my BIOS is out of date, you think that could be it?

Nothing to lose in updating it.

It could but I also think it's highly unlikely.

[NinJake]

Because your problem is intermittent, it seems to be related to either a virus or the DIMM slot on motherboard is faulty. Another cause could be that the ram is not seated properly and is slightly coming loose.

 

Do a mem-test first for your ram, otherwise put your RAM in 1 by 1 and figure out what slot or stick is the culprit.

[shezow]

Just re-seated the RAM: PC now absolutely refusing to POST.

[shezow]

1 minute ago, shezow said:

Just re-seated the RAM: PC now absolutely refusing to POST.

Also the BIOS said the RAM was in single channel mode

[NinJake]

Do you have 2 sticks or 4 sticks of RAM?