lost ram

[sven]

hi all.

i have lost 2GB of ram

i'm not sure if this a motherboard, memory or software problem, so i will post here.

computer specs - mobo = MSI 870A-G54(ms-7599) bios ver, 17.12

ram = 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR3 XMS3, PC3-12800 (1600), Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 9-9-9-24, XMP, 1.65V.

os = windows 7 ultimate 64 bit

my problem is that system properties says i have installed memory of 4.00gb (2.00gb usable), so a windows index score of 5.5.

dxdiag also shows i have 4gb

System Model: MS-7599

BIOS: Default System BIOS

Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Processor (4 CPUs), ~3.4GHz

Memory: 4096MB RAM

Available OS Memory: 4096MB RAM

Page File: 1175MB used, 7012MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

DirectX Version: DirectX11

When i go into bios setup (cell menu) it recognises my 2 modules but only uses 1 on boot(post screen?). windows itself recognises that I have 4gb but only uses 2gb

i have tried going into msconfig advanced boot options and unchecking memory box, to no avail, also cleared my CMOS same result

i confess, i have updated bios and foolishly didn't save the previous version(1.17).

2 question then, 1 is it fixable? 2 am i stuck at 2gb(usable) even if i get more ram for the other slots?

[sven]

i have also tried the ram modules in different slots, also booted using single modules and all ok. let memtest run for 7 cycles without errors. i think its not the ram itself as both bios and windows sees it there and both sticks work, i updated bios and windows also updated(not sure what) just seems strange that it used to work and now it doesn't. i restored to an earlier point in windows but the problem persists

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS.

 

We are neighbours - I live in Irby :)

 

I am wondering if this is a compatability issue.

Is this new RAM or is it the original ?

 

For reference - m/board specs here:

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/870A-G54.html#Spec

Edited June 16, 2011 by KenB

[sven]

hiya mate, i have sort of solved this, but it wasn't a compatability issue as i checked before purchase. what i did was memtest the ram in the slots i wanted to use it in(4 slots,1&2 paired,3&4 paired) 1 & 2 in this case, i did the sticks individually and both went through 7 cycles of the memtest with no problems, when i put both in to boot only 1 stick was used. bizzare! my thinks, so it boots with 1 stick in slot 1 but doesn't recognise its paired partner, so i've ended up using slot 4 for the other stick for it to work and both are now recognised.

i'm thinking its a memory controller thats playing up, because slot 2&3 don't seem to work, which is getting too techincal for me to address, so i'm looking for a receipt to return it(which i'm sure i won't find, doh!)

[KenB]

If you are running memtest - the longer you let it run the better. Certainly for a few hours.

 

The manual for your board is here:

http://www.msi.com/product/mb/870A-G54.html#?div=Manual

It may be of use if you don't have one.

 

The manual states that supported RAM = DDR3 800/1066/1333/1600*(OC)

The (OC) refers to Over Clocked. You will not get this speed unless your system is Over Clocked.

If you are using DDR3 XMS3, PC3-12800 (1600) it will not run at 1600MHz.

 

This could possibly be the problem. The 1600 should run at 1333 but there may still be a compatibility issue.

 

Run the Crucial Scan from here:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/?click=true

 

It will suggest compatible RAM plus other info.