[RESOLVED] Mysterous Memory Problem (Only half ever usable)

[Coxey]

Hello.

As of recently it's been brought to my attention that windows can only "USE" half of my RAM. I will take the time to thoroughly detail as much as possible.

How did I come across this? I was gaming as per normal and closed down my game, nothing out of the usual. Came back after a break and tried to relaunch my game and an error kept occuring. After several minutes and googling with the game error code I read somewhere that someone fixed it by physically taking out 50% of <said> RAM (Example: 32GB Physically installed, removed 16 ||| 8GB Physically installed, remove 4). After reading this I just quickly decided to launch up task manager and just check my RAM to see whether stick(s) were failing. That's when it came to my attention that windows is only using 4GB out of my 8GB RAM.

Ok thats the lovely story done, now for some quick specs:

RAM: XMS3 4x2GB Sticks - 2 of the 4 are rev. 5.02 | the other 2 are 2.41 - NOTE THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM (2 sets of different revisions) FOR AROUND 8 MONTHS NOW. (Since I got the extra 4GB)

O/S: Windows 7 64 BIT

I have tried ALL of the following:

Updating BIOS

Booting with & without "Remapping" BIOS setting enabled. (INTERESTING NOTE, READ ONWARDS)*

Tried different profiles (Auto, XMP)

Tried booting with 1 stick at a time (ALL WORK)

Tried booting with 2 sticks (2x2=4GB) only 2GB out of the 4GB usable -> NOTE THAT THE FULL AMOUNT IS ALWAYS DETECTED, BUT ONLY HALF USED

(Note about above 2 sentences, I tried all combos - example Stick A,B,C,D in all combos - D in slot 1, C in slot 1, B in slot 1 etc)

Tried the MSCONFIG > BOOT > ADVANCED > Uncheck Max RAM

Also tried setting max RAM.

Tried loosening CPU heatseak (apparently over tightening can bend some mid range mobos and cause errors etc, not sure how true - but tried it)

Tried running memtest86, Windows mem diag - all fine

CPU-z shows 8GB installed

Possibility some more things I've tried, but I'm tired right now and may have missed a few.

Things that have happened within the passed week that may of triggered?:

1: There was a windows update recently which messed up a bunch of computers, (friends etc) including mine. Had to do a system restore.

2: 4 Days previous to this error, I had applied new thermal compound.

* The note about BIOS Remapping.... When I disable remapping and boot I get a strange amount of usable RAM... If I have 8GB installed with remapping off and boot only 3.25 is usable.

* I'm getting the windows usable terminology from Right clicking My Computer > Properties.

* I can assure you 100% my OS is 64 bit.

* Between applying new thermal compound and discovering this issue with game crashing, I have played games successfully with no problems.

* My OC clocks wont match profile stats due to BIOS resets, etc.

Can anybody shed some light?

Thanks in advance.

Screenshots

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://filesmelt.com...memissuess1.PNG[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://filesmelt.com...memissuess2.PNG[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://filesmelt.com...memissuess3.PNG[/font]

[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]http://filesmelt.com...memissuess4.PNG[/font]

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

try to boot with max memory

get a cd bootable linux(free mandriva etc.)(usb will do) then see what it thinks about ram

 

[Coxey]

try to boot with max memory

get a cd bootable linux(free mandriva etc.)(usb will do) then see what it thinks about ram

Downloading that now, 1.7gb ISO. - I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to booting up into other OS's via other sources - got a link that I can follow to boot into this OS via USB (usb is only option atm, don't have any CDs or anything spare)

Or is it as simple as moving the ISO onto the USB - making sure the boot order in BIOS has removable media before hard drive?

 

[Grizzly]

Try http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows

When choosing your distribution choose whatever one you've downloaded if it isn't Ubuntu.

 

[Pr3d4t0r]

Downloading that now, 1.7gb ISO. - I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to booting up into other OS's via other sources - got a link that I can follow to boot into this OS via USB (usb is only option atm, don't have any CDs or anything spare)

Or is it as simple as moving the ISO onto the USB - making sure the boot order in BIOS has removable media before hard drive?

ISO is the cd image, youll have to format the usb, then unpack the iso using deamon tools lite etc. and get all of that content of iso onto root of usb.

then just restart, and select the usb as a boot option, in my case (asus m5a97) its f8 but often its f12

 

[Coxey]

Booted into Ubuntu 64bit - Memory: 3.9 gb.

Wondering if my 3rd & 4th memory slot have died ( [3rd] [1st] [4th] [2nd] ) - however, would windows detect 8GB if this was the case?

Scrap the sentence above - because when I just have 2 sticks in: ( [empty] [1stick] [empty] [1stick] ) it still only uses 50% (2gb of 4gb)

I'll try that other linux mentioned previously next - ubuntu was a slightly shorter download.

The only fix that I have come across on the internet, with people having the same problem as me, was a windows reinstall - but deleted all partitions and starting fresh. - This is a possiblity for me, however I don't have my key at hand at the moment so I'll have to postpone this fix and attempt others meanwhile.

 

[Coxey]

Purposely bumped just in case anyone has had similar problems.

On the underside of the cpu, there was a pinhead of thermal compound on one of the gold (i presume) contact points that touch with the motherboard pins.

After simply wiping that off extremely lightly with my finger, grounded obviously - I reinstalled the CPU with heatsink, and hey presto, full usable 8 GB again!

I have no idea still how this happened at random... But there you go.

(PS: this wasn't visible with a magnifying glass, I ended up using my dads expensive macro lens for a camera!)