Memory Issue

[Trunks]

So as I was signing up for a beta, I ran across this:
http://puu.sh/1StzJ

My reaction:
http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/067/Purple/da/d0/bc/mzm.nqywihil.175x175-75.jpg


So, yeah I have windows 7 64 bit, and windows is deciding not to use all my memory for some reason.

Things I've tried:
Updated Bios
Enabled Memory Revamping, or rewraping, w/e it's called. It was already on.

and went to msconfig and unchecked the maximum memory box, which was already unchecked.
http://puu.sh/1StEC

Not sure what else I can do, any have any ideas?

Edit:

Just relized that the virtual memory + the physical memory equals my total? Is it supposed to be split up like that? Because when I go to Dxdiag and save all the information to a word document.
It says:
http://puu.sh/1StJS

[LiNuX]

That's weird. Mine recognizes all 16 gigs of Ram that I have installed as physical memory. Are you using 3x4gb or 2x6? Or some other configuration?

I never saw this issue. The only place I have seen 'virtual memory' dominate is when I run Virtual machines.

[Trunks]

I have 2x2gb and 2x4gb. They're are the same timing, voltage ect. Not really sure how virtual memory works. Going to check my BIOS see if I can find a setting that changes it from virtual to physical.

Edit:

Didn't find anything that I saw that would help.

[LiNuX]

Try using just the 2x4gb and see how it changes. I suggested this because 8gb of your RAM seems to be virtual memory.

[Trunks]

Switched out the 2x4gb and put them in the same slot as the 2x2gb were in. Left the 2gb out completely and looked at system info and got:

http://puu.sh/1SIOR

How do I have 16gb virtual when I only have 8gbs of ram in my PC.

Also, when I started my PC, I got a blue screen before it reached desktop. I restarted it and ran System Repair and it started up after that.

Edit: wait, according to this, that means when I had all four sticks in I was only getting 4 gigs of physical and 8 of virtual. I take 2 sticks out. I get 8 gigs of physical and 16 of virtual?

I hate computers.

[LiNuX]

Sorry, I'm lost myself and too tired now to research. I find the problem interesting though, I'd probably learn something if I (or someone else) can figure out what's going on.

[Trunks]

I've been doing research, think I have a good grasp on what is happening. I didn't even know what virtual memory was, so I looked that up first.

Apparently virtual memory has nothing to do with your RAM really, it's an extension of your hard drive that tricks the computer into have more memory. The space is called a swap file or page file, it's just a temporary storage place to store information so your pc can process more files at once. Your virtual memory can be up to three times more than your physical depending on the speed of the RAM. You can change your virtual memory as well, tells you how here: Change the size of virtual memory
(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-the-size-of-virtual-memory)

So that all makes sense to me now. I'm assuming that my 2x4 and 2x2 are not compatible with each other and that's why I was only getting 4gb's physical before. I had the 2x2gb sticks in my first two slots, so it probably read those first and for some reason the other two are not compatible because it did read that I had 12 gigs, just didn't use them.

Again thanks for the help linux, I would have smashed multiple PC's if it wasn't for you.

[CraeSC111]

Glad you fixed your problem. Not much more I can add to help with your problem but I found an interesting post on cnet about this, although it is a little outdated. Hopefully it can give you more information on your problem, or at least provide you a bit of fun.

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-10149_102-194111/7-28-06-computer-doesn-t-recognize-the-new-ram-i-installed/

Edit: A few other posts I found elsewhere also point to it being an incompatibility between your chips. When buying ram you probably want to search for compatibility between your chips. A few of the vendor sites I visited seem to have compatibility lists.

[Trunks]

chips as in my different sticks of RAM? Because they're exactly the same, timing, speed and voltage.

I'm 99% sure it's a compatibility issue anyway considering that it shows up that I have 12 gigs, just doesn't use. Not worried about it though, only 4 gigs 8 gigs will be plenty.

[CraeSC111]

Well I was reading some articles on the memory limits for Windows 7. This one is the simplest one I found.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/max-memory-limits-for-64-bit-windows-7/4254

It seems that the memory limit for Windows 7 64 bit depends on the version but for you it would probably be 8 GB.

[Trunks]

No I have Home Premium, besides windows recognized it as 12 gigs the first time, so it was reading all the memory, just wasn't using. Again I suspect that it's because they aren't compatible for some reason. Since I had 4 gigs in the first two slots of my Motherboard, it read those first. If I would put the 2x2gb sticks back in I'm sure it would read 12gigs, but only use 8.

[Ziek88]

I think it' a good chance it's 16. If I remember correctly, Home Basic doesn't actually exist for windows 7. Everything is Home Premium. This may have changed at some point but you should be able to check that pretty easily.

On another note, you mentioned you had the 2x2 in the first 2 slots and the other 2 in the second 2 slots. In my mind that means you had the ram in the following physical locations on your motherboard going left to right.

Slot 1: 2
Slot 2: 2

Slot 3: 4
Slot 4: 4

It should be
Slot 1: 2
Slot 2: 4

Slot 3: 2
Slot 4: 4

This way the dual channel ram pairs with it's matching partner.

I could be misunderstanding what you meant in which case sorry but if not this may be why you saw less RAM when you had all 4 sticks in.

[Trunks]

I think it' a good chance it's 16. If I remember correctly, Home Basic doesn't actually exist for windows 7. Everything is Home Premium. This may have changed at some point but you should be able to check that pretty easily.

On another note, you mentioned you had the 2x2 in the first 2 slots and the other 2 in the second 2 slots. In my mind that means you had the ram in the following physical locations on your motherboard going left to right.

Slot 1: 2
Slot 2: 2

Slot 3: 4
Slot 4: 4

It should be
Slot 1: 2
Slot 2: 4

Slot 3: 2
Slot 4: 4

This way the dual channel ram pairs with it's matching partner.

I could be misunderstanding what you meant in which case sorry but if not this may be why you saw less RAM when you had all 4 sticks in.

Oh really i didn't know that. I just gave the 2x2 sticks to my bro, because he didn't even have DDR3, he's getting a new mobo and stuff. So should I stick the 2x4 sticks in slots 1 and 3?

I mean it's working now, but I only have 1 set of dual channel. I didn't know though, I guess it makes sense since the colors match on the mobo.

[Ziek88]

Usually there are 2 slots that are the same color and then the other two slots are a different color. The colors should be the pair slots.

For Example.
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-631-10.jpg

On the Motherboard here are 4 slots. The two blue ones are a pair and the two black ones are a pair. If I had a set of dual channel ram (there is single channel in which case this does not matter) I would put them both in to a blue slot. If you bought them as a pair in a pack they are most likely dual channel.

[Trunks]

Yeah, I'll definitely have to switch it then. Everything is running fine now, so not sure if it'll make a difference. I'm sure it couldn't hurt though. Thanks for the info :)