I'm having a frustrating issue with my RAM and I need some help. My setup includes a Gigabyte A520M-K V2 motherboard, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM (2x8 GB sticks) clocked at 3200 MHz, an R5 2600 CPU, and a 1660 Super GPU. The problem is that while the BIOS recognizes all 16 GB of RAM, Windows is only showing 7.9 GB as usable, with roughly 8 GB marked as 'hardware reserved'. Additionally, even though my RAM is supposed to run at 3200 MHz, Windows is only reporting it at 2400 MHz. I've tried reseating the RAM, cleaning the contacts, and exploring various BIOS settings, but I can't seem to fix it. I can't find any Memory Remap or integrated graphics settings in the BIOS either, just a System Memory Multiplier option. I really want to get all my RAM working and at full speed for gaming without any stuttering.
2 Answers
It sounds like you might have some memory allocated to an onboard GPU if you're using one, which could be causing the hardware reservation. Check your BIOS settings for any graphics memory allocation options. Also, make sure that your RAM is seated properly in the correct slots according to your motherboard's manual. It's possible that they're not running in dual channel mode, which could affect performance too.
Have you checked the task manager and resource monitor? Sometimes that can give you more details about what's taking up that hardware reserved memory. There could also be a setting in your BIOS that you might have overlooked. Try updating your BIOS if you haven't done that yet, as there might be patches that fix RAM recognition issues.
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