Windows only sees 8GB but CPUZ sees 12GB


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows only sees 8GB but CPUZ sees 12GB


    Hi all,

    I've recently upgraded to w10 but weirdly now windows only sees 8GB. When I had w8 it saw all 12GB of ram but now only 8GB.

    I've checked CPUZ and it can see the 12GB fine but windows still only sees 8GB (and not '8GB usable', it actually only sees 8GB).

    Windows only sees 8GB but CPUZ sees 12GB-bqinacc.png

    Windows only sees 8GB but CPUZ sees 12GB-xxww9xg.png

    I've already looked to see if I should update motherboard BIOS but it's an Asus Rampage Extreme III and the last BIOS was released in 2011 (I have that one installed).

    Does anyone have any idea what I should do?

    Thanks for your time!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #2

    blekk said:
    I've recently upgraded to w10 but weirdly now windows only sees 8GB. When I had w8 it saw all 12GB of ram but now only 8GB.
    I've checked CPUZ and it can see the 12GB fine but windows still only sees 8GB (and not '8GB usable', it actually only sees 8GB).

    I've already looked to see if I should update motherboard BIOS but it's an Asus Rampage Extreme III and the last BIOS was released in 2011 (I have that one installed).
    Speccy uses GPUz so that would probably tell you the same thing.

    See what System Information tells you about the memory (Run msinfo32.exe).

    It could be a bug in the way System reports the memory or it could be a memory configuration issue.

    Make sure the memory is matched and seated per the above Intel page.

    Board reference: ROG | RAMPAGE III EXTREME | ASUS Global
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #3

    In Search, type "msconfig" and hit enter. In the dialog that opens, choose the Boot tab, then click Advanced Options, and see if the Maximum Memory checkbox is ticked. If so, untick it then click Make all boot settings permanent and click ok and reboot.

    If that's not the problem, then not sure what it would be.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the reply Mystere.

    I had a look at those settings and it was unticked, I ticked it just to have a look at how high I could set it but it's capped at 8192MB so it still seems like Windows can only see 8GB.

    Does anyone know how CPUZ gets its information? I assumed it would be through some Windows API and so how can it see 12GB but Windows only sees 8GB?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,128
    Windows 10 Pro Insider
       #5

    I would submit this in the Windows Feedback. It may be a problem with Windows 10.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    Have you checked your bios? Some BIOS's have a setting which reserves memory for the video card. Not sure if 4GB can explain that, but there might be something else there.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 438
    Win 10 pro 1803
       #7

    • If you have a integrated/onboard graphics chip on your motherboard and are using a graphics card instead, then double check your BIOS settings to make sure that you do not have any memory allocated to the integrated/onboard graphics chip (ex:hardware reserved) so that it will be used by Windows instead.
    • If you are using a integrated/onboard graphics chip on your motherboard to display your monitor from, then part of your memory (RAM) will be allocated to it as set in the BIOS.
    • Double check to see if you have a memory mapping option in your BIOS settings. If you do, enable it.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,502
    Win_8.1-Pro, Win_10.1607-Pro, Mint_17.3
       #8

    Dump the boot code (elevated command prompt - bcdedit) to see if any memory settings are defined (PAE, NX, 4GT)

    This might have shown up in the msconfig or perhaps not.

    I'd still like to see what msinfo32 reports
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,255
    Windows 10 Pro
       #9

    blekk said:
    Thanks for the reply Mystere.

    I had a look at those settings and it was unticked, I ticked it just to have a look at how high I could set it but it's capped at 8192MB so it still seems like Windows can only see 8GB.

    Does anyone know how CPUZ gets its information? I assumed it would be through some Windows API and so how can it see 12GB but Windows only sees 8GB?

    Thanks.
    I think it highly likely that Windows and CPUZ are using different methods.

    CPUZ is obtaining it's information from the hardware. The purpose is to obtain memory size and specifications. But note that CPUZ has no way of knowing that all memory modules are fully compatible or usable.

    Windows has no interest in memory technical specifications, only in how much memory is available for use. This is likely obtained from the BIOS during bootup by means of a simple memory test. This is destructive to memory contents so cannot be done while Windows is running. This is not a fully reliable memory test, just a quick test to see what is present.


    As different methods are used the results can differ if there are memory issues, not necessarily bad memory.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:08.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums