8 GB RAM installed but only 3.23 GB usable

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       #1

    8 GB RAM installed but only 3.23 GB usable


    I have recently upgraded to Windows 10 Home from Windows 7 Home. And I replaced my 4 RAM sticks with 8 GB RAM but my system shows : Installed memory (RAM): 8.00 GB (3.23 GB usable). Please advise if anyone knows how to fix this.

    8 GB RAM installed but only 3.23 GB usable-2015_09_27_18_07_481.png
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails 8 GB RAM installed but only 3.23 GB usable-screen-shot.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 360
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #2

    I would try several things.

    -First, make sure you have loaded the latest bios to the laptop from the Sony site. Go into the bios menu and see if all 8mb of ram are recognized there.

    -Make sure each of the two memory simms are correctly seated and installed.

    -Remove one memory simm and boot the computer to see if the single memory simm is recognized.
    If it is recognized, remove that simm and now boot with the second simm alone. This will test to see
    if possibly one simm is bad. Also try each, single simm, in the other memory socket to possibly see if one simm socket is bad.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16,623
    Windows 11 Pro X64
       #3

    Follow Antilope's post and post a screen shot of your resource monitor memory tab.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 153
    Windows 10, 64 bit
       #4

    I don't think the memory would be bad since the OS recognizes 8GB but show 3.23GB usable. I would look under System Configuration, chooser the Boot tab then choose Advanced Options then look at maximum memory. I once had a similar problem running Windows 7 and the only way I could correct it was by putting a value of the correct maximum memory in the box and then saving that entry.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 56
    Windows 10
       #5

    I have a similar problem with HP ENVY M6 notebook. if I install Windows 32bit I only get 4GB ram available but 986MB usable.. I then kept downgrading the BOIS from F.26. The only one that gave me around 3GB is F.12.

    By the way, I have reported this issue to HP support last year. Alas, HP has not released a fixed BIOS yet.

    I would advice you try the various BIOS versions to see if one would work. Also, state your computers brand, model and configuration so that other with similar setup may share their experiences.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Antilope said:
    I would try several things.

    -First, make sure you have loaded the latest bios to the laptop from the Sony site. Go into the bios menu and see if all 8mb of ram are recognized there.

    -Make sure each of the two memory simms are correctly seated and installed.

    -Remove one memory simm and boot the computer to see if the single memory simm is recognized.
    If it is recognized, remove that simm and now boot with the second simm alone. This will test to see
    if possibly one simm is bad. Also try each, single simm, in the other memory socket to possibly see if one simm socket is bad.
    My Laptop Specs:
    MODEL: SONY VAIO F Series VPCF135FG
    CPU: IntelR
    CoreTM i5-560M Processor 2.66 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 3.20 GHz
    GRAPHICS: NVIDIAR GeForceR 310M GPU with 512 MB VRAM

    BIOS is up to date and recognizes all 8 GB of RAM.
    Both memory sticks are correctly seated and installed.
    Both the sockets are OK, because, if I put back my old 2 sticks of 2 GB each, they work perfectly fine at their full capacity of 4 GB.
    But as soon as I install the new sticks 2 X 4 GB , only 3.23 GB is usable.
    If I install only one 4 GB stick, the computer does not boot at all, which ever slot or stick I use.
    But if I install one of my old 2 GB sticks, the computer does boot and the memory shows 2GB.

    I also tried under System Configuration, Boot Tab, Advanced Options, maximum memory by changing the value to 8192 MB but in vain.

    8 GB RAM installed but only 3.23 GB usable-2015_09_28_10_05_551.png
    Last edited by vedaban; 28 Sep 2015 at 05:20.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 193
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    If the BIOS shows the full size but Windows does not, then it's likely a problem with Windows. I am assuming that the RAM is fully compatible with your hardware and that both sticks are identical.
    Download the utility CPU-Z and see how that interprets your RAM and the individual RAM sticks.
    If you can, run a Linux live disk and check the memory from there. This will doubly prove the fault is in Windows or not.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 360
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #8

    It's interesting that one stick of 2mb ram will boot the computer, but one stick of 4mb ram will not. There may be a hardware compatibility issue between your Sony laptop and the 4gb ram. Are you sure this 4gb ram simm is the exact recommended ram for this laptop?

    What is the brand name and model number of the 4gb ram?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Antilope said:
    It's interesting that one stick of 2mb ram will boot the computer, but one stick of 4mb ram will not. There may be a hardware compatibility issue between your Sony laptop and the 4gb ram. Are you sure this 4gb ram simm is the exact recommended ram for this laptop?

    What is the brand name and model number of the 4gb ram?
    I did some research prior to purchase but I am not very confident about its compatibility although the manufacturer says it is compatible with all i5 processors.

    CORSAIR VENGEANCE CMSX8GX3M2B1866C10 DDR3L
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 360
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #10

    In looking up the specs for the ram, it seems to be what is recommended for the Sony Vaio VPCF135FG judging by what others are selling as ram upgrades for it.

    But still, not being able to boot from a single stick of the 4gb ram doesn't seem right. There must be some hardware incompatibility and the laptop is only recognizing 2gb of ram from each of the 4gb simms. Why, I don't know, but that seems to be what is happening.


    CORSAIR VENGEANCE CMSX8GX3M2B1866C10 DDR3L

    DDR3L

    SO DIMM 204-pin
    1600 MHz /

    1.35 / 1.5 V


    Brand
    CORSAIR

    Series
    Vengeance Performance

    Model
    CMSX8GX3M2B1866C10

    Details

    Capacity
    8GB (2 x 4GB)

    Type
    204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM

    Speed
    DDR3L 1866 (PC3L 15000)

    Cas Latency
    10

    Timing
    10-10-10-32

    Voltage
    1.35V

    Multi-channel Kit
    Dual Channel Kit
      My Computer


 

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