Windows 10: 12gb of my ram is reserved

I have an old computer and ddr3 16 Gb ram 4 sticks and 12 Gb of it is reserved i don't know how it happened but after I reset my computer like a week later this happened and I managed to fix it for like an hour then but then only 8 Gb was reserved it went back to 12 Gb reserved an hour later and i have almost tried everything could someone please help me

:)

 

Hardware Reserved 4GB (DIMM Slot 1B)

So recently my task manager started showing that only 12GB of my 16GB DDR3 RAM in Dual Channel was available stating "Hardware Reserved 4.0 GB"

These are the steps I've currently taken to attempt to rectify the issue.

1. Flashed BIOS
   
2. Wiped OS and installed to a new drive
   
3. Set max page file size to recommended (2.5GB)
   
4. Maximum memory isn't enabled in advanced boot options
   
5. Replaced the odd stick of RAM (I had a Kingston HyperX Fury) with the same model (now all Corsair Vengeance) so now all sticks match
   
6. Resetting CMOS fixed it for a few hours before returning.
   

I want to avoid the idea that the DIMM slot is faulty due to a CMOS reset fixing it (even if temporarily).

The RAM I'm using is: CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9 (3) and CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9 (1) Both the same model of RAM, but the 3 came in a kit for 12GB whilst the other came as a single kit of 4GB, hence the slight difference in the part numbers.

The motherboard I'm using is 990FXA-UD3 R5.

I'm asking as a seperate question due to the fact I've tried every other suggestion in the other questions and now feel that my situation is unique enough for it's own question.

 

Upgrading RAM to 12GB or 16GB?

Hi everyone:

I have this machine:

Intel DB75EN...........it has 8GB of DDR3 RAM..... it's an older i5-2400 at 3ghz.

I acidentally (nice) discovered there's still a chance to improve RAM...I can't buy or afford a newer PC.

Amazon has Crucial DDR3 and they fit my machine in the specs checker they have.

I recently added an Crucial SSD and have Windows 10 installed there. It boots better and folders open faster than the HDD.

However, apps aren't faster at all. Just Windows.

The machine has 2 sticks of 4GB installed which make the 8GB. Going from 8GB to 12GB........will it make a difference?

Or it's better to go to 16GB?.

If I could I would to go to 32GB.......the machine specs says it supports up to 32GB RAM (however I can't afford it), since they're DDR3, they are older and are NOT cheap. I can only afford up to 16GB.

Should I make the effort to get 16GB or will 12GB be good?

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

 

Windows 10 uses only 8GB RAM out of 12GB installed (and detected)





As you can see from the picture, not only the BIOS sees my 12GB, but Windows does too. It even shows it in the Task Manager, not just the CPU-Z.

Strangely though, it doesn't use them.

I have to note at that point that:

• Ubuntu does that too, even though it detects the 12GB RAM as well
  
• I've recently installed SSD and installed the fresh Dual Boot in them
  
• In the old setup (HDD) the 12GB was completely usable on both OSes.
  
• It says in the details that 4GB out of them are Hardware Reserved, so I have the questions:
  
  • Why did that not happen in the previous install?
    
  • Why doesn't Ubuntu use them as well then?
    
  • Why OS uses a big amount of RAM even though I have a few light programs running?
    

My question is not duplicate of Why is all my extra RAM marked as “hardware reserved” in Windows 7? in my opinion as my only mistake was that the RAM was a little bit out of place from the Motherboard. But it's a very similar case though and the Answer of the other question nicely puts that it's an interesting thing that the RAM was completely detected but nothing complained about its usability.