Windows 10: ‘Hardware Reserved’ Windows is using half of my RAM

I posted about this before on other subreddits and have done a chunk of research myself. I keep reaching dead ends but here I am trying again because I really want the best performance out of my rig.

I have 16 gigs of RAM but have noticed that according to task manager, 8 gigs is ‘Hardware Reserved’.

Things I’ve tried: -Checking if max RAM is unticked in Boot Options in System Configuration. -Updating my BIOS. -Increasing the memory’s voltage in BIOS. -Physically inspecting my RAM.

Things I haven’t tried: -Changing RAM values or overclocking memory in BIOS.

For some reason, even after updating, my Gigabyte motherboard’s BIOS does not have an XMP option nor does it let me edit anything else for the memory except the voltage and the timings.

-Checking the compatibility between my motherboard and RAM sticks.

Back when I bought my desktop, I had a store build it for me. I’m sure they wouldn’t have an oversight like this. There’s obviously a chance though.

There’s an obvious possibility the fix lies in the things I haven’t tried. My best bet is to take it to the shop from whence it came and have them look at it. Thing is I currently have covid so leaving the house is not an option for a while. Till then, I just want to exhaust every possible recourse I’m capable of checking until I definitively decide it’s out of my hands and wait until I’m better to take it to the store.

Let me know if I missed something. Thank you!



https://preview.redd.it/1c7dzpvmquq...bp&s=864893ce3ba74efcd33384fc6bf5248b033b6a1b



https://preview.redd.it/o8yivzusquq...bp&s=2a71a4da905a5be96532021fcbe844031d44798f

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:)

 

Half RAM allocated to "Hardware Reserve"


Hello everyone. I really hope you can help me. I'm at the end of my rope.

First off, my specs:
Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 mobo
AMD FX 8350 CPU
2 x G skill 4 GB sticks
EVGA 660 Ti GPU
OS on SSD
2 x 1 TB mechanical drives

Only half my RAM is showing as usable. The rest is shoved into hardware reserved. It doesn't matter what channels I use or even what RAM I use, it cuts whatever is in there by HALF. I even tried 4 sticks, cuts 16GB into 8GB.

I've tried CLEAN installs of Windows 10 AND 8.1, still cuts in half.

I've send mobo back to gigabyte, they tested and found no problem.

I tried a different CPU, still cut in half.

I tried different GPU, still RAM halved.

I've tried editing registry, unchecking that box for "maximum memory" in the msconfig boot menu. I've looked all through the BIOS and tweeked different settings. Nothing.

I'm hoping someone can help. I don't know what else to do here.

Included are screenshots.

 

Half RAM allocated to "Hardware Reserve"

 

Windows 10 2004 (19041.450) - Half of my RAM is "hardware reserved"

Ever since the update to version 2004, build 19041.450, the task manager shows half of my RAM as being hardware reserved. I have 2 sticks of 8GB RAM, on version 1903 and 1909, the task manager would show 16GB of RAM, with about 45MB hardware reserved. After
the update to 2004, I now have 8.1GB hardware reserved. I've tried changing BIOS settings, updating the BIOS, and even completely replacing the motherboard with no success.

Hardware:

Old motherboard: Gigabyte GA-AB350M-Gaming-3, BIOS versions F20, F25, and F31.

New motherboard: ASRock B450M-Pro4, BIOS versions P3.50 and P3.90.

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600

RAM: 2x8GB Samsung DDR4-2133 running at 2133 MHz

GPU: EVGA 1050Ti 4GB

SSD: Kingston 220 GB, primary drive

HDD: Toshiba 2TB, secondary drive

All the drivers are up to date according to their respective manufacturers and windows update.

I've seen the same issues discussed in the forums, but there were no obvious solution, it was always pointing to a BIOS issue. However, it used to work fine before the update to 2004, and I've tried 2 motherboards with 5 various BIOS versions.