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Old Aug 28, 2012, 06:26 AM   #1
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4gb ram, 1.99 Usable.

Over the past few days it felt like my computer was running much slower when running fewer programs, so after some investigating I found this problem. It says I have 4gb, but only 1.99gb is usable. The other 2gb is reserved for hardware in resource monitor. I did some reading and apparently you can go into boot options advanced settings in msconfig for a fix, problem is, none of those options are responsive.

I've run a memtest for both pieces of ram, and it came back with 0 errors. The manual says to run the ram in slots 1 and 3 if just a single piece or 1 and 3 for dual. Running both pieces in 1 and 3, the pc boots to loading operating system, then restarts and boots all the way. Running either ram in slot 1, pc turns on, but the screen won't load. Running either in 3, boots all the way and doesn't suffer the crash.

Would slot 1 breaking cause this 1.99 usable issue?

Running a GA-P55A-UD3 Mobo and Ripskill g.133 2gb ram sticks.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 06:27 AM   #2
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remove the CPU from its socket, clean the contacts and put it back in.


this happens from time to time, seems to be more common with large, heavy coolers.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 08:51 AM   #3
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That fixed it thanks.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 12:15 PM   #4
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WHOA! Sometimes the oddest solutions which are the least obvious to try. n1 mussels +1

Just goes to show the robustness of a modern CPU/chipset. In days of old, the thing wouldnt boot. Today, with error correction/error management, it is able to limp to life and let you work/save your data.

Cleaning the CPU + socket improves the electrical connections (or removes material causing capacitance or cross signalling) on the CPU pins linked to the Northbridge and/or RAM and/or MMU (memory management unit) ... depending on your CPU architecture and chipset.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 12:41 PM   #5
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WHOA! Sometimes the oddest solutions which are the least obvious to try. n1 mussels +1

Just goes to show the robustness of a modern CPU/chipset. In days of old, the thing wouldnt boot. Today, with error correction/error management, it is able to limp to life and let you work/save your data.

Cleaning the CPU + socket improves the electrical connections (or removes material causing capacitance or cross signalling) on the CPU pins linked to the Northbridge and/or RAM and/or MMU (memory management unit) ... depending on your CPU architecture and chipset.
this problem is specific to intel core i processors, but it keeps cropping up more and more.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 12:59 PM   #6
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this problem is specific to intel core i processors, but it keeps cropping up more and more.
Agree... You can also try backing off on the mount pressure a bit as well before a remount and see if that works.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 03:02 PM   #7
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is this because of crappy cpu quality? or crappy socket quality?
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 03:37 PM   #8
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is this because of crappy cpu quality? or crappy socket quality?
design flaw, basically. its possible to have no/poor contact on some pins, causing issues like this. usually only caused by large/tight third party coolers.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 04:48 PM   #9
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so noob intel designers lololol.

the socket on my current mobo has a depression in the middle. socket is made by lotto.
foxconn stuff is way more better.
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Old Aug 28, 2012, 05:15 PM   #10
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Would make sense, since this all started happening when I changed my fan over to one at least twice the size.
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Old Aug 30, 2012, 06:11 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mussels View Post
design flaw, basically. its possible to have no/poor contact on some pins, causing issues like this. usually only caused by large/tight third party coolers.
Quote:
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so noob intel designers lololol.

the socket on my current mobo has a depression in the middle. socket is made by lotto.
foxconn stuff is way more better.
Not really "noob intel designers" if it only happens with large, heavy, aftermarket coolers is it?
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Old Aug 30, 2012, 06:12 PM   #12
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so noob intel designers lololol.

the socket on my current mobo has a depression in the middle. socket is made by lotto.
foxconn stuff is way more better.
I'll say otherwise. It's amazing it works at all with bad contact, given how complex modern computers (and maybe especially CPU's) are.
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Old Aug 30, 2012, 06:41 PM   #13
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this problem is specific to intel core i processors, but it keeps cropping up more and more.
Ahh crap.. I'm looking forward to dealing with that one then ><.. Well at least I know how to now. TY Mussels.
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