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Strange issue with RAM usability

[Ion]

[Ion]

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I have an i7-920 system that is having some strange issues with the amount of RAM that is available. Specs are:
i7-920 (OCed)
EVGA X58 3x SLI
6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 (OEM stuff)
3x Radeon HD7770
320GB HDD

running Windows 7 Professional x64. When I open up the "System" window in Control Panel, it says "6.00 GB RAM (1.99 GB Usable)". Opening up Resource Monitor ways that 4GB is "hardware reserved." Is it reserved as a buffer for the GPUs? Or is there something else at work here? Would a reinstall possibly help?

Until recently, it said that 4GB was usable, and I decided to ignore it then as 4GB was sufficient--however, 2GB is not.
 
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brandonwh64

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Have you tried to reset the bios to defaults? I would write down your OC numbers and do this to see if it changes.
 
[Ion]

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brandonwh64 said:
Have you tried to reset the bios to defaults? I would write down your OC numbers and do this to see if it changes.
Click to expand...

Just tried that, still only 1.99GB usable.
 
95Viper

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[Ion] said:
I have an i7-920 system that is having some strange issues with the amount of RAM that is available. Specs are:
i7-920 (OCed)
EVGA X58 3x SLI
6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 (OEM stuff)3x Radeon HD7770
320GB HDD

running Windows 7 Professional x64. When I open up the "System" window in Control Panel, it says "8.00 GB RAM (1.99 GB Usable)". Opening up Resource Monitor ways that 4GB is "hardware reserved." Is it reserved as a buffer for the GPUs? Or is there something else at work here? Would a reinstall possibly help?

Until recently, it said that 4GB was usable, and I decided to ignore it then as 4GB was sufficient--however, 2GB is not.
Click to expand...

You show you installed 6GB; however, windows is showing 8GB... was this a typo?
 
[Ion]

[Ion]

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Windows accesses RAM through virtual memory - check your virtual memory settings and see if Windows or some other program has changed them. If you're letting Windows control virtual memory, try setting it manually.
 
Sasqui

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Here's a MS forum post on the exact topic:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...ndows-7-hardware-reserved-memory-way-too-much

This was supposedly the answer:

Hi,

The Hardware Reserved memory is reserved for use by the BIOS and some drivers for other peripherals. Therefore, I suggest updating BIOS and all possible devices' driver from manufacture's site.

I would like you to know the Hardware Reserved memory mostly depends on hardware.

For more information:

Pushing the Limits of Windows: Physical Memory

http://blogs.technet.com/b/markrussinovich/archive/2008/07/21/3092070.aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978610/en-us

Best Regards,
Niki

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Click to expand...

The support.microsoft link has a laundry list of things to try.
 
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