How do I get my operating system to use all 16 GIGS of RAM?

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 04:17 PM

Yes Rush, my video card is 1280 RAM? EVGA GTX570.

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 04:21 PM

Rush, I don't know how to capture the Task Manager image that you did but here are my numbers:

Total: 8183
Cached: 1358
Available: 6284
Free: 5101

**rush2049** · 11-24-11, 04:23 PM

That right there is saying 8GB
are you sure you have 16GB

Check the labels on the side of those ram sticks.....

and for future reference:
the Print Screen button on your keyboard or sometimes abbreviated PrtScn:
PrtScn: will capture your current screen in your clipboard, paste into paint and save it
ALT + PrtScn: will save the window currently in focus in your clipboard....

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 04:32 PM

On my Computer>properties> it comes up 16GIG installed but only 8 available. So it knows it has 16 there but for some reason it will only allow 8. I feel jipped! Hehehe I won't my RAM and I want it NOW! Hahahaha

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 04:40 PM

Rush, I've never used "Clipboard" so if you can can you walk me thru that step?

**DJ Ms. White** · 11-24-11, 04:44 PM

Hit Print Screen.
Hit the windows button on your keyboard, and type "paint".
Cntr+v
Save it your computer, and then upload to either here as an attachment or to photobucket (then post it here).

**rush2049** · 11-24-11, 04:52 PM

clipboard is where stuff goes when you 'copy' it..... its like telling the computer "save this, I want it later"
but it only ever remembers one thing, text, picture, file, or what have you.... only 1 at a time.

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 06:30 PM

Rush, how do you include attachemnts here on TPG? I've done it on other message boards but not here.

**Ballsyone** · 11-24-11, 06:35 PM

Just got this form the EVGA message board:

Do you have your memory settings set manually in BIOS? You need to make sure that the following are all at their correct values. The last four entries here on my list are the four numbers for your RAM timings, say for example, 9-9-9-24.

•DRAM Voltage
•tCAS
•tRCD
•tRP
•tRAS
You could also benefit from a reseat of your memory banks. Pull them out completely, and then reinsert them until they click.

Why can't I utilize all my RAM?

**HeavyG** · 11-24-11, 06:42 PM

Does it say "16GB Installed (8 GB Usable)"?

If this is the case, the cause could be something much more tragic. This can be cause from damaged or bent pins in the CPU socket on your motherboard. If those pins are not making contact with the CPU, then many motherboard failures can occur, including the "memory usable" glitch. Basically, your computer knows it has 16 GB of RAM, but since the pins are not making electrical contact with the CPU, the memory is not being utilized.

I hope this isn't the case, but I have seen it happen myself. Sometimes you can identify the bent pin and bend it back into place, but it takes some serious precision and a magnifying glass. I have fixed a couple older Intel boards this way in the past, but you can easily do more damage to pins by trying to fix the bent ones if you don't know what you are doing.

Sometimes,you can just try tightening your CPU fan down a bit, and the extra pressure will help the pin make contact with the CPU. You may want to consider pulling your CPU and inspecting for damage first. Additional pressure COULD put additional damage if the pins are bent back the wrong way.