Doesn't see the full RAM. Why doesn't the computer see RAM? Check motherboard limitations

The idea behind installing RAM is to insert the memory cards into the appropriate slots on the computer's motherboard and turn it on. In fact, various problems often occur in which Windows does not see the RAM. These problems can be caused by both hardware and software problems. In this article, we will look at the most common reasons that cause a situation where Windows 7 or Windows 8 does not see the entire amount of RAM.

You are using a 32 bit version of Windows 7 or Windows 8

The maximum amount of RAM that 32-bit versions of Windows can “see” is 4 GB. Therefore, if you have more RAM, you should install the 64-bit version to take advantage of that memory. To find out what version of Windows is installed on your computer, open the “System” item in the Control Panel (or right-click on “My Computer” and select “Properties”).

In the “System type” item, information about the bitness of your version of Windows will be displayed. However, it is not only the system bit size that can affect the amount of available RAM in Windows.

Your version of Windows has a maximum memory limit

In addition to the bitness of the operating system, the amount of visible memory is also affected by which edition of Windows you are using. For example, if you have Windows 7 Starter installed on your computer, the maximum available amount of RAM is 2GB, not 4. Windows 7 Home Basic users only have 8GB of RAM available, even if they are using a 64-bit version of the OS. . There are similar limits for the latest version - Windows 8.

Maximum amount of available RAM memory in Windows 8

Memory is allocated for operation of the built-in video card or other equipment

Various computer hardware can use some of the system RAM to operate. The most common option is the use of RAM by integrated video controllers (integrated video card). But this is not the only option when hardware uses RAM.

You can see the amount of RAM used by the built-in video card and other computer equipment in the same “System” window. If memory is allocated to them, you will see two values ​​- installed RAM and available for use, which will be displayed in parentheses. Accordingly, the difference between them is the size of RAM that the devices took for themselves.

The motherboard has a memory limit

Motherboards also have limits on the available RAM memory. Just because all the memory modules have successfully fit into the slots does not mean that the motherboard is capable of handling all that memory.

To find out if the motherboard sees memory, enter the computer's BIOS. To do this, immediately after turning on the PC and before starting to load the operating system, press the appropriate button for this; information about it is usually on the screen (As a rule, this is F2 or Delete). In most BIOS versions, you will see information about installed memory on the first screen.

If all the memory is visible in the BIOS, but not in Windows, then we are looking for a problem in Windows. If the memory is not displayed in the BIOS, then you should look for the problem at a lower level than the operating system. First, you should familiarize yourself with the specifications of the motherboard (for example, find it on the Internet).

Incorrectly installed memory

If you are sure that the motherboard supports the entire amount of installed memory, but it still does not appear in the BIOS, it makes sense to check whether you inserted it correctly.

Turn off the power to the computer, open it, it is better if it is grounded. Remove the memory sticks and carefully place them back in place, making sure that the memory is seated correctly. You can also clean the RAM contacts using a hard eraser.

In some cases, for proper operation of RAM you need to install it in specific slots - in this case, look for information in the instructions for the computer motherboard.

Another way to diagnose a problematic memory module is to remove them one at a time, then turn on the computer and look at the amount of available memory.

Problems with the RAM itself

If you are having any problems with your memory, it may be the cause. You can use a RAM testing utility such as memtest86 or use the built-in Windows memory diagnostic utility. You can also recommend testing the memory sticks one by one by installing them in the computer - this way you can more accurately determine the faulty module.

I hope this article about possible reasons why your computer does not see memory will help you solve the problem.

This problem can occur on any Windows. Let's figure out why all the memory on the computer is not available.

Bit depth/bit depth and editions of Windows OS may have limitations

Due to the bit depth of Windows, there may be problems detecting all RAM. All Windows that are 32-bit (x86) cannot use more than 3.2 GB of RAM for operation. That is, even if you have, for example, 8GB of RAM installed, Windows 32bit will only be able to use 3.2GB of memory due to limitations. Also, some editions of operating systems may have restrictions. For example, Windows 7 home basic can only use 4GB of RAM!

Disable the Maximum Memory setting in MSCONFIG

Everything is simple here: if you were trying to increase the performance of your PC, you could enable the “Maximum memory” setting. It’s easy to disable it, go to Control Panel --> Administration --> System Configuration --> Boot tab --> Advanced settings --> uncheck Maximum memory!

Allocating memory to the integrated video card

For those who have an integrated video card, RAM can be reserved for it. To disable memory reservation for the integrated video card, you need to go to and turn off this setting there.

Look for the following values ​​in the BIOS:

• Display Cache Window Size
• Frame Buffer Size
• Int. Gfx Memory Size Select
• Internal Graphic Mode Select
• Internal Graphics Mode Select
• On-Chip Frame Buffer Size
• On-Chip Video Window Size
• Onboard VGA Frame Buffer
• Share Memory Size
• System Share Memory Size
• UMA Frame Buffer Size
• VGA Share Memory Size
• Onboard Video Memory Size

And disable memory reservation - DISABLE, NONE or set the minimum value as is.If you do not find such values, you will have to use Google and find these settings for your BIOS / UEFI.

Reserving memory for system needs in BIOS / UEFI

The BIOS settings have various restrictions on the use of RAM, and it is often because of them that Windows does not see all the RAM. Look for the following settings in BIOS/UEFI and change them:

• HPET Mode (if there is such a function) should be 64-bit;
  
• Memory Hole must be in Disabled state;
  
• Memory Remapping;
  
• DRAM Over 4G Remapping;
  
• H/W DRAM Over 4GB Remapping;
  
• H/W Memory Hole Remapping;
  
• Hardware Memory Hole;
  
• Memory Hole Remapping;
  
• Memory Remap Feature - all these values ​​must be in the Enabled state.

If you do not find such values, you will have to use Google and find these settings for your BIOS / UEFI. Very often, in this caseSimply resetting the BIOS settings helps, try this too.

Sometimes these values ​​cannot be found because the BIOS is outdated and then it would not hurt to update it. I showed how to do this in one of video.

What other problems could there be with identifying RAM?

If you have problems with the motherboard or the RAM itself, this can cause the same consequences; Windows will not see all the RAM. To identify problems it is worth doing Motherboard and RAM diagnostics.

Sometimes it helps to simply plug the RAM strips into the motherboard. Setting the RAM strips to dual-channel mode also helps.

Those who have non-original versions of Windows installed (assemblies) also experience problems identifying the entire RAM. Use original Windows distributions and you will not have such problems.

When working with Windows systems, you can hear complaints from many users that sometimes the computer does not see the full amount of RAM, or the entire installed amount is unavailable for use. Not everyone knows why this happens, so it’s worth understanding this problem, and at the same time finding out what specific steps can be taken to correct the situation, if, of course, this is possible.

Why doesn't the computer see RAM?

Let's start by finding out the reasons for this phenomenon. The most important condition for determining the entire installed amount of RAM, most experts call restrictions on motherboards and operating systems. For example, why doesn’t the computer see the second one, which is installed additionally? Yes, only because the motherboard is not capable of supporting the amount of RAM above the limit set for it. Also, the reason may be that installing additional memory sticks in a certain slot is also only possible up to a certain limit.

Operating systems of the Windows family also play an important role. Their problem lies in the architecture used for each specific modification (x86 or x64). 32-bit operating systems have a strict limit on the use of RAM at only 4 GB. Some modifications of the same Windows 7 determine volumes above this limit, but they don’t want to work with them in any way (although they can).

Often the situation is aggravated by the fact that the RAM itself can be occupied by active system or other processes, not to mention the fact that if the motherboard has an integrated video card of the Video-on-Board class, and not a discrete one, part of the RAM can be reserved and under it. Finally, we cannot exclude situations where the computer does not see the second stick of RAM if different volumes or different types of RAM are installed. And, of course, we cannot discount the support from the primary I/O systems themselves. If the BIOS does not recognize the memory, for example, due to the outdated firmware itself or incorrect settings, actions taken in the operating system will not detect it either.

Incorrect installation of memory sticks

Based on all of the above, let's move on to possible solutions to the current problem. To begin with, just check whether the memory sticks themselves are physically installed correctly.

Loose contact contacts can cause this situation to occur. If the computer does not see the second RAM, which is different in class from the first stick, please note that, for example, for dual-channel DDR sticks it is recommended to install only equipment from the same manufacturer and only the same volume. It goes without saying that you cannot install types that differ from each other (some “specialists” try to combine, say, DDR2 and DDR4, which is unacceptable).

RAM problems

Quite often, the reason that the computer does not see the RAM may be a malfunction of the strips themselves. We are, of course, talking about additionally installed volumes. After all, if the RAM were not recognized at all (in the same BIOS system), starting the computer would simply be impossible.

In order not to use third-party software like Memetest86+, which the average user may not understand, it is recommended to perform a memory check using the system by calling the necessary tool from the “Run” menu with the mdsched combination.

Here you will need to use an immediate check with a reboot. It is quite possible, at least partially, but the problem will be eliminated.

Problems with system capacity

The biggest problem is the bitness of the installed operating system. The architecture of the 32-bit OS itself is such that it is simply not able to work with amounts of RAM that exceed 4 GB. This problem is partially solved by disabling the restriction, which will be described below.

But, as a rule, if you plan to install modern programs for working with multimedia or resource-intensive games on your computer, it is better to reinstall the system, giving preference to Windows x64 modifications.

Configuration setup

For operating systems Windows 7 and below, the problem of boot settings that are present in the configuration is often described. There is usually a limit set with a certain value.

If the computer does not see RAM for this reason, you need to do the following:

1. Call the configurator (msconfig).
2. On the boot tab, go to additional settings and uncheck the box for setting the maximum RAM.
3. Then completely reboot the system.

The computer does not see the RAM completely: video card problems

Another common situation is integrated video chips. When their allocated memory is small, to ensure the correct operation of such devices, additional volume is reserved from RAM (this is somewhat reminiscent of reserving space on a hard drive for virtual memory). In this case, the setting can only be made in the BIOS.

• When you log in to the primary system when you turn on your computer or laptop, you need to find an item like Onboard Video Memory Size, Onboard VGA Frame Buffer, VGA Share Memory Size, or others.
• Set this option to Disabled or automatic sizing.

Resetting and updating BIOS

However, it also happens that the computer does not see the RAM solely for the reason that it is not recognized at the BIOS level. There are only two options: either the settings are set incorrectly, or the outdated firmware of the primary system itself is not designed to work with new equipment.

In the first case, it will be enough to simply perform a complete reset of the parameters using the appropriate item (Load Setup Defaults or something similar), after which an automatic restart will follow.

The second option is somewhat more complicated, since quite often it is difficult for the average user to update the firmware on their own. The installed firmware must fully correspond to the primary system itself, and the update must be done as carefully as possible, since one wrong step can lead to the most unpredictable consequences. With UEFI systems everything is much simpler, since updates for them can be installed directly in the Windows environment. But, again, the updated firmware must meet all installation requirements (version, chip manufacturer, software developer, etc.).

A few final words

It remains to add that in the case when the full and available volumes of RAM are approximately at the same level, you can try to terminate unnecessary active processes, disable some startup items, or deactivate even unused or unnecessary background services and components of Windows systems, which will significantly reduce the load on the operating system. memory and processor, and it will also add speed.

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RUB

RAM becomes the cause of many troubles in a computer. For example, its quantity is one of the key factors on which the possibility and stability of games and various programs depends. Over time, a small amount of RAM leads to the fact that we need to change or add additional modules.

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RAM and operating system

It is important to know that in terms of bit depth, Windows operating systems are divided into two main types.

As a rule, most of our computers are installed with 32-bit Windows OS.

This is the first reason why the computer does not see RAM. Please note that this type of software is designed to work with RAM with a total capacity of about 4 GB. The OS simply does not notice the rest of the memory, regardless of how many modules are installed on the PC and what their total volume is.

The solution to this problem is to install a 64-bit version of Windows, if the PC processor can work with it (which most modern chips can do).

You can get information about the OS version in two main ways:

If you have a 64-bit OS installed, but the computer still does not see the RAM, then the reason lies in another plane.

Limiting the amount of RAM by the operating system

When developing the Windows operating systems, Microsoft provided some limits on the RAM that could be used by a particular OS. Let's look at the values ​​using the example of different versions of Windows 7. Let's immediately make a reservation that we are considering 64-bit versions (with the exception of “Win ​​7 Starter,” where there is none).

• Initial – 2 GB;
• Home Basic – 8 GB;
• Home extended – 16 GB;
• Professional – 192 GB;
• Corporate – 192 GB;
• Maximum – 192 GB;

A similar picture is observed in Win 8, although the thresholds there are much higher.

• Basic – 128 GB;
• Corporate – 512 GB;
• Professional – 512 GB.

Such limitations are quite normal, since cheaper versions of software always have more modest potential.

Therefore, if your computer does not see RAM, be sure to check the version of your OS.

Memory consumption for components

Almost every computer part requires a certain amount of RAM to function correctly. In particular, it is always used by the integrated graphics card, unless the PC uses a discrete alternative. And there are a lot of such components of a PC, each of which takes at least a small piece of RAM.

You can check this guess through the “System” menu in the control panel.

It specifies two RAM values:

1. Total (first digit);
2. Available (number in brackets).

In this case, calculating RAM consumption will not be the slightest difficulty. A simple mathematical operation that subtracts the available value from the total. The difference between them is the actual consumption of the internal devices of the PC and the system.

Volume limitation by motherboard

Not only the operating system can limit the amount of RAM, but also one of the components from which users least expect such a trick - the motherboard. It can have up to six slots for installing boards, but there is no guarantee that they will all work at once.

In this case, the same principle applies as the OS. The functionality of cheaper components is limited for the sale of expensive products.

If your computer does not see RAM, but the software can work with the installed amount, you need to go into the motherboard BIOS and see if there is a limitation. As a rule, you can see information about the available amount of RAM immediately after entering this menu.

If the BIOS displays the installed amount of RAM, but the OS still does not see it, then the problem lies somewhere in the software plane.

Incorrect RAM installation

Despite the apparent ease of installation, the RAM module can also be installed incorrectly. If the amount of RAM is not displayed in either the OS or BIOS, then the problem lies directly in the board. In this case, you need to carefully disassemble the PC and check that the device is installed correctly.