Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Gigabyte Z69XP & GSkill Memory - 16 gb memory (8 gb usable)

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Gigabyte Z69XP & GSkill Memory - 16 gb memory (8 gb usable)

    I have a computer, running Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard x64, which has 16 gb of ram, but 8 gb shows as "hardware reserved" on performance monitor. The OS sees it, shows up in computer properties, but states that only 8 gb usable. Not getting any errors, all seems to be operating fine. The bios sees the menory and so does the os, but the 8gb is hardware reserved. Here are the specifics on my system:

    motherboard > Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-issd
    CPU > Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600
    Memory > G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop
    Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

    I have tried a lot of settings to no avail. At this point, I suspect possibly memory timing/voltage settings. If you have any suggestions which can help, would really appreciate it. I just bought and set this system about a month ago. Thanks!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Ensure all sticks are seated firmly, and that you have the latest BIOS. Might also want to check the CPU and socket (no bent pins, no thermal compound seeped under the CPU/in the socket.


    Pls offer comments on support I provide, HERE, in order to help me do a better job here:

    Tman

    Comment

    • #3
      Got me puzzled!

      Tradesman, thanks for the reply. I have check all the common issues, but it looks like my issues is more involved. Here are some of hte things I have tried:

      1) reseatting memory multiple times. Swapping memory cards between channel A & B, etc. Also, I tried just two cards in channel A and then in channel B. With two cards, meory shows up correctly as 8gb available and usable, only 89 mb hardware reserved.
      2) Also, tried manuallyset memory card timing, tried multiple different settings in bios.
      3) removed pci video card, using internal video, no difference.

      Bottom line:

      Whenever I have more that two of the 4gb memory cards installed, this memory shows as hardware reservered. If I just put in 1 or 2 memory cards, the memory is not reservered.

      I have to conclude one of the following:

      Either one of the hardware components on the motherboard is possibly reserving this memory or the Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 operating system is doing this.

      I know that this os supports "fault tolerant memory synchronization", and I am wondering of this is possibly a servie or registry setting that can be disabled.

      This is really got me puzzled!

      Comment

      • #4
        I'll try to do a little research later today, maybe if GSkill pops in they will have a quick fix....have you tried resetting the CMOS through the mobo jumper? If running RAID though and you try this will have to set it up again.


        Pls offer comments on support I provide, HERE, in order to help me do a better job here:

        Tman

        Comment

        • #5
          Progress Made!

          Well, I narrowed down what component is causing the problem. Turns out it was the Windows operating system I was using!

          I was running Windows Server 2008 R2, and this is what was forcing the hardware reservation of 8 gb out of my total 16 gb of memory.

          I found this out by wipng out the drive and installing Windows 7 Ultimate on my computer. when install was complete, checked, all 16 gb of memory available and only 17 mb being reserver for hardware.

          Now my questions are as follows:

          1) how is the hardware reservation being established by the os? Is it set in the registry, is this a security policy or what?
          2) Next question is why is this set by default and why can't I find any information about this?

          If anyone has any answers let me know, I would really like to know!

          Comment

          • #6
            In part hardware reservation is a combination of the Mobo/BIOS and the OS, generally most will reserve some to 'help' the GPU, could try googling for further info


            Pls offer comments on support I provide, HERE, in order to help me do a better job here:

            Tman

            Comment

            • #7
              More Info

              Did the googling thing, no luck so far. I have not found any articles referencing Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 reserving ram memory for hardware. In my case, the bios had nothing to do with it. In fact, there are no related settings in my bios for memory mapping or redundant memory settings. I know these settings are typically found in the motherboard bios of server hardware platforms.

              Comment

              • #8
                http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...(v=vs.85).aspx

                You must have: Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation

                Thank you
                GSKILL TECH

                Comment

                • #9
                  More Info

                  No, I had Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Standard, which supports 32gb. I thing what is going on, is that the current hardware devices, i.e., sata drive controller, etc., do not have supported drivers for Server 2008, so the Windows 7 drivers are being used. I confirmed this with some other articles I have seen.

                  I confirmed on the Gigabyte site, that they do not have supproted drivers for server 2008 at this time. Once these drivers are available I will probably try reinstalling Server 2008 again to see if this resolves the problem.

                  Comment

                  Previous template Next
                  Working...
                  X