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- May 18, 1997
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I am having some issues with a P55 motherboard this morning that I want to reach out to our community about and see if you guys have any ideas what is afoot here.
The problem is this. I have installed 4GB of RAM (2x2GB), but the OS only sees "1.99 GB Usable." I have used both Core i5 and Core i7 processors in this ASUS Maximus III Gene motherboard as well as confirmed this issue with Corsair, Patriot, and OCZ memory modules. The problem however is not static. It has "gone away" once when changing out the processor, but then returned when switching out RAM modules. The original thought was that the DIMMs were not seating well, but I have gone as far to put a 5lbs. weight on top of the DIMMs. I am using an v7600 Windows 7 64-bit OS. I have tried turning off Superfetch services as well as disabling remapping the memory in the BIOS.
Image is HERE.
As you can see in the screenshot above, 1.99 GB is marked as usable and the Task Manager verifies that total usable. Trying to force more will "lock up" an application. But do notice that CPUZ does see the full 4GB. When the system POSTs however, it only shows as having "2048MB" installed.
I have found one more instance of this on THG forums using a GIGABYTE P55-UD4 motherboard so it does not seem to be an ASUS-only issue. If you have any ideas, please sound off in this HardForum thread. Hopefully I am just overlooking something simple.
Edit: Our solution to the issue.
Sounds kind of crazy, but we have verified that testing here today. If you did not see our post earlier, we had an ASUS P55 system that was "losing" half of its installed RAM. After about 7 hours of testing here today, we finally have verified what the issue is. It seems that I was tightening the water block down too tight on the P55 chipset motherboard. Simply loosening the water block solved the issue and allowed all the RAM to be seen. I am also currently testing a P55 chipset board from DFI. I was able to replicate the issue on that motherboard as well.
I have to admit to NOT using the tensioning springs as shown below. Koolance water blocks specify that these mounting springs be used and I was ignoring that, obviously the springs are there for more than just one reason.
The problem is this. I have installed 4GB of RAM (2x2GB), but the OS only sees "1.99 GB Usable." I have used both Core i5 and Core i7 processors in this ASUS Maximus III Gene motherboard as well as confirmed this issue with Corsair, Patriot, and OCZ memory modules. The problem however is not static. It has "gone away" once when changing out the processor, but then returned when switching out RAM modules. The original thought was that the DIMMs were not seating well, but I have gone as far to put a 5lbs. weight on top of the DIMMs. I am using an v7600 Windows 7 64-bit OS. I have tried turning off Superfetch services as well as disabling remapping the memory in the BIOS.
Image is HERE.
As you can see in the screenshot above, 1.99 GB is marked as usable and the Task Manager verifies that total usable. Trying to force more will "lock up" an application. But do notice that CPUZ does see the full 4GB. When the system POSTs however, it only shows as having "2048MB" installed.
I have found one more instance of this on THG forums using a GIGABYTE P55-UD4 motherboard so it does not seem to be an ASUS-only issue. If you have any ideas, please sound off in this HardForum thread. Hopefully I am just overlooking something simple.
Edit: Our solution to the issue.
Sounds kind of crazy, but we have verified that testing here today. If you did not see our post earlier, we had an ASUS P55 system that was "losing" half of its installed RAM. After about 7 hours of testing here today, we finally have verified what the issue is. It seems that I was tightening the water block down too tight on the P55 chipset motherboard. Simply loosening the water block solved the issue and allowed all the RAM to be seen. I am also currently testing a P55 chipset board from DFI. I was able to replicate the issue on that motherboard as well.
I have to admit to NOT using the tensioning springs as shown below. Koolance water blocks specify that these mounting springs be used and I was ignoring that, obviously the springs are there for more than just one reason.
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