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I have recently upgraded my windows 10 laptop from 4gb to 12gb of ram. However, windows says that 3.48 gb is usable. This was also the case when I had only 4gb installed.

I just checked the BIOS and ran a memory check that took around 30 minutes. But it said that the memory was fine, and windows boots just fine as well.

SYSTEM INFO:

Bios Version: F.44

Bios Vendor: Insyde

Bios Setup Utility: InsydeH20 setup Utility

Bios Setup Utility Revision: 3.5

Processor: AMD(r) A6-3420M APU With AMD Radeon(r) HD 6520G Graphics

Graphics: AMD Radeon(r) HD 6520G Graphics

Ram: 12.0GB, 3.48GB Usable by Windows

Operating System: Windows 10

Architecture: ACPI x64

Added Ram: 8GB Green Rasalas Ram from Amazon

Motherboard: Unknown

In conclusion, should I be worried? Is this just a bug with Windows 10 Update 1909? Does it mean that the Rasalas 8GB Ram Stick in my computer is unusable?

EDIT: I was looking around, and I discovered that a whopping 8.5 gb is hardware reserved!

EDIT2: I just swapped the ram cards, nothing happened. I had a suspicion that it was that, but I guess not.

Robert
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Pixelthegreat
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1 Answers1

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According to the HP Pavilion dv6 Entertainment PC Maintenance and Service Guide, these are the possible memory configurations for the HP Pavilion DV6-1355dx:

enter image description here

The maximum is then 8 GB (2 x 4 GB), so the additional 8 GB RAM that you bought cannot work for you. I suggest returning it to the shop.

I think that the most you can add is one RAM stick of 4 GB, as you already have one installed. It is best if the one you buy is of the exact same model as the one that came with the computer. This is to ensure that dual-channeling will work to improve performance.

Otherwise, as fitting RAM to motherboard is quite complicated, it is safer to use a scanner such available from Crucial that will detect your existing computer hardware and suggest a memory upgrade.

(old answer)

One possibility is that for some reason the 8.5 GB that are hardware reserved are actually allocated to the integrated display adapter. Being integrated, this adapter has no Video RAM (VRAM) of its own and uses part of your RAM.

To view the amount of video RAM in Windows 10:

  • Run Settings > System > Display
  • Click Advanced display settings
  • Select the monitor and click its link for Display adapter properties
  • The video RAM is listed in the Adapter tab next to "Dedicated Video Memory:".

If the amount of VRAM is excessive, this can be changed in the BIOS and may be called something close to "Graphics Settings", "Video Settings", or "VGA Share Memory Size".

If you find nothing, check the Windows registry for the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Intel\GMM. If the key exists and has an item named DedicatedSegmentSize which contains the reserved amount in megabytes. Its supposed maximal value is 512, which equals only 512 MB, but check it anyway.

If you still have found nothing, then the RAM you bought probably does not fit the motherboard (a mistake that is easy to do).

harrymc
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  • Firstly, probably should have mentioned that my Internal Graphics is AMD Radeon. Secondly, I didn't find anything in settings. Thirdly, the options in my BIOS are very sparse, having only diagnostic options, time options, and a few others, but none mentioning anything having to do with Video or Graphics settings. Kinda stupid that they didn't have any more options other than that. – Pixelthegreat May 11 '20 at 21:27
  • You should also add your computer or motherboard models and the RAM that you added. – harrymc May 12 '20 at 06:12
  • I'll try and hunt down the motherboard type. So far though, the HP listing for specifications for this specific laptop (a 1355dx) did not mention the motherboard, so I may have to look it up, or ask a friend of mine who was very helpful in fixing it once by replacing the motherboard. He probably knows in that case what model it is. – Pixelthegreat May 12 '20 at 14:32
  • If this is the HP Pavilion DV6-1355dx, then this is enough. What is the RAM? – harrymc May 12 '20 at 14:47
  • Note that according to the manual, the max possible is 8 GB (2 x 4 GB). How have you reached 12 GB? – harrymc May 12 '20 at 15:10
  • Well, sorry to admit, all its doing is reserving 2 3rds of the total ram, not like not allowing me to use it. Thing is, all of the online tutorials I've found haven't worked for me or I am not willing to try it because it is likely not the problem. – Pixelthegreat May 12 '20 at 17:19
  • What happens in such cases depends on the motherboard. It may detect the memory, or the BIOS does, but it may be unable to use it. – harrymc May 12 '20 at 19:04
  • I mean like windows is keeping me from using it. – Pixelthegreat May 19 '20 at 22:40
  • It's not Windows, it's the motherboard. – harrymc May 20 '20 at 06:44
  • I do know though, that some of the old 4gb stick that i was using was also reserved. – Pixelthegreat May 20 '20 at 16:45