Windows identifies only half of the available RAM.
Windows identifies only half of the available RAM.
Hello, your PC has been functioning well for years, yet you're encountering a problem where the BIOS recognizes RAM but only shows 16GB in monitoring tools. You've been gaming recently and haven't made any changes, so it's possible the issue stems from Windows updates or another software change. I doubted a motherboard fault since all RAM is detected, but it could still be a Windows-related problem.
Put the sticks in slots A2 and B2 on the motherboard. XMP should also function properly. You’re running four sticks—check two at a time to see if they’re recognized. I’d try each set together; if you bought them as two kits (two 8GB), that works.
This situation seems unusual. It appears the system reports full utilization with four slots used, but the default speed is set to 2133MHz instead of the 3200MHz listed in the BIOS. The display also shows "32GB" in the top right, which might be misleading. After checking, it looks like 16.1GB of RAM is reserved for hardware. Since you're using a 2600X without a dedicated graphics card, the lack of usable memory and slower speed could stem from how the system allocates resources or a potential motherboard issue.
And it seems the motherboard could be the issue too. The symptoms align with what you described: overheating CPU (50°C at idle), increased fan speeds, incorrect temperature readings possibly due to cleaning or pressure problems, and the PC shutting down during cooling attempts. Also, the GPU fans become extremely loud when gaming, and there are random crashes, screen glitches, and Bluetooth issues. A system crash occurred recently after updating BIOS with a USB stick. It’s possible each problem stems from a different cause, but repeatedly finding new faults suggests a potential hardware fault. Replacing the motherboard might resolve everything, though I don’t have another system to test components.
It looks like your system has 32 GB of RAM, but 16 GB is locked for some reason. Start by recharging the CMOS battery to reset the firmware to its default state. Then manually adjust the settings in UEFI if needed. If the issue persists, I asked you to run memtest86+ to verify your RAM. Also, double-check msconfig just in case.
You're checking the system settings to confirm the RAM configuration. Look for the memory section in msconfig and verify the speed and timings match your installed modules. Ensure the XMP profile is applied if you want to use the higher clock speed from the Adata kit.