I have 8gb of Skill 1600 memory installed in an ASRock motherboard. The BIOS sees all 8gb ok and is clocked at 1066. However, in Windows 7 64bit the system only allows loading into 4gb of memory. Below is a picture of the Resource Monitor that says that 4gb is "Hardware Reserved". Since I have never ventured into the 8gb territory I am not sure what causes that "reserve". IThe only jumpers I can find on the motherboard are for speed settings and mine is at 1066. The BIOS does say the memory speed is 1066.Other than the above the memory works ok in 32bit or 64bit dual boot.DualCore 8400 3ghz

You mean FSX only allows 4gb? It is a 32 bit application. Your system is registering 8192gb. I'm sure Word Not Allowed or someone else can go into the details if needed.

Is there something set for "MSConfig -> Boot-> Advanced options -> Maximum memory"?

The Maximum Memory option in MSCONFIG will automatically show 8192 (MB) when the check mark is set aove the reading. However, if you leave the page and return it is now set to 0. I assume zero is a "max default".. I was able to set to 8000(MB) but it reverted to 3092(MB). Clearly something is odd but I can't find the secret combination. In fact iI was trying various numbers and 256 stayed. Booted and Blue Screen. Had to go to Safe Mode to get iMSCONFIG to at least set max memory to zero. Will keep trying but another Microsoft black hole unless you have one of those $25 books for Dummies.

Finally found Microsoft info on Max Memory. Yes, you can set max memory by ticking the Make Permanent button and accept the dire warning about the permanacy of the change. However, I cannot select any value above 3092. There is something before the Boot sequence that defines the usage of the memory despite the system recognizing the full 8gb in my picture.

Is your BIOS up to date?and Windows?Do you have an idea about when it started to happen? did you recently install any new devices (the new RAM maybe)? upgraded Windows from Vista 64?Maybe RAMMap can give us a clue of what's hogging your RAM, I dunno. You can use "File -> Save" to take a memory snapshot and upload it if you want

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by dazz

DickTo me your RESMON graph is "normal" - have a look in task manager and that 5GB (4993 MB) for Hardware Reserved is actually what physical RAM is available to you for programs, etc. The rest is probably what Windows 7 has cached, superfetch etc.Does TM show your Physical RAM total of 8GB - if it does then Windows recognises it and is using it correctly.I wouldn't set any figures using msconfig as I thought that "advanced" option was primarily for diagnostic purposes only.As Dazz says RAMMAP is an excellent tool.RegardsPeterH

Found the problem. After going through messages in Tom's hardware I saw mention of memory remapping in the BIOS. Setting that enabled now gives me full memory with only 1mb "hardware reserved". The description given for that option was relative to a PCI memory change so I skipped it.Thanks to all for their help!

Hi Nudata.Can you post a link to that article so we can see what the issue and what the solution wasThxManny

Manny, it's a simple BIOS option to remap the memory. If there is one (usually older boards have it), it should be on. I don't believe newer ones have it, I don't think mine does...

Manny, it's a simple BIOS option to remap the memory. If there is one (usually older boards have it), it should be on. I don't believe newer ones have it, I don't think mine does...

Yep, Look for something about memory mapping in BIOS, or it may be automatic as above. The MSCONFIG ended up at unchecked.