'hardware reserved' for RAM seems high

[Mark85]

Hi All

Hopefully this is the right section to seek an answer to my question but do feel free to tell me otherwise. While I'm not computer illiterate I might need to google some suggestions as I go and work keeps me busy, so do bear with me.

I purchased my computer in July this year but due to work commitments I have never tested it's limits very much. Something I spotted a few months ago (but thought was a one-off anomaly) was the available RAM, which is about 50% lower than I would expect. I spotted it again today and when I looked into it the 'hardware reserved' is 8788MB of the installed 16384MB. The laptop was purchased with a single 16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 so an issue with a second RAM stick should not be the issue.

As it's not noted below, the graphics card is a NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 - 6.0GB GDDR6, GeForce app says the drivers are up to date in case that is a query. Windows 10 installed is 64 bit as well.

I have attached some screenshots below from anything that I think could be relevant, if you think it is a hardware issue then do let me know.... as it is new I can return it to PC Specialist for assessment. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.


OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.18363 Build 18363
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DESKTOP-1B72B3I
System Manufacturer PC Specialist
System Model GK7NR0R
System Type x64-based PC
System SKU 0001
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 4800H with Radeon Graphics, 2900 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. N.1.10PCS00, 29/05/2020
SMBIOS Version 3.2
Embedded Controller Version 1.16
BIOS Mode UEFI
BaseBoard Manufacturer TongFang
BaseBoard Product GK7NR0R
BaseBoard Version Standard
Platform Role Mobile
Secure Boot State Off
PCR7 Configuration Elevation Required to View
Windows Directory C:\windows
System Directory C:\windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume3
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.18362.1171"
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Total Physical Memory 7.42 GB
Available Physical Memory 3.24 GB
Total Virtual Memory 12.4 GB
Available Virtual Memory 6.20 GB
Page File Space 5.00 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Kernel DMA Protection Off
Virtualisation-based security Not enabled
Device Encryption Support Elevation Required to View
Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes
Hyper-V - Virtualisation Enabled in Firmware Yes
Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection Yes

 

[SpyderTracks]

Can you post your full specs from the order page?

 

[Mark85]

Thanks for getting back, details below from the 'my orders' section of PC Specialists website:

Chassis & Display	Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD 144Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)	AMD Ryzen™ 7 Eight Core Processor 4800H (2.9GHz, 4.2GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)	16GB Corsair 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card	NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2060 - 6.0GB GDDR6 Video RAM - DirectX® 12.1
1st Storage Drive	250GB Samsung 860 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (up to 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW) Change to: NONE
1st M.2 SSD Drive	512GB INTEL® 660p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (up to 1500MB/sR | 1000MB/sW)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive	NONE Change to: 250GB SAMSUNG 970 EVO PLUS M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2300MB/W)
Memory Card Reader	Integrated 3 in 1 Card Reader (Full Size SD / SDHC / SDXC)
AC Adaptor	1 x 180W AC Adaptor
Power Cable	1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery	Optimus Series Integrated 46WH Lithium Ion Battery
Thermal Paste	STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
Sound Card	2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless	GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0 Change to: GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options	1 x USB 3.1 PORT (Type C) + 2 x USB 3.1 PORTS + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Keyboard Language	OPTIMUS SERIES RGB BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System	Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence [KUK-00001]
Operating System Language	United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media	Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software	FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus	NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Browser	Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse	INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam	INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty	3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Delivery	STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time	Standard Build - Approximately 7 to 9 working days
Promotional Item	Get Death Stranding on PC with select NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs! Promotional Code (redacted)
Welcome Book	PCSpecialist Welcome Book - United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

 

[ubuysa]

In the Run command box enter msconfig and check that you're using a 'normal startup'. Also, on the Boot tab ensure Windows 10 is highlighted (if you have other boot options) and click Advance Options. Ensure that no boxes are checked here.

Also worth opening an elevated command prompt (or PowerShell session) and run the command sfc /scannow to check your Windows system files.

 

[Mark85]

Normal startup confirmed, only box ticked in Advanced Options was greyed out so I assume it is not active?

sfc /scannow did repair corrupt files so I restarted the laptop, 'hardware reserved' remained the same afterwards.

 

[barlew]

I did a bit of googling on this earlier and I saw two fixes.

The first one was on a desktop motherboard so may not be applicable but the user had to switch the RAM into a different slot for it to allow him to use the whole amount of memory. It was something to do with the channel configuration on his motherboard.

The second one was to open "msconfig" go to "boot" click on "Advanced options" and then make sure Maximum memory is checked. Windows should automatically populate the box with your full RAM size.

*edit for spelling"

 

[Mark85]

Thanks for the suggestion, unfortunately checking the maximum memory box and restarting didn't help. Screwdrivers I have to hand are too large so I can't reseat or relocate the RAM just now. I'll to head off and find an open shop with smaller screwdrivers later today if I can.

 

[SpyderTracks]

There’s nothing wrong with the RAM I don’t think, windowz is reading it fine, hardware allocation means it’s assigning 8gb to the on board GPU which is obviously excessive.

A windows reinstall would be my approach.

 

[Mark85]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, really useful for working through the list of potential issues. Memory problem diagnosis did not not any issues so a Windows reinstall may be the next step. I'll be kept busy until xmas so a reinstall will need to wait a few weeks.

Worse come to worse I can refer technical support at PC Specialist to this thread for further advice; aside from installing some common apps and a few games, the computer is set up as they provided it to me.

Do feel free to offer any other suggestions, but moving the RAM to a different slot or a windows reinstall will need to wait so I will need to get back to you.

Thanks for taking the time to help, guys like you really help keep the world ticking!

 

[FerrariVie]

It is probably being used by the iGPU, but it shouldn't be that much (I would expect 2Gb or something). Is there any option in the BIOS to change the amount of Video dedicated RAM (VRAM)?

Just to make sure that it is being used by the iGPU, can you also check in the BIOS if there is any option of using the dGPU only? That should make the VRAM to be released, since you're going to use the dedicated GPU only. That's not a permanent solution, but could help to find the culprit.

 

[Mark85]

Hi Feviera, I had seen thoughts like that online but wasn't sure how to act on it.
I've looked in the BIOS and there seems to be no ability to alter the settings for the RAM or the iGPU. I was being cautious as it is BIOS and I don't delve in there often, but the text in blue seems to be the only items I can interact with. Lots of boot options but not much else I think.

Total memory listed in the BIOS is 8192MB.

 

[ubuysa]

You might try going into Device Manager and temporarily disable the DGPU, then reboot. See whether the hardware reserved RAM has changed (it should have). Thst should give you a feel for what's allocating that RAM.

 

[Mark85]

Hmm, no change unfortunately. It's heading into everyone's Sunday evening, so I can try PC Specialist tomorrow (if I get time) to see their stance. Maybe something like this has come up before or they may know why it is set up this way. Thanks for all your help guys, very much appreciated.

 

[ubuysa]

Hardware Reserved RAM is reserved for devices. It's reserved so that devices can communicate, typically the graphics cards are the biggest users.

See whether there are any hidden devices in Device Manager and uninstall them if there are.

It's a shame you only have one RAM stick (which incidentally is not the best option from a performance point of view) because flaky RAM might be the problem. Download Memtest from https://www.memtest86.com/ and let it run all four iterations of the various tests.

I'd even try a fully clean install of Windows before thinking of an RMA.

 

[FerrariVie]

Hi Feviera, I had seen thoughts like that online but wasn't sure how to act on it.
I've looked in the BIOS and there seems to be no ability to alter the settings for the RAM or the iGPU. I was being cautious as it is BIOS and I don't delve in there often, but the text in blue seems to be the only items I can interact with. Lots of boot options but not much else I think.

Total memory listed in the BIOS is 8192MB.

Yeah, not many options available there. It is indeed weird that the BIOS is only recognizing 8Gb

 

[ubuysa]

Hi Feviera, I had seen thoughts like that online but wasn't sure how to act on it.
I've looked in the BIOS and there seems to be no ability to alter the settings for the RAM or the iGPU. I was being cautious as it is BIOS and I don't delve in there often, but the text in blue seems to be the only items I can interact with. Lots of boot options but not much else I think.

Total memory listed in the BIOS is 8192MB.

Oh sorry. I failed to look closely enough at your BIOS screens.

If the BIOS is only seeing 8GB then that explains why Windows, though reporting 16GB, thinks that over 8GB is 'hardware reserved'.* You either have a faulty RAM stick, it's not fully inserted properly and there's an address line missing, or there is a problem with the RAM slot on the motherboard.

8788MB hardware reserved is actually 8192MB that is 'missing' and 596MB that really is hardware reserved by Windows.

Try reseating the RAM card. If that works then all well and good.
Also try the RAM card in another slot. If that works then contact PCS for an RMA because you'll have problems upgrading RAM into that iffy slot.
If neither of those work then ask PCS to swap the RAM stick. If that doesn't help then RMA it.

* The BIOS enumerates RAM at POST and thus counts only 8GB (because of a 'missing' address line somewhere). Windows doesn't enumerate the RAM but likely uses something like the highest addressable value reached by the BIOS enumeration to determine RAM size. This would suggest that it's the low order 8GB that is missing here. If it was the high order then both the BIOS and Windows would report 8GB.

 

[Mark85]

Oh sorry. I failed to look closely enough at your BIOS screens.

If the BIOS is only seeing 8GB then that explains why Windows, though reporting 16GB, thinks that over 8GB is 'hardware reserved'.* You either have a faulty RAM stick, it's not fully inserted properly and there's an address line missing, or there is a problem with the RAM slot on the motherboard.

8788MB hardware reserved is actually 8192MB that is 'missing' and 596MB that really is hardware reserved by Windows.

Try reseating the RAM card. If that works then all well and good.
Also try the RAM card in another slot. If that works then contact PCS for an RMA because you'll have problems upgrading RAM into that iffy slot.
If neither of those work then ask PCS to swap the RAM stick. If that doesn't help then RMA it.

* The BIOS enumerates RAM at POST and thus counts only 8GB (because of a 'missing' address line somewhere). Windows doesn't enumerate the RAM but likely uses something like the highest addressable value reached by the BIOS enumeration to determine RAM size. This would suggest that it's the low order 8GB that is missing here. If it was the high order then both the BIOS and Windows would report 8GB.

Thanks for that, great to have some steps to follow now.

I've checked the T&C's from PC Specialist and apparently I can open the laptop and reseat the RAM without voiding the warranty. I tend to work 12 hour days during the week so I won't be able to look into this for a few days, but I always try to close-off a forum with an answer so I'll let you know if the diagnosis is correct. 🤞

 

[ubuysa]

I'll let you know if the diagnosis is correct. [emoji1696]

I'm quietly confident.

 

[Mark85]

I'm quietly confident.

Hi Ubuysa

As you predicted you were correct, I got a new RAM stick issued to me today by PC Specialist and it solved the issue. Still have 1.35GB of hardware reserved but its a big improvement. I'll run through the suggestion everyone previously provided again to see if it helps reduce that further, but it looks like the real problem is solved.

Thanks for your help everyone, if the moderators want to close the tread or 'mark as solved' then feel free to do so.

 

[ubuysa]

Hi Ubuysa

As you predicted you were correct, I got a new RAM stick issued to me today by PC Specialist and it solved the issue. Still have 1.35GB of hardware reserved but its a big improvement. I'll run through the suggestion everyone previously provided again to see if it helps reduce that further, but it looks like the real problem is solved.

Thanks for your help everyone, if the moderators want to close the tread or 'mark as solved' then feel free to do so.

Glad to hear it. 1.5GB reserved still sounds a lot but a least you have good RAM now.