Unusually High "Hardware Reserved" Memory

Avahuine

New Member
Messages
2
Hello,

I have seen a fair amount of discussion regarding Win8 x64 OS demanding a high amount of RAM, but none of the solutions recommended have solved my issue.

My (inherited) Sony VAIO has 4gb (2x2gb) DDR3 RAM. This amount is recognized by BIOS. Resource monitor and task manager both inform me that 2.3gb of this RAM is hardware reserved. This seems atypical as compared to similar systems proffered elsewhere in this forum.

As far as I know, every aspect of the system is factory with the exception of the OS. It was upgraded from Win7 x64 to Win8 x64 before it came into my possession.

Quick Specs:
Win8 x64
Radeon HD 4200 (256mb reserved)
AMD® Athlon™ II X2 2.10ghz


Screenshot for reference:
Screenshot (1).png

To this point I have tried:
1) Swapping RAM channels
2) Updating BIOS (from Sony Website)
3) Memory Diagnostic
4) Ticking and unticking MSCONFIG > Boot > Advanced > Max Memory

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
My first impression is that the onboard graphics chip is using system memory for video. There should be some BIOS or other setting to control how much system ram it will use.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
On both my previous version of BIOS and my newly updated one, I see no option to control RAM allocation. AFAIK this is pretty typical among laptops.

I also have swapped my 2x2gb sticks out for another matched pair of 2gb for good measure. No noticeable change.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 x64
Have you tried on Sony forums? Sometimes, as with Windows the manufacturer has "undocumented" features. As example I had HP desktops with no setting in the BIOS to control when the fans increased speed. My machines would lock up under load. I posted on HP forums and found out there was an undocumented BIOS page accessed by pressing F11 on boot. On that page I could adjust the fans.

Alternatively is there a slot open for a video card? Installing a video card with dedicated ram should override the built-in video chip. But on a Laptop that may be wishful thinking.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Windows Key + R > msconfig > boot tab > advanced options >

Is the "maximum memory" option turned on? If it is, turn it off, hit apply, and restart.

Also, 4GB of RAM for a 64bit OS like Windows 8 is going to be pretty rough. Hardware reserved memory is usually reserved by the BIOS and some low-level drivers for peripherals. If the machine is capable, the best thing you can do is swap out the 2x2GB sticks with at least 2x4GB sticks.

If this is not an option, I can help you tweak the Windows 8 environment by turning off some system hogging services, which will allow your computer to perform much better without so much bloat. As you may or may not know, there are several services and tasks that run in the background that are largely unnecessary for the average user, yet eat up valueable system resources. It's not very hard to do and takes all of about 5 minutes.

Let me know.

Jason
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Pro
I had Intel on board video on a desktop. The chip itself only had 8 MB of memory. The rest was taken from system ram and used for video. I would go to the manufacturer as I'm sure people aren't putting up with 2 GB being roped off against their will. There's a way to reduce it someplace. It's just getting at it that's the issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Take out all the sticks and put just one in the DIMM 1 slot and boot into the BIOS/UEFI. Repeat this until you find the stick that's faulty.

-IF-

The above yields no bad sticks then begin repopulating the DIMM slots. Booting into BIOS/UEFI each time you add a stick.

You'll likely find that one RAM Bank is dead and not reporting the memory.

...and now be amazed that BIOS/UEFI appear to be smart enough to map out bad RAM and flag it , in Windows, as "Hardware Reserved".

-----

I'm currently dealing with this. Of the 12GB (4GB x 3) I have installed I now can only use 7.99GB. Note how I said "now". I use to have the full 12GB "usable", but now it's only 7.99 flagged as "useable" under 'System', but Windows does see the full 12GB. BIOS only sees ~8GB.
...It appears my DIMM 3,4 banks have died (spare RAM 6GB [2GB x 3], so total of 18GB, doesn't show the 2GB in DIMM 4 either) :(

Not too bad I guess for a MOBO from 2009, that's been run for 14hrs a day :p

EDIT:

Though I will say it's odd that if a DIMM slot were to fail that Windows, and all Windows environment programs, would still see that I have 12GB installed (but only 8GB for "System Total"). Yet the BIOS, the very start of the machine only sees 8GB installed.
...even a CMOS reset via the CMOS reset button didn't correct it. Hence why I'm assuming it's a hardware failure.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro w/ Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
----

I'm currently dealing with this. Of the 12GB (4GB x 3) I have installed I now can only use 7.99GB. Note how I said "now". I use to have the full 12GB "usable", but now it's only 7.99 flagged as "useable" under 'System', but Windows does see the full 12GB. BIOS only sees ~8GB.
...It appears my DIMM 3,4 banks have died (spare RAM 6GB [2GB x 3], so total of 18GB, doesn't show the 2GB in DIMM 4 either) :(

Not too bad I guess for a MOBO from 2009, that's been run for 14hrs a day :p

Illution, it may be different for your system, or this may not be the case anymore (I do not build machines anymore, so my suggestion is probably an outdated one), but it's worth a mention I guess -

I know you mentioned having 4 DIMM banks, and if I understood you correctly, it seems as if your system wouldn't recognize the RAM in bank 3, or 4.

It used to be that you had to add RAM in pairs - ie., if banks 1 & 2 are being used, and you decided to add a stick to bank 3, bank 4 would also have to be occupied for banks 3 & 4 to be utilized properly. Is it possible that this could be the source of your problem?

Like I said, I haven't fiddled with a motherboard for some years now, but I thought I might bring it to your attention if there was a possibility that it might help...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8 Pro
Without knowing exact MB can't really tel but on some if they are different modules you have to place them at 1&3 and 2&4 slots to work in pairs. Most Intel based desktop MBs are like that, most of times different colors of slots giving an indication of how to place them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
----

I'm currently dealing with this. Of the 12GB (4GB x 3) I have installed I now can only use 7.99GB. Note how I said "now". I use to have the full 12GB "usable", but now it's only 7.99 flagged as "useable" under 'System', but Windows does see the full 12GB. BIOS only sees ~8GB.
...It appears my DIMM 3,4 banks have died (spare RAM 6GB [2GB x 3], so total of 18GB, doesn't show the 2GB in DIMM 4 either) :(

Not too bad I guess for a MOBO from 2009, that's been run for 14hrs a day :p

Illution, it may be different for your system, or this may not be the case anymore (I do not build machines anymore, so my suggestion is probably an outdated one), but it's worth a mention I guess -

I know you mentioned having 4 DIMM banks, and if I understood you correctly, it seems as if your system wouldn't recognize the RAM in bank 3, or 4.

It used to be that you had to add RAM in pairs - ie., if banks 1 & 2 are being used, and you decided to add a stick to bank 3, bank 4 would also have to be occupied for banks 3 & 4 to be utilized properly. Is it possible that this could be the source of your problem?

Like I said, I haven't fiddled with a motherboard for some years now, but I thought I might bring it to your attention if there was a possibility that it might help...

Ah, I should have elaborated. And it appears the OP doesn't have the same issue. After re-reading their post they state, as least in my understanding, that the BIOS sees the full amount of RAM. :eek:

So I'll wrap the below in 'Quote' in case anyone stumbles upon this topic, as I did, searching for the reason their system has the similar issue.

For Future Readers: If your BIOS does not see the RAM there's something wrong with the hardware, not the OS.

For the OP: No clue why it's reserved that much, seeing as you appear to have dedicated Video memory (256MB?). My other Win8.1 system, that doesn't have bad RAM slots, only has 2MB of the 6GB reserved for hardware; it also has a dedicated video card with dedicated video RAM.

Since you didn't post it...post a screenshot of the 'System' (right click Windows "start button" -> System; or search for 'system'). It'll probably say something like "Installed memory (RAM): 4.0 GB (1.78 GB usable)".

My system has 6 DIMM slots and is Triple Channel. . The 'center bank's, DIMM 3 and DIMM4, are not recognized in the BIOS. But they are 'seen' by the system, however the memory located in those banks are flagged as "Hardware Reserved". I'm assuming this is done to prevent the OS or applications from trying to write to those address blocks, erroring out (because the banks are faulty), and causing a BSoD or data lose prior to being written to the harddrive.

I've tested all three RAM Sticks in DIMM1 (aka DIMM0 in some software) and all the stick check out both in the BIOS (sees all 4GB of each stick) and in MemTest86.

Same goes for all six of the RAM I tried (2 sets; (1) 6GB, (1) 12GB). DIMM1,2,5,6 all detect the sticks in BIOS and MemTest86. Anything put into DIMM3,4 are not seen in the BIOS or in MemTest86.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro w/ Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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