New RAM (Random Access Memory) not detected...

Hello,

I have a ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0 AMD (socket AM3+) DDr3 ATx Motherboard with Patriot Viper Gen3 8Gb(2x4) DDR3 1600MHz Dual Channel Ram It all works fine but i've upgraded my ram to Corsair XMS 6GB DIMM 1600 MHz DDR3 Ram (3x6). This is what i have.

I checked to make sure that the new ram would work with the Mother board and found out that it was compatible so i went ahead and put the new ram in making sure it's pressed in firmly! (not loose)I would like to add at this point that my Motherboard only had 4 slots for Ram and my old ram were in slots 2-4 and the new ram is in slots 2-3-4.

When i go to my System it is only detecting 6.00 GB.. How do i make it pick up all of my Ram ? Do i need to change the ram slots i'm using ? or add them one by one.. or do i need to go into the bios ? (I've not had this problem before so i'm unsure what to do.. and i really don't have the money to break anything lol).

I hope you can help and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Ben.

 

Hi Ben and welcome to Computer Help Forums.
My first thought was motherboard limitations, however if this is your motherboard :-

http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970 Extreme3 R2.0/index.us.asp?cat=Specifications

It should be OK up to 64GB, so I doubt it is that, so the only limiting factor is the operating system which you didn't say, however if it is only a 32bit system it will not support more than 4GB. To use all that the motherboard can support it must be a 64bit system, so the next question has to be is it a 64bit system?

If it is 64bit, which I think it must as it supported the previous 8GB, try the new ones in slots 1,2,and 3. No point trying to add one at a time, though to make sure each stick is a good one, you should try just each one at a time, if one is a faulty one, then the system won't start.

The only other limiting factor is possibly the CPU itself, which again you didn't say, so please let us know which CPU is on the motherboard if trying the other slots doesn't work, and all the individual sticks check out as OK.

Nev.

 

First of all that board has dual channel memory so if you run 3 sticks of ram you will actually be running slower than if you ran only 2 using alternate slots or colored slots the same however that should not make the sticks read as less.
I hate to say this because Corsair ram is popular but I never use it because I have seldom seen more than 1/2 the sticks work. When you say you checked compatibility, do you mean you went to the AS Rock site and saw it listed as compatible? If you did I would bet one or more sticks are just bad and my advice is if that is so return all as one thing very difficult about Corsair is they make nothing themselves as they really are only a distributor so if you don't buy from the same batch, the model number may be the same but the ram can be different because they switch manufacturers very often and if they aren't from a matched lot the ram seldom plays well with others as well.

 

Another thing I notice about that board is it will take 1600 ram speed but only as an overclock so it would appear the natureal speeds for the board are 800, 1066 and 1333 and that makes me wonder if there are any bios updates necessary for higher ram speeds as well.

I also noticed curious the board has only a 1 year warranty as usually better boards carry a 3 year warranty.

 

Can you show is this link of 3x6 or even 6x3? I am not aware of any such memory for any brand, and I'm building constantly. If you mean 2x3_6 then yes Corsair has that kit. But I can't fathom why you changed out 8Gb of perfectly good working physical memory for 6GB (3x2GB) of staggard sticks? maybe this is why you only see a total of 6GB.

 

For a simple solution try taking out and putting the Corsair 6 GB back into the slots, sometimes its just an issue of not being able to detect the RAM when going through POST. If that doesn't work then we need to know your CPU and OS.
Could also be a problem with the specific memory channels you are using.

 

I agree, I would say he has bought a 6GB kit and installed it assuming it is 6GB per stick

 

Oh Hi Panther nice to see you here welcome! I hope the OP got this resolved.

 

Hey Panther thanks for coming over and welcome to CHF!