Why can only half of our RAM be used?

You have probably faced some problems with your system and after some experimentation, you came to the conclusion that your PC is using more or less half of the RAM you have installed.

This situation can be a frustrating issue caused by software, hardware, or BIOS glitch, but luckily, it has some solutions. The Question Why can only half of our RAM be used? is quite common.

Read on and follow the troubleshooting methods one after another to solve the RAM problem you are facing and know when it is time to upgrade your RAM.

 RAM is a volatile storage device used in phones, computers, and laptops. Store data temporarily while you use the computer. Simply put, it is the short-term memory of the computer brain. Its aim is to permit the CPU to access relevant data fastly without delving into slower, long-term storage, leading to a prolonged system.

The presence of RAM in the PC is essential for efficient multitasking, such as keeping multiple applications and processes running at once or playing games smoothly by storing all the relevant assets that you need to access quickly.

RAM is continuously overwritten and updated by the system and restarts every time the system is rebooted. Desktop and laptop RAM are made up of one or more devices that plug directly into the motherboard. Simple RAMs look like printed circuit boards with memory chips attached.

Now that you know the importance of RAM and its capacity, let’s solve the problem.

Why can only half of our RAM be used? Before we start troubleshooting, let’s make sure we know the exact amount of RAM installed and how much is being used by Windows.

click on the right button of the mouse on the My Computer or This PC icon and select Properties from the drop-down menu.

Under System or Device Specifications, you should see the Installed RAM heading with the quantity of installed RAM next to it. Some versions of Windows will also list the amount of usable RAM next to this value.

Note: The amount of usable memory is the total installed memory minus hardware reserved memory.

Next, select the right button of the mouse Windows logo and select Task Manager from the menu. Head over to the Performance app and click on the Memory section. Here you can see all the RAM specifications, including the amount of RAM in use, the available capacity, the number of slots used, etc.

This is more of a reminder for those who don’t know much about operating systems and their relationships to RAM capacity.

 The fact is that 32-bit Windows operating systems can only use 4 GB of RAM, no matter how much physical memory you have installed.

That is, even if you have 32 GB of RAM installed on a 32-bit system, you will only access 4 GB.

The only way to resolve this issue is to change your Windows to a 64-bit installation. If you don’t know what kind of operating system your PC is running, here’s how you can find out: Type “ System Information ” in the Windows dialog box and open the app that appears.

You can see your OS name and version in the first few lines, and the System Type header will give you the answer to the question.

You can also access the information by right-clicking on This PC and choosing properties.

It will open the “ About ” window with a System Type section. This article has provided the steps you need to follow to upgrade your operating system from 32-bit to 64-bit.

Computer Memory Installation

There is an option in Windows settings that, if enabled, allows Windows to permanently reserve a large amount of RAM capacity for the boot process when the system is powered on.

It’s a needless setup, and now here’s how you can turn it off:

find “ System Configuration ” in the Windows dialog bar and then select the application for open.

Head over to the Boot tab and select Advanced Options.

You’ll see a Max Memory heading with a checkbox next to it.

If it is checked, then uncheck the box and select OK.

Restart your computer so that your system can freely use all the memory it currently has.

hands typing on the keyboard Type

 “ Registry Editor ” in the Windows dialog box and open the application.

cross to the following area from the left menu: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > Systems > CurrentControlSet > Control > Session Manager .

Once you’ve reached the Session Manager, search the Memory Management folder under it.

Locate the ClearPageFileAtShutdown section of the table on the right in the Memory Management folder.

 Open it to see the value name, value data, and base options.

change it If it already says “1”, do nothing.

 Change into 1 If the value data is 0.

Save your changes and restart the PC. Note: When dealing with Registry Editor, it is safer to back up it beforehand so that you can restore your settings if you accidentally edit or delete other essential files.

shut down BIOS (basic system for sale) in the circuit If you have an older computer, your system may not be able to access the full installed memory capacity due to the BIOS.

An outdated BIOS version can cause a memory error that prevents the operating system from accessing all of the RAM. You will need to update the BIOS and the process varies for different manufacturers and models.

You will need to visit the official website of your computer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer and check for the latest BIOS updates.

 Download and install them following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Also, most motherboard manufacturers have their own applications dedicated to updating the BIOS.

 Find yours and download it from its official website. For example, Lenovo users access the Lenovo System Update Tool and Dell has the Dell Update Utility. ASUS provides MyASUS BIOS Update Utility and HP provides HP Support Assistant. Why can only half of our RAM be used?

If you have not updated Windows for a long time and you have also disabled automatic updates, it is possible that your system has had an error that causes it to not access the full capacity of installed RAM.

 Update Windows to its latest version by opening Settings and going to the Update & security section.

Hit the Check for updates and install it after Windows finds the latest update.

 You will have to restart your PC for the changes to take effect. Next, make sure your Windows drivers are updated to the latest version.

You can use one of the driver update tools that automatically detect outdated system drivers and install their latest versions easily. Driver Easy is one of the best apps out there, and here’s how to use it: Download, install, and open Driver Easy.

 Hit the Scan Now button. Once the list of all the outdated or corrupt drivers appears, hit the Update button next to each of them to have the app update them.

If you get the Pro version of the app, you will be able to update all your problematic drivers by pressing the Update All button.

Driver simple is another app that you can use only as easily:

First Download and then open the Bit Driver Updater application.

Click on the Scan Drivers button.

Hit the Update Now next to all the drivers that appeared in the list.

 If you want to update all your outdated or missing drivers, hit the Update All button.

Reboot your system after the installation is full. I try to explain to you Why can only half of our RAM be used?

Some BIOS settings may be preventing Windows from accessing the full RAM capacity for your use.

To change them, you will need to enter the BIOS / UEFI settings. Reboot your computer and during the boot process, tap on the specific BIOS key.

 The key varies depending on your system model and can be one of the following keys: F1, F2, F12, Del, or Esc. To find out what the key is, consult your system manual or search for your system model online.

 Now that you have successfully entered the BIOS, follow the steps mentioned: iGPU function This feature is for those of you who have a separate dedicated video card installed.

 The iGPU setting is used in case there is no external video card, and if there is, this feature will force Windows to reserve unnecessary memory.

 In the BIOS environment, you’ll need to look for one of the GPU, Internal Graphics, or Integrated Graphics headings.

 You will need to search for the name and location of the setting because it may vary depending on your system manufacturer.

Once you’ve searched it, turn it Off or Disable it.  Save changes, exit BIOS and restart your PC.

 memory map feature The memory boost feature is a setting supported by some systems. It gives Windows access to more memory, so make sure it’s enabled.

 The name of the memory remapping function may be different from system to system.

There could be memory reallocation, memory extension, or similar titles. Look for it in the BIOS and make sure it is Enabled or flipped On.

Save the settings and reboot the system. Now, Why can only half of our RAM be used?  is not difficult for you.

Hope You know the answer now: Why can only half of our RAM be used?

Also Read: How to Utilize the HDMI Output on Your Best Motherboard