In Windows 10, on the performance tab, under memory in task manager, it says 'Slots used: 1 of 2' I was wondering if this is reliable. Searching my laptop online suggests that it only has one slot. ^^ is the task manager and showing 2 out of 4 slots. My other laptop is very similar but a year older and says 1 of 2 slots but i know where both slots are. In the lower-right corner, the number of slots is displayed in the Slots used: section (C). As you can see, this computer has a total of four memory slots, although only two are currently being utilized. Use the CPU-Z utility.

2 Of 4 Slots Used To

Hello all,

I've recently started having problems with my RAM memory (4 ram sticks of 2gb).

It worked perfectly fine before. Got 4 of the exact same ram sticks, but now the motherboard refuses to read more than 2 of the 4 slots at a time. (used to have 8GB, now it only sees 4gb). I've tried every ram stick individually in every slot and they all work properly. I've tried every combo of 2 sticks in all possible slot combinations and all worked. However as soon as I add the third and fourth or just a third stick it completely ignores that stick.

I'm 100% sure the sticks are compatible as they have worked properly before. Interesting aspect is that I updated my BIOS shortly before it happened (Not sure if it happened right away after updating). I've already tried downgrading my bios but the flash utility won't let me saying my backup file from the bios is 'outdated'. The Ai Suite program also can't downgrade it because the 'Bios interface has been changed/altered'. Could it be that the newer bios has different default settings which might cause some of my sticks to stop working(even though they're all the same sticks)?

PS. Already tried the CMOS reset, Battery reset, reseating the sticks numerous times, even moving them around which shouldn't have effect cause they're all 100% alike, also tried switching Memory remap around. My motherboard is an ASUS P8H67-M, the Ai suite (program from the motherboard) does see the entire 8gb installed, CPU-Z sees 8 GB as well but bios sticks to 4gb installed)

Hope there's someone out there able to help.

Regards,
Brian

When a user wants to add or upgrade memory (RAM) in a computer, they need to know how many memory slots are available. The following section helps you to determine the number of memory slots in your computer, and how many are used.

Windows Task Manager

The easiest solution for Windows users is to open the Windows Task Manager.

1. Press the Windows key, type Task Manager, and then press Enter.
2. In the window that appears, click the Performance tab (A), then select Memory (B).
3. In the lower-right corner, the number of slots is displayed in the Slots used: section (C).

4. As you can see, this computer has a total of four memory slots, although only two are currently being utilized.

Use the CPU-Z utility

Another way to get information about memory slots and details about the RAM currently installed on your computer, is to use the free CPU-Z third-party utility.

1. Open an Internet browser and visit the CPUID website.
2. On the left side of the screen, select your operating system.

3. On the next page, select your preferred language.

Slots Used 2 Of 4

4. On the next screen, click the DOWNLOAD NOW! button.

6. Once the download has finished, install it from your browser and open the program.

7. Click the SPD tab at the top of the screen, and then click the down arrow in the Memory Slot Selection section.

8. As you can see in the image above, all of the memory slots are listed on the drop-down menu.

Tip

If you select a different slot from the drop-down menu, CPU-Z will tell you additional information about the RAM that is installed.

Examine the motherboard

Sometimes the best way to determine the available memory slots is to open the computer and examine the motherboard. Opening the computer is the best option if were unable to get the Windows Task Manager or CPU-Z to work.

Looking inside the case, the motherboard is the primary large circuit board. On most motherboards, the memory slots are on either side of the CPU, and resemble what is shown below.

Most computer motherboards have two, three, or four memory slots. Some higher-end motherboards have as many as eight. The above motherboard picture above has no memory modules installed in any of its three slots.

Note

If your computer has no memory slots available and you want to upgrade, you must remove and replace some of the existing memory.

Additional information

• See our memory definition for further information and related links.