What does your POST say when you start the computer?

I'm not sure what you're asking. I don't get any error messages.

It figures, I can't find my memtest DVD so I'm going to have to find it again on these toobz, download it again and make another DVD.

But I did just confirm AGAIN by going into BIOS when I started back up that in BIOS it is showing only 16GB of total memory.

It's so strange.

The dood "PC Pete" said the program I used (HEAVYLOAD) would show up any hardware problems, and yet I run that SOB for two hours FLAWLESSLY.

I'm still not sure whether it may be a Windows problem after all, but then again, suppose I were running an OS that didn't support more than 16GB. Would that make BIOS also show only 16GB???? Anyone know???

This is one of those things that PC's do that can make one want to pull your hair out. And I don't have any more damn hair left, except in my beard. And that hurts like hell every time I pull that out. Damned PC.

It's the screen you get when you start your computer, before you boot into your OS, like this.
That should do a very quick memory test and show you how much memory your motherboard thinks it has.
You could also Google 'Hiren's Boot CD', it's a nice package of tools. Or the System Rescue CD which also contains a bunch system checking tools (such as Memtest).

Nah, BIOS and your operating system are completely separate - in fact, OS is getting information from BIOS. It would be possible that BIOS would see 32 gigs and Windows would only be able to utilize 16 - but not the other way around.

If possible that Windows was limiting the memory.
Launch msconfig, go to start tab. select advanced options and see if maximum amount of memory is enabled and established to 16GB. Is it, disable tihis option and restart.

Well, I guess it must be too fast for me to see, because I've never been able to see that screen. Sorry.

I just ran memtest, and it only recognized 16GB of RAM. Let it run a few minutes, no errors, as I suspected. I ran these sticks for over 24 hours when I first purchased them with no errors.

Also, I just ran HEAVYLOAD again, and it too only recognizes 16GB of data.

Yet CPU-Z recognizes all 32GB.

So weird.

Anyway, thanks again for all the responses, I know I don't deserve them. We can leave it here because no one is going to be able to answer this one remotely. Maybe a techie with all the right equipment would even have a hard time answering this one, but I know we won't here. Sorry for wasting anyone's time.

And yet the strange thing is, I'm sitting here using it right now, ran severe stress tests with it using HEAVYLOAD, and no failures, freezes, crashes or issues.

Damned PC's make me want a drink.

A double.

But it's only 3:30 PM here. A little early to have a drink, especially a double. Unless I plan on being plastered by 9 PM.

Oh well, on second thought that might not be so bad.......

THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE !!!

I swear the folks at GOG forums are freaken' AWESOME ! ! !

The manual of the mainboard says on page 13:
- This motherboard accommodates two memory modules. It can support
two 240-pin DDR3 2400(OC)+/1600/1333/1066.
- You must install at least one module in any of the four slots. Total memory
capacity is 32 GB.

My understanding is the Mainboard only supports two memory modules at once. The reason to have four slots on the board in this case is beyond my understanding though. Sorry to say that, but I think your mainboard does not support four modules.

Boy, I was hoping...

But alas, as you can see from the snipping tool image attached, that box is not checked.
The thing is I'm pretty sure before the problems started it was recognizing all 32GB. I'd bet money on it, but I do admit my memory (my brain's memory LOL. that is definitely bad) is bad and I may be wrong. But I really think before the problems started a couple of months ago, this computer was running 32GB of ram.

You should check your BIOS settings, it's probably setup to A skip the memory check and perhaps B to show a graphical screen instead of the post. My mobo was configured like that out of the box as well, but I turned on memory checking and SMART check because I like seeing if everything is OK before the computer fully starts.
Perhaps CPU-Z does a low level hardware scan on the slots and thus gets the information from the memory modules itself instead of the BIOS and/or OS. That would explain it.
If you turn on the regular check (or use the boot discs) you'll get the accurate number.
Switch them modules around a bit, for some reason sometimes the BIOS will not accurately detect certain combinations of memory. I've had that happen several times during assembly.

And the bios what amount of memory show? 16 or 32GB?
If it show 16GB, the error is in the motherboard, if it shows 32GB, then the error is in the OS.

If it in the OS, try starting it in safe mode, and with a bit of luck, it find all the memory. also that means that you have some service stealing memory to the OS.

If is this last, go again to msconfig, dsable all in Windows start tab, and in Services tab, select not show microsoft services then unselect all the remaining srvices. If it solve the throuble, enable the services one by one to find the one hidding the memory.

I think this image proves that statement incorrect.
The wording is kind of strange though, but it is a Taiwanese (or somewhere in that neighborhood) company.

Oops, sorry, I hadn't been back thinking this was closed.

To answer your question, the BIOS shows 16GB. Memtest showed 16. Windows shows 16. The only one that shows the true 32 is CPU-Z and my own eyes since I can see all four sticks in there.

But don't worry about it. This is one of those PC issues that drives folks to drink. And I've already started. *hiccup* LOL

I would bet money this would get the most experienced techie with the best equipment possible to scratch his/her head. I'm not gonna worry about it anymore. I'm going to assume my PSU and CPU are okay, and blame the motherboard. At the end of the day, that's my only real concern. I was just concerned about getting a new MB and still having issues because it turns out it's my CPU or PSU. But I'm going to go ahead and get a new motherboard, and since it's "working" right now, I don't have to rush. I can shop and read and get a good one (I hope).

In the meantime, I'm having another dubble, err double. BOTTOMS UP!!!

And just wanted to say again THANK YOU. I don't know why you folks keep helping me, but the only answer I can come up with is because you'd happily help anyone. And that's pretty special. GOG forums rock.

Might download Speccy and give it a try concerning memory. I've been using it lately, lots of good data from the "free" version.

That board sounds like the last Intel one I had. I had 4 sticks of ram but no matter what I did it only recognized two at a time even though the manual said all four should work and they all did in other systems.

I wonder if it supports 4x8GB memory configurations. I have seen where motherboards will support 2xlarge size Dimm, but not the 4xdimm at the larger size. Although, it does state it supports 32GB, and the only way you can reach that in 2x is with 16GB modules, which currently is not an option.
I would suggest, if you haven't already, send ECS a troubleshooting ticket via their support site. Although, they will ask you for whatever brand you have, then check their compat. chart and say those modules are not in their memory chart, thus they cannot help you with that.
Yeah, the POST screen flies by really fast, and most manufacturers cover it up with a splash screen. Usually in the BIOS there is a place you can disable the splash screen. I am not familiar with that brand, but even once you are able to disable you may have to hit pause break to see it...

You could also disable quick memory test in the BIOS...I'll have to look at the manual for your mobo to see where that's located.


Edit: didn't find quick memory test disable, but perhaps the Quiet boot under the Boot tab disables the Splash Screen