GA-X99-SLI reserved memory increase since bios update.

[Fish_Goes_Moo]

So I got my setup in August 2015, (X99-SLI, 16GB, 5820K all stock) and had it for 9 months or so without issue. Hardware reserved memory was 300MB or so. No problems, no issues.

After changing mouse in May, I started get the odd boot failure (boot failed etc, reset to default), reset it and it would be fine and was completely stable. Knowing X99 can be fussy with usb, and the problem appeared literally days after I changed mouse, I updated bios to what was at the time, the latest. F22E.

The issue went away and it's been fine ever since. I did notice at the time however, the hardware reserve increased to 600MB or so from 300ish & I've been meaning to ask ever since.

Does any one have any idea why it increased? Is it for broadwell-e support? a bug or something switched on/added in the bios update, that I've not switched off, if so, any idea what as I didn't want to just go around switching stuff off.

I did notice f22e has been removed and only a later dated f22 remains, but as it's all working fine, I didn't want to update for the sake of it, especially if it results in no difference and it's just the later bios all reserve more.

Thanks.

 

[dmdilks]

You talking about the memory in windows where it shows 32gb (31.8gb usable). That is what my X99 says. It is more likely the video card that is using it. Why I don't know. Plus I'm still on F9c on my board.   

[Fish_Goes_Moo]

You talking about the memory in windows where it shows 32gb (31.8gb usable). That is what my X99 says. It is more likely the video card that is using it. Why I don't know. Plus I'm still on F9c on my board.

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. Mine used to be the same, 16GB (15.7 usable), 300MB or so was marked as hardware reserved.

Since going to F22E, it increased to 600MB reserved and shows 16GB (15.3 usable). Nothing else changed still the same gpu (290 vapor-x forgot to mention it in first post), but an extra 300MB is being marked as hardware reserved over what it did on the older bios.

I know it's nothing to worry about, but it would be nice to get that 300MB back, but I'm not sure if it's a bug with f22e, the newer bios just taking more for some reason, or if it's a feature/something added that is using it, but I have no idea what that could be. There is just F22 now, which is newer, but I don't want to flash for the sake of it, because it's been fine on f22e other than stealing another 300MB over earlier bios.

[dmdilks]

If you are really only using the computer for games and internet. Really any thing over 8GB is really a waste of time. The computer will only use so much and that is it. Everything else just sits there. I was having problems with my X99 BSOD when I 1st built it.

I tried everything even going back to 8gb of memory and never really did see any changes. All the games still played fine with everything else too. So the little bit you are losing isn't really going to matter. Sorry you don't like what it is telling you but there isn't much we can do about it.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/978610

http://forums.evga.com/EVGA-x99-Classified-Windows-reports-wrong-amount-of-Installed-RAM-m2235286.aspx

[Fish_Goes_Moo]

Thought I'd give this a bump/update incase anyone else gets it. F22E is at fault. I guess that's why Gigabyte pulled it.

Updated to F22, for the updated UEFI, which among other things, actually has decent fan control (no longer do you have the stupid pwm % per C setting, but actually a proper fan curve that you can play with). Back to reserving only a small amount again, rather than nearly 700MB and back to 15.8 available. So I guess F22E had something wrong with it.