6GB RAM Hardware reserved after installing newest NVIDIA GPU DRIVERS

Understanding and Resolving Hardware Reserved Memory Post NVIDIA Driver Update

Introduction

Many PC users have experienced sudden changes in their system’s memory allocation, especially after updating device drivers. Recently, some NVIDIA graphics card users have reported that a significant portion of their RAM—up to 6GB out of 8GB—is being marked as “hardware reserved” following the installation of the latest NVIDIA GPU drivers. This issue can hinder system performance and needs careful diagnosis and resolution.

Identifying the Issue

In the scenario described, the user noticed that three days ago, after updating to the newest NVIDIA GPU drivers, a large portion of RAM became unavailable for general use. Despite attempts to troubleshoot, the problem persisted even after replacing the RAM module, indicating that the issue is unlikely to be hardware failure of the RAM itself.

Important details include:

• The user has no integrated GPU (iGPU) present, ruling out shared memory allocation from an integrated graphics solution.

• The system is physically clean, with no dust or debris that could impact hardware functionality.

• The “Maximum Memory” setting in BIOS has been already unchecked, ensuring that the BIOS isn’t limiting RAM usage inadvertently.

Potential Causes

Several factors can lead to increased hardware reserved memory after driver updates:

1. Driver Conflicts or Installation Errors: Sometimes, driver updates can lead to conflicts with existing hardware configurations or lingering driver remnants causing resource conflicts.

2. BIOS Settings or Firmware Issues: Certain BIOS configurations might incorrectly assign hardware resources, or outdated firmware may cause compatibility issues.

3. Hardware Allocation Settings: Windows and BIOS settings related to hardware memory mapping can influence the total available RAM.

4. Faulty or Incompatible Drivers: Running incompatible or corrupted driver versions may cause system resource misallocations.

Steps to Troubleshoot and Resolve

1. Update Motherboard BIOS and Chipset Drivers

Ensure that your motherboard’s BIOS is up to date, as BIOS updates often improve hardware compatibility with new drivers. Visit the motherboard manufacturer’s website for the latest firmware and chipset drivers.

1. Reinstall NVIDIA Drivers

2. Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) to completely remove existing GPU drivers.

3. Restart your PC.

4. Download and install the latest NVIDIA drivers directly from the official website, following the recommended installation procedures.

5. Check BIOS Settings

6. Enter BIOS/UEFI firmware settings on startup.

7. Verify that “Memory Remapping” or “Memory Hole” options are enabled, which allows Windows to access full RAM capacity.
8. Confirm