hp victus 15 upgrade

[PrabhatTechGuru]

I ordered Crucial's 16GB DDR4-3200 SODIMM 1.2V CL22 for my laptop. I installed it, but it isn't showing up. However, when I used CPU-Z, it shows 16GB of RAM in slot 2. How can I fix this issue? I have already updated the BIOS and Windows.

[Max3Aj]

@PrabhatTechGuru, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
It sounds like you're on the right track with troubleshooting the RAM issue on your system! Since CPU-Z detects the Crucial 16GB RAM in Slot 2 but Windows isn't showing the full amount, it indicates that the RAM is physically recognized by the hardware, but something is preventing it from being utilized. Here are the likely causes and steps to resolve the issue:

✅ First, Check Usable RAM in Windows:

• Press Windows + R, type msinfo32, and press Enter.
• Look for:
  • Installed Physical Memory (RAM)
  • Total Physical Memory
  • Available Physical Memory
• If you see 16GB installed but less is marked as “usable,” it may be a memory remapping issue.

🔄 Try Memory Remapping:

• Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
• Go to the Boot tab and click on Advanced Options....
• Uncheck the “Maximum memory” box if it’s checked.
• Click OK, then Apply, and restart your laptop.

🧠 Verify Dual-Channel and Slot Detection:

• Open CPU-Z.
• Under the SPD tab, check both Slot 1 and Slot 2.
• Confirm that both slots show a memory module and that the total is 16GB.
• If both are detected here, your system hardware supports it, but Windows might be misreporting or limiting it.

🧪 Run Windows Memory Diagnostic:

• To ensure the new RAM isn’t faulty:
  • Press Windows + R, type mdsched.exe, and press Enter.
  • Choose “Restart now and check for problems.”

🧬 Update Chipset Drivers:

• Even if BIOS and Windows are up to date, outdated chipset drivers can interfere with RAM detection:
  • Go to HP support page.
  • Enter model name and download the AMD chipset driver for your version of Windows 11.

🧷 Re-seat the RAM:

• If the issue persists, try this:
  • Power off, unplug the laptop, and remove the battery (if accessible).
  • Remove the RAM module and gently clean the contacts with a soft cloth.
  • Re-insert it firmly until it clicks into place.

🔄 Test with Old RAM:

• Try inserting your original RAM module back in by itself.
• Does it show up normally?
• If it does, try installing both modules together again.

🛑 Possible Incompatibility:

• Although Crucial’s RAM is generally compatible, CL22 is on the higher latency side. Your laptop may have originally shipped with CL20 or CL19, and mixing timings can sometimes cause issues (even if detected by CPU-Z).
• Check the original RAM specifications (you can look in the CPU-Z SPD tab) and match:
  • CL latency
  • Voltage (1.2V is correct)
  • Frequency (DDR4-3200)
• If mismatched, try booting with only the new 16GB stick. If it works alone, the issue may be compatibility between the modules.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Max3Aj

HP Support