Z2 Mini G4 won't recognize 2x32GB of RAM for 64GB total

[HLR44]

Hello

 I've had my Z2 G4 Mini (model 3AQ01AV ) running flawlessly for 5 years now, and I want to upgrade from 32GB to 64GB.  All the spec sheets I see say it supports this.   I had installed previously these memory cards:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BGZEVHU 32GB DDR4 2666MHz CL18 Unbuffered SODIMM (2x16GB)

So I went back and bought these 32GB modules:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YBW84K9   64GB DDR4 2666MHz  CL18  SODIMM  (2x32GB)

I installed these memory boards, but my computer (in the BIOS) and Windows 10 (64-bit) still only recognizes 32GB (2x16GB). 

How do I fix this?  Thanks.

[NonSequitur777]

@HLR44<

Welcome to our HP community forum!

Let's ascertain first how much RAM your HP - Compaq HP Z2 G4 Mini Workstation can be fitted with.

Please type in: cmd in your Windows search bar, right-click on the Command Prompt System App, and left-click on: Run as administrator, and hit: Yes if you're asked for approval.

Then copy/paste/enter:

wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices

For example, on the laptop I am using right now, I get this:

In my case: divide the number 33554432 by 1048576 = 32GB ÷ 2 = maximum of 2 x 16GB RAM sticks.

If your number is: 67108864, then you can (should, anyway) fit 2 x 32GB RAM.

Please report back and tell me what max RAM you got.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[HLR44]

Thanks for the reply..

I get the following:

So it looks like it only supports 32GB.  Why do all the specs for my model 3AQ01AV claim to support 64GB?

Thanks.

[NonSequitur777 · Accepted solution]

@HLR44,

That is a really good question, since HP does indeed specify "up to 64 GB" in their specs: HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation Specifications | HP® Support.

Other sources appear to be more accurate, such as: https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hP---Compaq/hp-z2-g4-mini-workstation, and: https://memory.net/product-category/hp/workstation/z2-mini-g4/.

Don't know what to tell you.  You can't change this RAM limit.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[HLR44]

Well, this is a head-scratcher.

I got on chat with HP support, and they wanted me to test each 32GB stick one at a time.  

The system reported 32GB when loaded with one stick at a time and the results of wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices  returned the same results.

So I put both sticks back in (in reverse order as previously) and voila! The system is now reporting 64GB:

As well as in ProcessExplorer: 

But when I do wmic memphysical get MaxCapacity, MemoryDevices  in a CMD window, it still returns the same as before

Go figure, I guess?  At least it's now working since I swapped the two 32GB modules. 

[NonSequitur777]

@HLR44,

Outstanding!

Thank you for providing this very useful information, my hope is that other HP Z2 Mini G4 Workstation Users will benefit from what you described!

The fact that the wmic command continues to display 32GB (in KB) on your PC is something I had not heard of before.

@Paul_Tikkanen, do you have any feedback on this occurrence, since in my experience, wmic always got it right?

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Paul_Tikkanen]

@NonSequitur777 

Yes, I have come across several times where the wmic command does not provide accurate results--especially on some of these newer HP notebooks with the 11th - 13th gen core processors.

Wmic is reporting as low as 16 GB when folks have been installing 32 and 64 GB of memory and it works fine.

In older PC's, wmic is usually spot on.

[NonSequitur777]

@Paul_Tikkanen,

Thank you -well, that explains it, then: so far, I have mostly worked with 'legacy' HP platforms.

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777