| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Windows shows less RAM than installed (e.g. 8GB instead of 16GB) | One RAM stick not seated fully in slot | Reseat both SODIMM sticks; check both slot locks click closed |
| System boots with one stick but not two | Incompatible RAM speed or one faulty RAM module | Test sticks individually; use Lenovo-validated DDR5-4800 SODIMM |
| BIOS shows correct RAM but Windows shows less | Windows maximum memory limit set in msconfig | Run msconfig, Boot, Advanced, clear Maximum memory checkbox |
| POST beep codes during startup with two sticks installed | RAM module incompatible with LOQ 15IRH8 memory controller | Use DDR5 SODIMM validated in Lenovo compatibility list for LOQ 15IRH8 |
The Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 Core i7-13650HX supports dual-channel DDR5 memory via two SODIMM slots. The LOQ 15IRH8 supports DDR5-4800 SODIMM and can be upgraded to 32GB or 64GB by replacing the two user-accessible SODIMM modules under the service panel. Dual-channel operation requires matching SODIMM sticks in both slots of equal capacity and speed.
Fix: Check msconfig Maximum Memory Setting
Press Win + R, type msconfig, press Enter. Go to Boot → Advanced options. If the Maximum memory checkbox is checked, uncheck it and click OK. Restart. The Maximum memory setting in msconfig limits the amount of RAM Windows uses regardless of how much is physically installed and detected by BIOS. This setting is sometimes enabled by performance testing software, memory diagnostic tools, or manual user configuration and persists across restarts, causing Windows to show only a fraction of installed RAM as available.
Fix: Reseat SODIMM Modules
Power off the LOQ 15IRH8 completely and remove the battery if possible. Remove the service panel screws and panel. Identify the two SODIMM slots on the LOQ 15IRH8 mainboard. Press the side clips outward to release each SODIMM module, remove it, and firmly reinsert it at a 45-degree angle until the gold contacts are fully seated. Press the module flat until both side clips click closed. A partially seated SODIMM creates intermittent contact with the memory slot pins that causes the module to be detected by BIOS sometimes but not reliably after vibration or temperature cycling during gaming load.
Per Irfan Azhari, computer science student using Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 i7-13650HX for gaming and coding: “Windows showed 8GB RAM on the LOQ 15IRH8 but I had installed 16GB in two sticks. Checked msconfig Boot Advanced and Maximum memory was set to 8192 MB. Unchecked it and restarted. Windows now shows all 16GB of RAM installed and running in dual-channel mode.”
Fix: Update Lenovo BIOS
Open Lenovo Vantage and check for BIOS updates for the LOQ 15IRH8. BIOS updates include memory training firmware for the Intel Core i7-13650HX (Raptor Lake-HX) memory controller. The DDR5 memory controller in the i7-13650HX requires precise training data for each SODIMM module to initialize dual-channel operation. An outdated BIOS may fail to train certain DDR5 SODIMM modules that were released after the original BIOS, causing one slot to appear empty in BIOS and Windows even when both sticks are correctly seated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RAM not detected in Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 second slot?
The SODIMM module is not fully seated in the slot, the msconfig Maximum memory limit is restricting Windows memory visibility, the RAM module is not compatible with the LOQ 15IRH8 DDR5 memory controller, or the BIOS needs a memory training firmware update. Check msconfig first, then physically reseat SODIMM modules, then update BIOS via Lenovo Vantage.
What RAM is compatible with Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8?
The LOQ 15IRH8 supports DDR5-4800 SODIMM modules in standard form factor. Maximum capacity is 32GB per slot for a total of 64GB. Both SODIMM slots are user-accessible under the service panel. For guaranteed compatibility, use Crucial, Kingston, or Samsung DDR5-4800 SODIMM modules from the Lenovo-validated compatibility list available on the Lenovo Support website for the LOQ 15IRH8.
Does Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 support dual-channel memory?
Yes. The LOQ 15IRH8 Core i7-13650HX supports dual-channel DDR5 operation when both SODIMM slots are populated with matching capacity modules. Dual-channel mode doubles the effective memory bandwidth available to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics and reduces memory latency for gaming workloads. Using a single SODIMM in one slot operates in single-channel mode with reduced memory performance.
Can I mix different RAM capacities in Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8?
Mixing RAM capacities (for example 8GB in one slot and 16GB in the other) is supported but the system will run in Flex Mode rather than true dual-channel. In Flex Mode, the first 8GB from each stick runs in dual-channel and the remaining 8GB from the larger stick runs in single-channel. For maximum gaming performance on the LOQ 15IRH8 i7-13650HX, use matched pair SODIMM modules of equal capacity in both slots for full dual-channel operation.
Conclusion
RAM not detected in Lenovo LOQ 15IRH8 i7-13650HX is fixed by checking and disabling the msconfig Maximum memory limit, reseating SODIMM modules firmly until both side clips click, using DDR5-4800 SODIMM modules from the Lenovo-validated compatibility list, and updating BIOS via Lenovo Vantage for DDR5 memory training firmware improvements. The msconfig Maximum memory checkbox is the most common cause of Windows showing less RAM than what is physically installed and detected by BIOS on the LOQ 15IRH8.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with PC hardware, software, and driver troubleshooting. He is the author behind softwaredriverdownload.com, where he helps everyday users fix driver issues quickly and accurately. Ryan has personally tested most of the fixes on this site across a range of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
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