If you're building your own PC and have decided to invest in some fast RAM , how do you make sure it performs at its advertised speed? You may not know this, but in reality, RAM will always run at a slower speed than it was designed for, unless you manually adjust its speed or enable Intel XMP to optimize its speed.
Note that this option is not available on every motherboard BIOS , and not every stick of RAM has an XMP profile. Some RAM models are designed to run at standard speeds only. However, if you're building your own gaming rig and buying a RAM system that's advertised as being extremely fast, you should definitely buy something that supports the XMP option.
Why do we need XMP?
Before enabling XMP, it's important to understand how your CPU connects to RAM and why XMP is necessary in the first place.
You see, the CPU in your system is connected to the RAM through the motherboard using sockets. It is through these sockets that data reaches the CPU. Therefore, the motherboard, CPU, and RAM must work together to get data from the RAM to the CPU.
To keep everything running properly, your computer's motherboard uses a small chip that stores the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) . This chip is activated when you turn on your computer. After power is applied, the BIOS performs a power-on self-test (POST). During this test, the motherboard checks the status and initializes the various input/output devices connected to the CPU. During this test, the motherboard decides what frequency the RAM should run at.
To do this, the motherboard communicates with the Serial Presence Detect (SPD), a chip that stores information such as the RAM's frequency, voltage, and timings. The data stored on this SPD is standardized for different RAM technologies such as DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4 by the Joint-Electron-Device-Engineering-Council (JEDEC).
Because of this standardization, DDR4 RAM can run at frequencies ranging from 800 to 1600 MHz with data rates up to 3200 megatransfers per second (MT/s). However, a high-performance RAM stick can reach 5333 MT/s.
This begs the question, how does RAM surpass the JEDEC specification and run at faster frequencies? This is where XMP comes into play.
What is XMP enabled for?
RAM runs at standard speeds set by JEDEC, but you can overclock your RAM manually. XMP uses some RAM to save a speed and timing profile that the RAM can safely run at. Enabling XMP configures the memory to run at the speed and timings it is rated for.
How to enable XMP on memory
Some motherboards do not allow XMP and will not have an option to enable it or will be grayed out when you try to use the feature. In that case, there is nothing you can do, other than upgrading your motherboard to use XMP.
1. Restart your PC or turn it on and access the UEFI/BIOS using the specific key on your motherboard. Typical access keys include Delete, F1, F2, F10, and F12 (yours may be different). Check your motherboard manual or the manufacturer's website for details.
2. Look for the XMP profile toggle. If you see it on your UEFI/BIOS home screen, toggle it to On , then skip to step 6. If not, skip to step 3.
3. If necessary, enable Advanced Mode in your UEFI/BIOS. This is usually done by pressing the F7 key , but again, this button will depend on your motherboard. Typically, that information is located in the bottom right corner.
4. Navigate to the overclocking section in the BIOS. This section may be called AI Tuner, AITweaker, Performance, Extreme Tweaker, Overclock Settings , or something similar.
5. Scroll through the list of options until you find the XMP profile toggle. Turn it to On by pressing the Enter key on it or clicking on it and selecting On from the drop-down menu. Some motherboards, like the one below, require you to Load XMP Profile .
6. Save your BIOS settings and exit. You can do this by selecting the Exit button on your keyboard or mouse and choosing to save your settings. Alternatively, use the traditional F10 key . When prompted, confirm your choice.
How do I know if XMP is enabled?
You can double-check that your XMP profile is enabled by going back into the UEFI/BIOS and making sure the toggle is set to On . Also, check the memory speed in the UEFI/BIOS - it may be on the main screen or overclocking menu - or in the post-boot screen.
You can also use Windows software like CPUZ to confirm your memory speed. If it matches the rated speed given on the memory packaging and label, then your XMP profile is enabled.
If not, rerun the steps to make sure you enabled it correctly. If you are sure you have followed the steps correctly and still are not seeing the expected speeds, you should confirm that your motherboard or processor allows memory overclocking.
See also:
With the increasing demand and profits from HBM and DDR5 memory, major DRAM manufacturers in the market are preparing plans to completely stop producing DDR4 and DDR3 memory.
Installing more RAM is the most effective solution to speed up your computer. Even if your computer is new, after only a few years of use, you will have to install more RAM to ensure better speed. In addition, new operating systems also require more memory. When a computer does not have enough RAM, it will exchange data streams with the hard drive, and that is the reason why your system runs slowly.
If an application “consumes” too much of the device's RAM, it will severely reduce the system's multitasking ability, as well as cause lag, seriously affecting the experience.
Micron, one of the world's largest memory manufacturers, has just announced that it will increase prices across its entire product portfolio, including DRAM and NAND flash memory.
These are the top 5 best software for optimizing computer RAM among countless other software with the same function. Overall, they are really good and surprisingly effective. Hopefully you will choose a software that is most suitable and compatible with your computer system.
People often hear about the RAM bus when they hear about upgrading or repairing their computers, but what it is, let's dig deeper through this article!
In the computer, RAM is a part that rarely fails, but many users have encountered an error when the computer boots up, when they hear 3 prolonged beeps. Also, the computer screen does not display. This is a sign that the computer's RAM has failed
Your computer has a lot of graphics-related software such as games or graphics software, after using for a while, it will cause your computer after a period of use with signs of sluggish operation. and your operation is slowed affecting the insole
In this article, we will guide you how to regain access to your hard drive when it fails. Let's follow along!
Dental floss is a common tool for cleaning teeth, however, not everyone knows how to use it properly. Below are instructions on how to use dental floss to clean teeth effectively.
Building muscle takes time and the right training, but its something anyone can do. Heres how to build muscle, according to experts.
In addition to regular exercise and not smoking, diet is one of the best ways to protect your heart. Here are the best diets for heart health.
The third trimester is often the most difficult time to sleep during pregnancy. Here are some ways to treat insomnia in the third trimester.
There are many ways to lose weight without changing anything in your diet. Here are some scientifically proven automatic weight loss or calorie-burning methods that anyone can use.
Apple has introduced iOS 26 – a major update with a brand new frosted glass design, smarter experiences, and improvements to familiar apps.
Yoga can provide many health benefits, including better sleep. Because yoga can be relaxing and restorative, its a great way to beat insomnia after a busy day.
The flower of the other shore is a unique flower, carrying many unique meanings. So what is the flower of the other shore, is the flower of the other shore real, what is the meaning and legend of the flower of the other shore?
Craving for snacks but afraid of gaining weight? Dont worry, lets explore together many types of weight loss snacks that are high in fiber, low in calories without making you try to starve yourself.
Prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule and evening routine can help improve the quality of your sleep. Heres what you need to know to stop tossing and turning at night.
Adding a printer to Windows 10 is simple, although the process for wired devices will be different than for wireless devices.
Diet is important to our health. Yet most of our meals are lacking in these six important nutrients.
You want to have a beautiful, shiny, healthy nail quickly. The simple tips for beautiful nails below will be useful for you.
Students need a specific type of laptop for their studies. It should not only be powerful enough to perform well in their chosen major, but also compact and light enough to carry around all day.
