Most PC components today are plug-and-play. You install new components, and they simply work as they should at the specified speeds. It’s a little complicated with RAM: I realized my 3200 MHz DIMMs were operating at 2133 MHz only a few months later. The thing is, you can’t really “feel” slow RAM frequencies during normal usage like you would for, say, SSDs. Luckily, it took just one setting to unlock my RAM’s actual potential.
And no, it wasn’t a defect
I only realized something was off when I got back to playing Counter Strike 2, a CPU-intensive game where RAM speeds make a measurable difference: the 1% lows were worse than before, and there was increased stutter. I checked Task Manager, which confirmed that my RAM was running at a lower frequency than its rated speed.
No matter what the box says, your RAM will boot to an industry-wide baseline by default. These standards are set by JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) and define the memory speed, voltage, and timing for RAM. This is done to ensure maximum compatibility across varying hardware and software.
For DDR4 RAM, the voltage is fixed at 1.2V, and depending on your module, the default clock speed is 2133MHz or 2400MHz. If you own DDR5 RAM, the default clock speed and voltage sit at 4800MHz and 1.1V, respectively. However, most RAM vendors test their RAM at speeds and voltages higher than the default, and those are the numbers you see advertised.
I thought my CPU was maxed out until I tweaked these BIOS settings
A few BIOS tweaks made my PC feel brand new without a hardware upgrade.
When it comes to performance, the difference between 3200MHz RAM and 2133MHz RAM is significant. Even more so if you’re running dual or quad-channel memory. In my case, the dual-channel RAM was operating at a bandwidth of roughly 34GB/s instead of its theoretical maximum of about 51GB/s. The difference compounds if you’re using quad-channel memory. Again, you may not notice this difference in day-to-day use, but if you game, compile code, or do 3D rendering, it becomes noticeable.
A simple setting made my RAM work at its advertised speed
Time to visit the BIOS options
Depending on whether you’re using Intel or AMD-specific motherboards, the BIOS setting that unlocks your RAM’s full speed will be called XMP (Extreme Memory Profiles) or EXPO (Extended Profiles for Overclocking), respectively. The names may differ across motherboard manufacturers as well. Usually, there are multiple profiles, each one bundling a specific clock speed, timing, and voltage. Simply put, you’re overclocking your RAM (compared to JEDEC specs) with a single click by selecting a profile.
For most motherboards, booting into the BIOS settings requires you to press Delete or F2 key when the manufacturer’s logo appears during boot. Alternatively, you can do this:
- Click on Start and click the Power button.
- With the Shift key pressed, click on Restart to reboot into the Advanced Startup options.
- Click on Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> UEFI Firmware Settings.
- Your PC will reboot into the BIOS settings screen.
Once you’re in the BIOS, look for a setting labeled XMP or EXPO in the memory tab. Choose a profile depending on your RAM, save the settings, and reboot. Your RAM should now work at its advertised speed.
I always do these 4 things after a new PC build before I consider it actually ready
Relax, this isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
Occasionally, you may run into issues with XMP and EXPO on budget boards. Your PC may get stuck in a reboot loop: rest assured, most motherboards reset to their default settings after three failed boot attempts. Otherwise, you can manually reset your motherboard by clearing the CMOS.
Confirm your RAM is running at its mentioned speed
Once you’ve enabled the XMP/EXPO profile for your RAM, double-check that it’s actually running at the speed you selected. The easiest way to do this is to check the Performance tab in the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc). Click on Memory and see the number next to Speed. You’ll see that Task Manager displays the clock speed in MT/s units, and not MHz. While MT/s and MHz measure different things, manufacturers often use them interchangeably. You may need to do a bit of Googling to confirm that the listed speed is indeed the maximum speed your RAM supports. Alternatively, you can use a utility like CPU-Z to see more detailed info about your RAM.