A single BIOS setting is often responsible when a newly built PC performs below expectations, despite having the expected hardware.
The first check is usually the memory speed reported in Windows Task Manager. In many cases, RAM is running at the default JEDEC specification instead of its advertised speed because the system’s memory profile has not been enabled.
The issue commonly appears on new PC builds, but it can also return after a BIOS update or a CMOS reset, both of which typically restore memory settings to their defaults.
Why memory speed matters
DDR4 and DDR5 memory kits include two operating profiles.
The first is the JEDEC profile, a conservative standard intended to ensure the memory will boot on compatible hardware. The second is the higher-performance profile, known as XMP on Intel platforms and EXPO on AMD systems.
These profiles instruct the motherboard to run the memory at higher frequencies, tighter timings and increased voltage than the default JEDEC settings.
Without XMP or EXPO enabled, a DDR5-6000 kit may operate at 4800MT/s, while a DDR4-3200 kit may boot at 2133MT/s. The system will continue to function normally, making the issue easy to overlook.
Benchmarks showed noticeable differences
Testing cited in the source found that leaving memory at JEDEC settings affected performance to varying degrees depending on the workload.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, described as a CPU-intensive game, enabling EXPO on the same DDR5-6000 memory produced a performance gain of about 42% compared with the default JEDEC profile.
In more GPU-bound titles, including Capcom’s Pragmata and Xbox Game Studios’ Forza Horizon 6, reported gains ranged from 8% to 20%.
How to check and enable the setting
Windows Task Manager provides a quick way to check the current memory speed.
For more detailed information, the source recommends:
- CPU-Z, where the SPD tab shows the memory kit’s rated specification.
- HWiNFO, which reports the speed at which the memory is currently operating.
If those figures do not match, the solution is to enter the motherboard’s BIOS and enable the memory profile.
Depending on the motherboard manufacturer, the setting may be labelled:
- XMP
- EXPO
- DOCP
On the MSI B650M motherboard referenced in the source, the option is located under the Overclocking menu, although its location varies by manufacturer and motherboard model.
After enabling the profile, users simply save the changes, restart the PC and allow the system to reboot.
The source notes that XMP or EXPO may need to be enabled again after:
- a BIOS firmware update
- a CMOS reset caused by troubleshooting or memory training errors
Both actions reset the memory configuration to the default JEDEC profile.
Users who have invested in DDR4 or DDR5 memory are encouraged to verify that the correct memory profile is enabled so the hardware operates at its advertised specifications.
TL;DR:
RAM often runs at slower JEDEC default speeds unless XMP or EXPO is enabled in the BIOS. The source says enabling the correct memory profile can improve performance, with benchmark gains varying by workload.
Key points:
- New PCs often default to JEDEC memory speeds.
- XMP and EXPO enable the advertised RAM frequency and timings.
- The source reports gains of up to 42% in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- GPU-bound games showed reported improvements of 8% to 20%.
- BIOS updates and CMOS resets typically require the memory profile to be enabled again.
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