How To Enable Intel XMP? (To The Point Guide)
Having a PC is a lot of fun, but at the same time, I have to understand that for newcomers, things can be very overwhelming as they have to deal with the fact that there are several things that they are not aware of.
Sure, if you have been building PCs for a long time, then you would know every single aspect of what makes a good gaming PC, but if not, then things can be confusing for a lot of people, and that is fine.
Take XMP, for example, a lot of people have asked me what XMP is or how to enable Intel XMP, and that has made us realize that we need to have a guide for that. So, let’s look into it.
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What Is Intel XMP?
Have you ever wondered what XMP means every time you get a new RAM kit or buy a new motherboard, specifically when it is an Intel motherboard?
Honestly, it is not as confusing as it might sound. XMP is short for Extreme Memory Profiles and is responsible for defining a set of configurations that are already in the RAM SPD.
These profiles define various aspects of the RAM, such as its voltage, CAS latency, and frequency, and allow the RAMs to operate faster than its stock settings.
How to Check RAM for XMP support?
Now, before you go ahead and start wondering what RAM supports it and what RAM doesn’t support it, it is not really that complicated, to be honest. If you are still wondering, however, then the answer is rather simple. Whatever RAM you buy should mention what the XMP speeds are.
However, if the RAM is higher clocked than its base clock, this means that the XMP support is already there, and you need to activate it from your motherboard’s BIOS. This is not a complicated process and is also completely safe.
How to Enable Intel XMP?
When it comes to enabling Intel XMP, the process is not at all complicated but based on the motherboard you own. Enabling XMP could be different based on the motherboard you have.
Since there are several motherboard manufacturers and we cannot start looking at each and every one of them, we are going to make things a bit more streamlined.
Normally, the XMP feature is not hidden at all. As a matter of fact, when you first boot into the BIOS, there is a high chance that you will find the XMP option right there.
However, if it is not there for some reason, you can actually look for it in AI Tweaker or Overclocking section, depending on the motherboard you have.
Don’t worry if you still can’t find it, however. Because you can always look up your motherboard’s BIOS manual or just Google it with your specific motherboard model, and you will get the answer.
I do understand that this definitely is not the method that most people want to use, but given the circumstances and considering how there are just so many motherboards, even when they are from the same company, it can be confusing to look into.
Can XMP damage my RAM?
No, XMP has predefined settings for everything that allows you to easily overclock the RAM, and these settings are already tested before the RAM leaves the factory.
So, you really do not have to worry about whether or not XMP is going to end up damaging your RAM because that doesn’t happen. Manually overclocking your RAM, on the other hand, could do the damage.
Is XMP good for gaming?
Honestly, I have never really noticed a significant bump in performance when it comes to XMP or RAM speeds, in general.
However, it is always nice to have the RAM operate at a faster speed, but in reality, in gaming, you might not see any difference in the first place, but that is okay.
Does enabling XMP to increase FPS?
Sadly, enabling XMP does not increase FPS, as FPS is not directly tied to the RAM in the first place. It is still better to use XMP because your RAM will operate at faster speeds when you do that.
Does XMP void the Intel warranty?
Nope, enabling XMP does not void any warranty. However, manually tweaking the RAM and overclocking can end up voiding the warranty, provided it does a lot of damage, but other than that, you have nothing to worry about.
– My Final Verdict:
Simply put, XMP is not at all complicated to understand. We can simply call it an overclocking profile but for RAM.
XMP settings are always fine-tuned, so you really do not have to worry about things going wrong. All you have to do is just enable it from the settings, and you are good to go.
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