The most talked-about tech tip for PC building is enabling RAM XMP/EXPO profiles after a fresh build, but there are other RAM settings that are equally important and rarely discussed.
For instance, running dual-channel is the best way to take advantage of your memory’s speed, and using more than two kits per system can split the dual-channel bandwidth. Even if the configuration and settings are correct, your RAM still may not be running at its intended speed, and the cause might be outdated firmware. In such a case, a BIOS update becomes paramount to improve memory performance and stability.
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Your BIOS decides whether a RAM profile works
XMP and EXPO store the settings, but the firmware applies them
Newer DDR5 memory can store up to five profiles, including three EXPO/XMP profiles (the manufacturer-rated speeds) and two customizable profiles. Each profile is a request, and it’s up to the motherboard’s BIOS how it handles it. In some cases, the motherboard doesn’t handle that request well, and the kit can’t reach the rated speeds. The reason is memory training. On first boot or after hardware changes, the BIOS tests the signal path between all components and calibrates voltages and termination so the clock speeds and timings stay reliable. The settings are saved and reused on the next boot. However, sometimes the BIOS’s training code might not be good enough for certain CPUs or RAM. This can cause timing offsets to be set incorrectly, speeds to drop, or, even if it’s set right with little margin for error, the memory to become unstable. This happens when you install newer RAM on a motherboard that may have sat on a shelf for years before you bought it, leaving the firmware out of date for RAM kits the board has never seen.
What a memory-focused BIOS update fixes
Better training and compatibility codes help kits reach their rated speed
Pankil Shah / MakeUseOf
A BIOS update can significantly improve RAM performance by changing how your motherboard interacts with the memory. For starters, firmware updates improve memory compatibility and the complex memory training process, and improve voltage and data-transmission calibration so the RAM doesn’t become unstable when running at intended speeds. In addition, there are changes to improve boot times by shortening memory training at startup, reducing crashes, and better supporting high-density and four-DIMM setups. AMD pushes AGESA (AMD Generic Encapsulated Software Architecture) code to board makers, while Intel does so with FSP (Firmware Support Package) to board manufacturers for newer updates. Also, new BIOS updates enable RAM to run at its rated speed only if it wasn’t already running there, rather than magically pushing it beyond its intended speed. A prime example is RAM kits topping out at 6000MT/s on AM5 motherboards, despite supporting higher clock speeds, because the motherboard limited them. The AGESA 1.0.0.7b update expanded support for higher-clock-speed RAM, making kits up to 7400MT/s supported on AM5 boards.
How to tell if your BIOS is the bottleneck
Compare errors at default speeds against the rated profile
Shaheer Khan/MUO
If your RAM doesn’t run at the intended speeds even after enabling XMP/EXPO, or becomes unstable at higher clock speeds, your firmware may be to blame. You can run memory tests like MemTest86 at JEDEC speeds and then at XMP/EXPO speeds to see if errors appear only at the rated speed, which might point towards a firmware-level issue. Next, check your motherboard’s QVL (Qualified Vendor List), an official list of memory kits the board maker has tested. Then, cross-check the current BIOS version, which you can find under System Information, and compare it to the latest on the support page. If your BIOS version is behind the one listed on the page, you will need an update to get your RAM working as it should be. Before updating, though, check the official manufacturer’s website, enter your motherboard model, and review the update notes for any memory-related fixes.
Update your BIOS without risking the board
Always back up your BIOS settings and ensure a steady power supply
Shaheer Khan/MUO
While a BIOS update can improve performance and support for newer CPUs and RAM, it is still risky because a failed update can brick your motherboard. That is why you should ensure your power is stable and have a backup power plan to be on the safe side.
Then back up your BIOS settings or note any custom changes you’ve made, because an update will wipe them out, including XMP/EXPO profiles. Another recommendation is to install a BIOS update via a USB drive instead of over the internet, because services like these tend to go down during the most serious situations, and you wouldn’t want to take that risk.
Only free performance you’ll ever get
Simply put, a BIOS update only changes how a board sets up memory. It cannot change the CPU’s memory controller limit to make the kit stable beyond what the chip can handle; it only fixes how the firmware handles the RAM. Aside from RAM, a BIOS update also improves CPU performance and adds support for newer models, which is why you shouldn’t ignore it. Even setting performance aside, security patches alone are a strong reason not to stay on older firmware.
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