Gvgd94 :
smorizio :
XMp profile is intel over clock settings for ram. It built into ram chips. If you run Cpuz under memory tab,spd info the last colum is the xmp info line.
If you look on your mb cd there a PDF file of your mb bios settings.
In the dram settings is a line that say xmp profile........off/disabled.
Just change it to on..enabled and the ram will jump to 1600 speed.
I can also just set it in the bios itself, not via that xmp and select 1866, 1600, 1333 etc Does changing it to 1600 here also alter the voltage?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_presence_detect
1) as mentioned, use "XMP"; it should automatically try to set your CPU and RAM to their optimals settings (frequency and timings)
2) if you manually change the settings, do NOT exceed 1600MHz (RAM does not overclock well). Again, if possible you want the BIOS to do that via SPD (through XMP).
3) Overclocking the CPU also affects the RAM (can overclock it and become unstable). If you overclock the CPU, be sure to change the MULTIPLIER for your RAM so you don't exceed 1600MHz.
*Do NOT overclock the CPU unless you've:
a) verified MEMTEST for at least one hour at stock CPU/MEMORY, and
b) confirmed stable PC for several days
4) Some Asus motherboards can be SLIGHTLY overclocked while also maintaining power management settings. This is what I did (different motherboard):
a) boot to BIOS
b) click XMP (confirm proper CPU/RAM default frequencies)
c) click "overtune" (or similar name. I forget. You may/may not have this.)
d) (should REBOOT, enter BIOS again)
e) *This got slightly weird: my RAM was now incorrect, but my CPU was at 4.2GHz (it's Turbo setting). I clicked "XMP" again (XMP->overtune->REBOOT->XMP) and now my RAM settings were correct again and my CPU dropped to 4.1GHz.
Long story short, I had a slight overclock (4.2GHz up from 3.9GHz Turbo), my RAM settings were optimal and I still had power management working.
*Your motherboard may very well be different. Don't forget to run MEMTEST.