What is XMP? Do I want it on or off with the new Threadripper CPUs?

[liberty610]

Hello everyone!

I have been building my own systems for about 10 years now, and I am learning new things every time I upgrade or look into new systems. I do a lot of production style work with video editing and audio production, but I also do some gaming on the side.

My current setup is with Windows 10 pro, an Intel 6800k CPU, and this quad channel memory kit from G. Skill:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231802

If you want to take a look at my entire setup, it is here via PC Parts picker:
https://pcpartpicker.com/b/BqHhP6

While looking through my current parts to make sure they would be compatible with my new Gigabyte Arous gaming 7 board that will run the x399 chipset with my Threadripper 1960x, I stumbled across some comments about the XMP profile not working on certain systems. G.. Skill replied saying it was only Intel compatible...

Now, I am NOT an overclocker by any means. I have never done Ram or CPU overclocking. I did a small overclock on my GPU with MSI Afterburner, but that is about it. I do want to get a high memory speed out of my Ram though, so with my current Intel 6800k, it was apparently as easy as turning XMP on in the Bios, and off to the races.

But after reading some of the reviews on the ram kit and then the replies to them from G. Skill, I am interested in learning what XMP is, when I should use it, ect.

I know how to build systems and do a lot of advanced ordeals, but with ordering my Threadripper setup, I am now learning more about CPU dies and memory. Kind of overwhelming at first ha. I get my new Threadripper 1950X and Gigabyte board soon, so I am looking to get the best out of the setup. I know Threadripper is new, and there are not many reviews on it yet, but the reviews I saw where solid for production work. Gaming is a little different, buit it was do-able for sure.

Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Hardware Brad]

For example, if you purchase 3200MHz RAM and install it into your system the motherboard will automatically default to run it at 2133MHz. If you turn XMP on, it will overclock the RAM to run at its advertised speed. I believe it may also overclock the CPU as well, but I am not 100% on that, but RAM for sure.

 

[nitinvaid20]

For example, if you purchase 3200MHz RAM and install it into your system the motherboard will automatically default to run it at 2133MHz. If you turn XMP on, it will overclock the RAM to run at its advertised speed. I believe it may also overclock the CPU as well, but I am not 100% on that, but RAM for sure.

Its only for Memory
it will overclock the CPU only if you choose the CPU speed under XMP settings

 

[liberty610]

Ok, so my ram is advertised as DDR4 3000 (PC4 24000). So does that mean the board will run it at 2400MHz automatically and it can be boosted to 3000Mhz? And is it based on only Intel or is it any setup in general?

I am assuming an XMP profile is basically a quick memory overclock template? Where it will load a 'stock' overlcock when it is loaded? This is where I get confused....

 

[nitinvaid20]

It will increase the Frequency as needed

 

[Hardware Brad]

For example, if you purchase 3200MHz RAM and install it into your system the motherboard will automatically default to run it at 2133MHz. If you turn XMP on, it will overclock the RAM to run at its advertised speed. I believe it may also overclock the CPU as well, but I am not 100% on that, but RAM for sure.

Its only for Memory
it will overclock the CPU only if you choose the CPU speed under XMP settings

Thank you, this makes sense, I remember when I did it on my system I also set the CPU frequency with it, glad to know it is an optional feature. Essentially, to answer the question, XMP makes overclocking very easy.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

XMP is an Intel proprietary technology

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/gaming/extreme-memory-profile-xmp.html

Intel® Extreme Memory Profile (Intel® XMP) lets you overclock RAM and compatible DDR3/DDR4 memory to enhance the gaming features built into PCs with Intel Inside®. Get that extra edge you need to dominate.1

If you see RAM advertised, the speed that is advertised is Intel XMP 99.9 % of the time.

The RAM's SPD includes various presets which provides numerous tested profiles for timigs at various speeds. Most of those will be compliant with the JEDEC standards. XMP is an "overclocked' profile in the sense that it is not JEDEC complient. But in any MoBo that supports that speed, the CPU, MoBo and RAM manufacturers all guarantee operation at the XMP speed.

But just because you don't have a guarantee that it will work, that doesn't mean it won't work. That board supports "Quad Channel ECC/ Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 8 DIMMs, 3600MHz+(OC) ". The QVL for that MoBo can be found here, I didn't see your RAM on it.

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Memory/mb_memory_x399-aorus-gaming7.pdf

The one thing I would do is use CPUz to see the SPD data and take a screenie to see if there is a profile for 3000 and if so keep a copy.


Gskill lists only X99 compatibility
http://www.gskill.com/en/product/f4-3000c15q-32grk

X99 Data:

Tested Speed 3000MHz
Tested Latency 15-15-15-35-2N
Tested Voltage 1.35v
SPD Speed 2133MHz
SPD Voltage 1.20v
Features Intel XMP 2.0 (Extreme Memory Profile) Ready
Additional Notes Rated XMP frequency & stability depends on MB & CPU capability.

So according to the above web page, it will default to the JEDEC 2133 proifle and then 2 thinks might happen .... Giga may have included recognition of rthe OC profile for your RAM or you may have to set the speed and timings manually in the BIOS. AMD has a progranm similar to Intel ... they call itAMP

http://www.amd.com/en-gb/innovations/software-technologies/amp

 

[photonboy]

First, "XMP" is only for Intel but AMD boards have a similar feature with a different name.

XMP doesn't technically overclock the memory. It just runs at the OPTIMAL value that SPD allows.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_presence_detect

There is information on the memory that the UEFI/BIOS (if new enough and contains that memory's data) can look at to know what frequency and timings to apply.

Overclocking (AFAIK) implies forcing the memory to run above its rated, optimal value (such as running 3000MHz for 2666MHz kit).

THREADRIPPER:
You'll want to get a Quad-Core kit and since Quad double the bandwidth of Dual then 3200MHz should be sufficient because it seems enough for an 8C/16T Ryzen CPU in Dual Channel so should be enough for up to 16C/32T in Quad.

*It's also critical you get memory sticks and motherboards that work well together as that's still an issue.

 

[liberty610]

Thanks for the informative replies guys.

I looked at that memory support list already, but I mis-read the last 3 letters on the model number. So, no, my memory is not on the support list, which sucks. I try to only get ram that the motherboard's official support list has on it.

As far as wanting a quad channel kit for threadripper, my current kit is a quad channel kit. It's just not on the support list. Having said that, is that going to be a huge problem?

I have CPUz already and I can take a look at things when I get the board up and running for sure. I am just trying to learn as much as I can so I get a stable system and know the ins and outs of it like I do my current build.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I used to check pre-1995 ... but since then I have never checked. Never been an issue.

yes the time to check woulda been when you has the Intel system running ... you might get lucky running a web search on "Images SPD CPUz [model number]
"... I have in the past

 

[liberty610]

I used to check pre-1995 ... but since then I have never checked. Never been an issue.

yes the time to check woulda been when you has the Intel system running ... you might get lucky running a web search on "Images SPD CPUz [model number]
"... I have in the past

I still have my Intel setup running. What should I be looking for?

Should I consider new ram? I was looking through a few options online and I found this kit that is on the support list:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820232482

 

[liberty610]

Also, I am watching NEw egg's studio live stream about the Threadripper build that they are featuring... and they keep saying XMP ram settings in it...?