I configured the XMP profile for memory, but it caused the CPU to overclock.
I configured the XMP profile for memory, but it caused the CPU to overclock.
Hey there
I never imagined I'd end up on the overclocking forum—I just said I won’t be overclocking.
My setup includes a Corsair 3000Mhz 32 GB (2x16) RAM. When installed without an XMP profile, it runs at around 2100 Mhz.
My CPU is the Kaby Lake 7700K and the motherboard is an Asus Z270 ROG HERO.
I’m trying to raise my memory speed to 3000Mhz without impacting the CPU performance. I’ve applied some optimizations that supposedly identified the best configurations for my hardware, and they set everything accordingly:
In the main menu:
- I7 7700K at 4.20 GHz
- Total memory 32768MB
- Memory frequency 3183
- CPU frequency 4326 MHz
- Temperature 30C
On the side panel, it displays:
CPU Frequency 4326 MHz | Temperature 30C
Memory Frequency 3183 MHz | Voltage 1,344V
+12V → +5V
12192V → 5.080V
+3.3V | 3.328V
I’m not sure what these numbers mean. They come from the BIOS. I updated the BIOS today and it seems the DEAULT settings were reset, returning everything to its original values. Now I need to enable an XMP profile for the memory, but it’s showing strange figures.
I don’t even want to overclock. This machine is meant for audio editing. Even running a single game wouldn’t be a problem. Music processing can be tough, especially with CPU-intensive software synths, but my old processor handled 3.5 GHz well, so 4.2 should be fine. How can I keep the CPU at its original speed while setting XMP only for memory? And isn’t 3183 higher than 3000 supposed to be the target? Thanks.
There are two methods to describe memory performance, which is shown in the bios setup menu when Xmp mode is enabled for Xmp 2.0 profiles. Most DDR type memory operates at Double Data Rate. In essence, this means that during one clock cycle, data can be both read and written simultaneously with DDR-rated memory. The read and write speeds are typically 1500 Mhz for reads and 1500 Mhz for writes, depending on the memory's rated speed. Adding these two values together gives the overall speed of a memory stick.
Memory performance can be described in two ways: the setting visible in the BIOS menu when Xmp 2.0 profiles are enabled and activated, and the actual maximum data transfer rate of the memory. In general, DDR type memory operates at Double Data Rate. This means that during each clock cycle, data processing can occur simultaneously for both reading and writing, which is characteristic of DDR-rated memory. If you have a memory rated at 3000Mhz, the read speed would be 1500Mhz and the write speed would also be 1500Mhz. The combined speed of these channels equals the overall performance. Multiplying 1500Mhz by two gives 3000Mhz. Only changes in memory speed occur if the CPU's multiplier clock cannot be adjusted or is fixed due to a locked CPU setting. In your BIOS, verify the BCLK value; it should typically be around 100Mhz as a default. If it exceeds 100Mhz, it may indicate overclocking on the CPU. This could also explain why the memory displays a speed of 3183Mhz even though the selected profile in BIOS is 3000Mhz.