The utterly unthinkable RAM issue I’m trying to locate hasn’t appeared in any online sources.
The utterly unthinkable RAM issue I’m trying to locate hasn’t appeared in any online sources.
But I think the RAM will stay at 4400 regardless. If it hits full capacity with 128GB, the XMP feature might activate and push it to a higher frequency. More stability could help, though it seems unlikely I’d reach that level. The older RAM tops out around 4800MHz, but it defaults to 4400 and can’t be adjusted through settings as you noted.
By default, DDR5 reverts to the JEDEC standard rates of 4400 or 4800 MHz, which explains the cap you notice. Faster options like 6000/6400 MHz become available only when you activate the XMP/EXPO profile in BIOS and the motherboard’s memory QVL allows it. So: If your Aurora board includes XMP 3.0 support, you can apply the profile to achieve 6000–6400 MHz. Otherwise, the modules will operate at the standard 4400/4800 MHz regardless of settings. This isn’t about reaching full 128 GB, but rather about BIOS capabilities and XMP configuration.
Running four DDR5 sticks at maximum XMP speed is tough, especially on Intel boards, let alone with Alder Lake. Most systems can't handle four sticks at DDR5-6000 or more. Occasionally you might get lucky, but it doesn’t seem likely here. This depends on whether your Dell board actually supports XMP—sometimes it’s locked to the official limit of DDR5-4800 for Alder Lake. If you really need more capacity and don’t want to replace your whole setup, opting for cheaper DDR5 might be the best choice. You’re unlikely to push beyond DDR5-4800 even if the board allows it. A Z690 consumer board with full control over speed, timing, and voltage could work better, but it’s probably not available on your current machine.