How to overclock RAM

Listening to a conversation between two friends who are passionate about computer science, you discovered the possibility of overclocking some components, including RAM: it was explained to you that it is possible to push the performance of memory banks (and other details) beyond the specifications declared by the manufacturer, How To Overclock Ram thus resulting in a decent increase in computer speed, without buying additional hardware—intrigued by what you decided to search. The Internet to learn more about the subject. You ended up on my guide.

Well, if that’s the case and you’re wondering how to overclock RAM to improve your computer’s performance, know that you’re in the right place to start! However, I want to tell you right away that. Although it is not very complicated. To access the PC settings dedicated to RAM overclocking. Defining the right pacorrecters to apply requires. A certain amount of patience and experience. As the use of incorrect values ​​can have very unwelcome consequences. Which includes the physical breakdown of RAM and motherboard.

So, before even doing anything, read carefully the contents of this guide, especially the chapter dedicated to preliminary information. I do not take responsibility for any problems arising from the incorrect application of the information below, clear? Well, Then let’s move on: in light of the information, you will acquire. You will be perfectly able to determine. Is RAM overclocking suitable for you or if? Alternatively, It is better to turn to industry experts or safer alternative procedures. That says there nothing left for me to do. But I wish you good reading. And wish you ga stroke of good big luck for everything.

Preliminary information

Have you discovered that the overclocking procedure hacanncrease the performance of the RAM and needn’t wait to put it into practice? Before proceeding, let me give you some more information on the concept of overclocking, the benefits, and, above all, the risks that you can run into by applying it.

Some hardware components, such as CPUs, video cards, and, not least, RAMs, are released by manufacturers according to precise hardware specifications: in the case of RAMs, the most important is the capacity, the frequency, and the various timings, or latencies, to which the data can be subjected to.

Generally, the parameters listed above may have theoretical characteristics that are more or less high than the factory preset values: to give you an example, a RAM with a declared frequency of 2133 MHz can be enhanced up to a frequency of 3000 MHz. similarly, By installing a bank of RAM. With a frequency of 3000 MHz on a given motherboard. It could have a yield equal to 2133 MHz.

At first glance, This is a strange and incoherent speech. Because of a hardware component capable of achieving. Higher performance release from. The factory with somewhat worse settings, or at least. Not able to exploit the full potential of the hardware? Mainly the reason for this behavior. They found two fundamental factors.

Internal Components: How To Overclock Ram

• The company’s will: the parameters related to each hardware’s characteristics are often studied and modeled ad-hoc to provide a fair compromise between performance and duration. In other words, a RAM bank can have relatively high timings and relatively low frequencies concerning the theoretically achievable parameters to provide a final result that is simultaneously performing, long-lasting, and, above all, stable. As you will soon discover, altering the release parameters of a given hardware component can positively impact performance but negatively on durability and stability.
• The entire hardware set-up: some internal components of the computer, first of all, the motherboard, may apply limitations on the speeds that the installed hardware can reach (e.g., RAM), to preserve the right balance between performance and stability and energy consumption (in terms of heat released).

The overclocking procedure consists of precisely applying hardware parameters different from the factory ones to push the various components’ performance to the maximum. Specifically, some motherboards provide for the possibility of overclocking the RAM, either by applying predefined profiles or by acting manually.

But it’s not all plain sailing. RAM’s main task is to speed up access to data by the processor. Allowing it to process more information. In the shortest possible time (measured in clock cycles).

RAM should ideally have a high processing frequency combined with a low data residence time for each clock cycle for best results.   Best wireless keyboard This last factor is called timing and comprises various parameters printed on the memory modules or obtainable through special software: CAS o t CL, t RCD, t RP, and RAS.

Follow Guidelines

However, each parameter often depends on all the others, and for this reason. It is not possible to modify them at will. But it is necessary to follow guidelines and carry out often complex calculations. To obtain optimal results. Using approximately or poorly calculated. Values ​​could cause data to stall inside the memory. Giving rise to so-called bottlenecks and, consequently, to system crashes.

Moreover, to be able to increase the frequency of the RAM and decrease the general timing, it may be necessary to increase the voltage: this can be very dangerous, Best gaming router as it involves more excellent heating of the RAM module, of the relative communication bus and, consequently, of the entire motherboard.

In the absence of adequate cooling, the RAM could stop working at any time (if the motherboard equips with sound protection systems) or, in the worst case, burn itself. For this reason, some motherboards allow you to use pre-configured overclocking profiles, such as XMP for Intel or AMP processors, A-XMP, DOCP, and EOCP for AMD processors, based on a table of “safe” values ​​stored inside RAM itself. These profiles must active from within the motherboard BIOS / UEFI and allow you to overclock compatible memories, setting pre-configured, balanced, and potentially safe parameters. Furthermore, numerous motherboards equip with special menus dedicated to manual parameter entry, devoted mainly to experts.

Furthermore: How To Overclock Ram

In light of what I have shown you so far. You should have understood that overclocking the RAM is a relatively. Simple operation in itself. But that achieving the balance between the parameters. Involvement is quite tricky and could lead to many consequences. Very unwelcome. For this reason, my advice is to opt for this possibility only if you are fully aware of the products to which it could lead.

I will not hold myself responsible for any malfunctions, problems, and damage to things or people that could exist by putting into practice the steps that I am about to illustrate: always act in full conscience and, if necessary, with the direct assistance of an expert. I warned you!

How to overclock PC RAM

Have you read and learned everything I explained to you in the previous chapter of this guide, and, in light of your findings, are you still ready to overclock your PC’s RAM? Then let me give you some helpful information on how to do this in later sections of this chapter. I’ll explain how to secure overclocking using Intel’s XMP profile essentially. And how to try to get the configuration parameters to use for manual overclocking.

I always recommend that you analyze your PC’s performance. Before and after making the changes to understand. Whether they bring actual benefits.

Pre-configured profile

To overclock RAM, you must first log into the computer’s UEFI system: depending on the platform on your computer, you may have to press a specific key when turning on the computer (e.g., Del or F2 ) or use the boot options advanced Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. Suppose you don’t know how to proceed. You can follow the directions. I gave you my tutorial on entering the BIOS / UEFI.

Once you are in UEFI, you need to locate and access the screen for editing advanced settings: in my case, for example, you need to click on the Advanced Mode button to access the advanced editing settings, then reach the AI Tweaker section visible on the screen next and, from there, select the automatic to overclock profile (XMP 1, XMP 2, AMP and so on) from the drop-down menu next to the AI Overclock Tuner heading.

After selecting the chosen profile, click on the Exit button and choose to save the changes ( Apply changes and exit ) to make it effective.

The information I have given you may vary according to the model of the motherboard in your possession: for example, on ASRock motherboards, the drop-down menu dedicated to XMP profiles is accessible both from the Easy interface (the initial one)  and from the advanced mode (OC Tweaker section); also on Gigabyte and MSI motherboards, the setting dedicated to XMP profiles and, respectively, DOCP and A-XMP (proprietary names to define profiles dedicated to AMD processors) is present in both simple and advanced modes.

If, despite the presence of the appropriate item. It is impossible to set an XMP profile. Other than “Auto” or “Manual. It is likely that the hardware is not compatible with the use of the same. Motherboard and processor may not support the ‘overclock or again. 

Manual overclock

As for manual overclocking, things get a little complicated: as I explained to you in the initial chapter of this guide, it is, in fact, necessary to obtain a certain balance between the frequency, timing, and voltage parameters to be modified under penalty of a drastic worsening of the situation or, even worse, damage to the RAM modules or the entire motherboard.

In this regard. The DRAM Calculator for Ryzen software (which can also easily adapt to Intel processors) could be helpful. This program does not require installation. Allows you to automatically calculate the parameters to set. Manually during the RAM overclock phase. Based on the characteristics of the processor. Motherboard and RAM banks installed in the computer.  The former may not support voltage regulation.

So, after obtaining this last information. (Which you can get using software for the analysis of the computer. hardware, such as Speccy or CPU-Z ). Download the program I mentioned earlier. Extract it in a folder at pleasure and, after starting it. Tt indicates request the necessary information (type of processor and motherboard, specific characteristics of the RAM, and so on).

When you are done, use the buttons visible below to automatically calculate the clock and timing parameters, according to two predefined profiles: Safe, to obtain a limited increase in performance, which should not involve any risk; and Fast, to get a more effective, but potentially less stable and riskier overclock.

RAM overclock phase

Once you have chosen the profile of your interest and calculated the timing and frequency values, write them down, restart the computer  How to edit videos, and enter the UEFI panel: the option for manual overclocking of the RAM is usually called AI Tweaker, AI Overclock Tuner, OC Tweaker or simply RAM overclock.

Generally, the latter resides in the UEFI advanced settings panel, within the Extreme Tweaking, Overclocking, or Advanced Tweaking sections: once you reach the true summit (whose name varies according to the model of the motherboard in your possession), you can change, using the displayed elements, the timing values, the frequency and, in some cases, even the voltage of the RAM (I strongly advise you never to exceed the value of 1.45 v ).

Once the necessary parameters have been entered. Exit UEFI saving the changes made. Restart the computer. And check the performance obtained by overclocking. Using a benchmark program. Carry out more tests by slightly modifying. Each parameter until you reach optimal results for you. While always keeping in mind the concept of safety.

SmartestComputing Editor