When you receive your Gaming PC, you may notice that the RAM speed reported in Windows is lower than expected, for example 4800 MT/s instead of 6000 MT/s.  This is because the system likely shipped with the RAM at its default speed rather than its rated speed.

What is the difference between Default Speed and Rated Speed?

Default speed on RAM refers to the standard speed of the memory modules without any overclocking applied.

Rated speed refers to the maximum validated speed for the memory, usually via a baked-in overclocking profile such as AMD EXPO™ (Extended Profiles for Overclocking) or Intel® XMP (Extreme Memory Profile).

Why is AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP not enabled by default?

Enabling AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP is considered a form of overclocking, which will put additional strain on the RAM and Memory Controller (part of the CPU).  This additional strain can result in stability issues such as occasional crashes, hanging, etc., so we generally leave the option up to the user.

Does enabling AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP affect my warranty?

Our Gaming PC warranty covers enabling AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP, however during troubleshooting we may request that you disable these features to validate issues prior to setting up a warranty claim.

How do I enable AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP?

AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP can be enabled via the motherboard UEFI or BIOS, usually as a simple one-click option or an easily accessible dropdown.  For motherboard specific guides, please check out the articles below:

• How do I enable AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP on my Gaming PC?  (Asus)
• How do I enable AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP on my Gaming PC?  (Gigabyte)

I enabled AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP but my PC is now crashing or not booting, what do I do?

If you are experiencing stability issues such as crashing, not booting, etc. please reach out to our Customer Support team for further assistance.  It is worth noting that systems with four (4) memory modules may experience slower initial start times (up to 2-3 minutes on some motherboards with high-capacity memory), or stability issues due to the significant increase in strain on the memory controller.  If you are experiencing issues with four-module configurations, we would recommend not enabling AMD EXPO™ or Intel® XMP.

Why are four module configurations more likely to experience issues?

When comparing two (2) module setups vs. four (4) module setups, the four setup is more likely to experience issues due to the increased load on the Memory Controller on the CPU.  To lessen these issues, some memory manufactures provide kits of four modules that are optimized to be used as a set.

Due to market availability, most NZXT Gaming PCs shipped with four modules will be a pair of two module kits. 

For more information, check out our guide here:  Adding RAM to your Gaming PC