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How to check if XMP or EXPO is on (and turn it on)

By Michael Steininger · Updated October 2026

The speed on your RAM's box is not the speed it runs at out of the box. To be safe, every PC starts memory at a standard default speed. The rated speed only applies once the memory profile, XMP or EXPO, is turned on in the BIOS.

Quick answerOpen Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) → Performance → Memory and look at Speed. If it's lower than the number on your RAM, the profile is off.

Check the speed in Windows#

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Go to Performance → Memory.
  3. Read Speed, for example 6000 MT/s.
  4. Compare it with the rated speed on the box or the stick's label, for example DDR5-6000.

Typical defaults when the profile is off: 4800 MT/s for DDR5 and 2133 or 2400 MT/s for DDR4.

Prefer the command line? In PowerShell, Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemory | Select-Object PartNumber, Speed, ConfiguredClockSpeed shows the rated speed (Speed) next to the one in use (ConfiguredClockSpeed).

Turn it on in the BIOS#

  1. Restart the PC and press the BIOS key while it starts, usually Del or F2.
  2. Find the memory profile. It has a different name on every brand:
    • ASUS: AI Overclock Tuner → XMP, EXPO or D.O.C.P.
    • MSI: XMP / EXPO (on older AMD boards A-XMP), often a switch on the start screen
    • Gigabyte: Extreme Memory Profile (X.M.P.) or EXPO
    • ASRock: OC Tweaker → DRAM Configuration → Load XMP (or EXPO) setting
  3. Choose the first profile, save and restart (usually F10).
  4. Check Task Manager again: the speed should now match the box.
WarningThe first start after turning on a profile can take a minute or longer while the board trains the memory. That's normal. If the PC doesn't start at all or crashes later, go back into the BIOS and pick a slightly lower speed. Most boards also reset themselves after a few failed starts.

Is the rated speed always the best?#

Not always. Processors have a speed their memory controller is happiest at. On AMD's Ryzen 7000 processors, for example, AMD itself names 6000 MT/s as the sweet spot, so a 7200 kit running at 6000 is fine. The goal is not the biggest number, it's not leaving the default in place by accident.

Questions#

Is XMP or EXPO safe?
It runs the memory at the speed and voltage its maker tested and printed on the box. It counts as overclocking for the processor's memory controller, which is why it's off by default, but it's what the kit was sold for. If the PC becomes unstable, a slightly lower speed fixes it.
What's the difference between XMP and EXPO?
XMP is Intel's name for memory profiles, EXPO is AMD's. Many kits have both. DOCP is ASUS's name for running an XMP profile on an AMD board.
Does XMP give more FPS?
In games that lean on the processor, faster memory can give noticeably more FPS and better lows. In games limited by the graphics card, the difference is small. Measure in your own game to know.
Why does Task Manager show half the speed?
Some tools show the real clock, which is half the transfer rate (DDR = double data rate). 3000 MHz in such a tool means 6000 MT/s. Task Manager shows the transfer rate.
Check it automatically

Frametide's free scan reads your memory speed and checks the setup for common mistakes. Premium shows which problems it found and explains the BIOS setting step by step for your board.

Download free →