Enabling your XMP 2.0 profile

Enabling XMP 2.0 performance profiles

At default your PC will always revert to 'safe' settings. On a Z170 / Intel Skylake DDR4 platform your memory will be configured at what is called an SPD JEDEC setting, the safe setting. For DDR4 on this platform this always is 2133 MHz with a low JEDEC timing in the 15 to CL 19 range. This is done so that during say a new PC setup, your memory will always run stable and steady. However if you purchase a Ferrari, that doesn't mean you can't pass 120 kPH right ? This is why Intel created memory profiles aka XMP which is short for Xtreme Memory profiles.So while 2133 MHz is standard for the processor and chipset combo, the motherboard manufacturers offer way higher memory configurations and performance as long as your DDR4 memory allows it. How do we get XMP profiles enabled ? Simple ... go into your BIOS:

You simply enable the XMP profile, save the BIOS and reboot. One word of advice though, use a proper brand motherboard. G.Skill has a QVL list on their website with information showing supported vendors. Overall if you go with MSI, ASUS, ASRock or Gigabyte on Z170, you're good to go.
 

Once we enabled the XMP profile we can see that the memory frequency, voltages and timings have updated to what the XMP SPD on the memory is configured for.
 

Yes that's all it takes, we now see a memory clock of 1600 MHz. Don't let the number confuse you -  that needs to be doubled (DDR is double data rate) hence effectively we have the memory controllers and memory running at 3200 MHz with a CAS latency of 16. If you activate the XMP 2.0 profile in the BIOS, your memory will be automatically configured for you at its maximum supported clock speed and recommended voltage. We'll show you this setup running at 2133 and 3200 MHz later on in the article. Yes, gone are the days of endless memory tweaking, XMP 2.0 basically offers factory tweaked memory straight out of the box to maximize your memory bandwidth.