Your memory runs slower than it's rated for
Gaming RAM is sold as "3200", "3600" or "6000", but out of the box it runs at a slow safe default (often 2133 or 4800). The fast speed is a profile you switch on in the BIOS: XMP on Intel, EXPO or DOCP on AMD. In processor-heavy games it's worth 5-20% FPS.
Check your speed
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Performance → Memory.
- Look at Speed. Compare it with the number on the RAM box or in its name.
Turn it on
- Restart and keep pressing Del (or F2) to enter the BIOS.
- Find XMP, EXPO or DOCP (often on the first page, or under "Ai Tweaker" / "OC").
- Pick Profile 1. Save and exit with F10.
Is it safe? Yes: it's the speed the memory is sold and tested for. If the PC doesn't start,
it resets itself after a few tries, or you switch the profile off again. Laptops usually can't change this.
Or let the hamster check
Frame Hamster's free scan compares your memory's speed with its rating and checks for single-channel memory too.
Download Frame Hamster free