What is XMP?

When you install memory in a system, there is a set of standardized speeds/timings your memory will run at. This standard is called JEDEC. This is why you see DDR4 memory speeds like DDR4-2133, DDR4-2400, DDR4-2666, DDR4-3000. These are standardized speeds that all memory manufacturers adhere to.

Outside of JEDEC, we have something else that can determine the speed at which your memory runs; this is called XMP. Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) was originally created by Intel® and is now used by all memory manufacturers with high performance desktop memory. Unlike JEDEC, XMP speeds are higher performing, and are usually custom tweaked to the specific needs of the memory. When you purchase XMP compatible memory, you must also pair it with an XMP compatible motherboard, and a CPU that will support the memory speeds. Typically XMP must be manually enabled in the BIOS settings.

If you install XMP memory in a non-XMP motherboard, or don’t have XMP enabled, the memory will simply run at whatever JEDEC timings the computer decides. With Ballistix® parts this often means the memory will be downclocked to the next lowest speed. A pair of DDR4-3000 Ballistix Elite parts could run at DDR4-2400 speeds if XMP was not running as an example, or it could run at 3000 speeds, but with a slower latency. This is all okay, since most of our memory is designed to run at multiple speed settings. Even if your memory doesn’t have the frequency or timings that are listed for it on our website, it will often run flawlessly at those parameters.