When it comes to the effective functioning of the PC, RAM constitutes an integral tool. In the past, the moment your system slows down, you tend to be advised to upgrade your computer memory by adding more RAM. This doesn’t work all the time. Of course, operations such as running a program, surfing the net, or streaming a video require a large amount of memory to run smoothly.
How to increase ram speed without XMP?
One way is to set the timings and frequency in your BIOS manually. This is probably the most effective way to go about it, but it can also be the most complicated. If you’re not comfortable messing around with your BIOS, then we recommend skipping this method. This is a fairly advanced process and is not recommended for beginners.
Another way to increase your RAM speed without XMP is simply using a higher-quality RAM module. For example, if you’re using DDR3 RAM, you could upgrade to DDR4 RAM. This will typically provide a slight performance boost as DDR4 RAM is faster than DDR3 RAM.
There are several articles on the need to enable the XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) feature to unlock increased performance potential. Increasing your RAM performance isn’t just about enabling the XMP profile to adjust the timing and other settings in the BIOS. Some computers may fail to boot after manually changing the frequency. The reason is simple: the adjusted setting isn’t compatible with the processor and/or computer’s motherboard.
Beyond overclocking, there are other ways to increase the speed of your computer RAM if it continues to slow down. This article provides you with those ways and how you can leverage them to improve the performance of your PC.
What Is Your current RAM Speed?
Before making attempts to increase your RAM speed with the ‘no-XMP’ module, you must check your current speed. To do this, you simply run the Task Manager feature by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Navigate to the Performance tab and select Memory from the left section. This automatically shows the main part where you can see the RAM’s current running speed, usually in megahertz. At this stage, it is assumed that your computer’s RAM is not running at the correct speed.
Can You Overclock Without XMP?
Overclocking is a way of speeding up your computer processor to improve its performance. In most cases, it requires that you enable XMP and make some changes in the BIOS. However, you can also achieve similar results without BIOS. This is by trying out any of the following remedial options:
- Free up some space
- Check for viruses and malware
- RAM upgrade
- Upgrade to an SSD
Free Up Some Space
Sometimes, when your PC slows down each time you run several programs or open multiple tabs on your browser, chances are high some unused programs are responsible. Computers that are overloaded with unused programs tend to take more time to startup and respond when in use. Therefore, you may have to free up some space.
To free up some space on your PC, you can clear Temporary Files, remove unused programs, or prevent some programs from running at startup.
- Clear Temporary Files:
Temporary Files are stored by your PC to enable it to load faster. However, when they build up, they can slow down your PC. To clear these files, enter Disk Cleanup in the search bar of your Start Select Temporary Files from the menu and select Ok. This automatically empties the temporary files. - Remove unused programs:
To uninstall unused programs, hit the Windows key and type Add or Remove Programs. This shows every single program installed on your PC. Check for any freeware you may not need and remove them. The same thing applies to programs that run in the background. Such programs could be disabled from running at startup. - Disable startup program: To prevent a program from running at startup, simply run the Task Manager feature by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Navigate to the Startup tab, locate the program(s), right-click on it/them, and select By disabling such unnecessary programs that often run each time you start up your PC, you would have helped your computer to boot up and function faster.
Check For Viruses And Malware
Malware and viruses are deceptive programs that run inconspicuously on PC. Their operations tamper with the computer speed by slowing it down. In the first place, your PC needs some sort of antivirus protection to guard against bugs that often slow down the PC.
If you have an antivirus program installed on your PC but your RAM often disappears, it might be a red flag, indicating the presence of some unwanted rogues. Even with that, you don’t need to panic. At this stage, consider running a full scan for the possible removal of those viruses and malware. Alternatively, you can get both free and paid antivirus scanners and removal tools online.
Consider Upgrading Your PC’s RAM
You may not know the kind of RAM upgrade you need if you fail to check its speed. It is one thing to get an extra card; it’s another thing to get a compatible card and install it correctly. Manufacturers often recommend that cards are installed on separate channels.
Modern motherboards come with two different channels: A2 and B2. However, having two cards on the same channel may not lead to better performance as would having one card installed on each of the channels. Note that this doesn’t apply to laptops. They often have limited slots to house new RAM sticks.
Upgrading your PC’s RAM requires that you open up your computer and handle some components. Therefore, you need to take great caution during the process so you don’t get your computer damaged. And don’t ever fall for the “online download of RAM” option that litters the internet – they are all jokes!
Testing the Difference in Performance with and without XMP Enabled
To test the difference in performance between having XMP enabled and disabled, we ran a series of benchmarks on our test system. The results are shown below:
| Benchmark | XMP Enabled | XMP Disabled |
| Cinebench R15 CPU | 155 cb | 149 cb |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score | 9758 | 9616 |
| Geekbench 4 Single-Core Score | 4206 | 4091 |
| Geekbench 4 Multi-Core Score | 15918 | 15651 |
Upgrade To An SSD
In some cases – especially when your computer RAM is running at the correct speed – you may not have to upgrade your RAM. It might just be the right time to upgrade from a hard drive to a solid-state drive (SSD). SSDs are known to provide increased response times and general performance.
What then happens to your old hard drive if you would be settling for another drive? You can simply use it as secondary or external storage.
Final Thoughts
Nothing could be more annoying than having your computer slow down each time you are multitasking. It may drive you out of your mind. You then consider getting another RAM. Until you have exhausted all options provided here, you should never make RAM replacement your first option.
Remember it may not necessarily be the best option. Rather, you should first consider freeing up some space on your drive (by deleting Temporary Files, uninstalling unused programs, and stopping unnecessary processes), checking for viruses and malware, upgrading your PC RAM, and upgrading from an HDD to an SSD.
Hey, I’m Hammad. I write for this website to help you with the IT advice about PC, RAM, CPU, Motherboard, PSU, and other PC components.
I will provide detailed guides with images, and explain step by step so you can understand the process. Check all my articles here.
