How to Enable XMP or DOCP in BIOS to Unlock Full RAM Speed (DDR4 & DDR5 Memory Overclocking)

Want to get the most out of your DDR4 or DDR5 RAM? Enabling XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) or DOCP (Direct Overclock Profile) in your BIOS is one of the easiest ways to boost PC performance for gaming, streaming, and productivity. This guide walks you through the process of enabling XMP/DOCP safely, so your memory runs at its full advertised speed - whether you're rocking DDR4 or the latest DDR5 modules.

What Is XMP or DOCP?

RAM kits - especially high-performance DDR4 and DDR5 memory are often sold with rated speeds like 3200MHz, 3600MHz, or even 6000MHz+. But your PC won’t run them at those speeds by default. Instead, it loads a safe base profile like 2133MHz or 4800MHz.

XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) is Intel's memory overclocking technology that loads tested, stable high-speed settings directly from your RAM into the motherboard BIOS.

DOCP (Direct Overclock Profile) is AMD's counterpart, designed to read and apply Intel's XMP profiles on AMD motherboards. It gives Ryzen users the same performance boost.

Same concept, different name:
- Intel systems: Use XMP
- AMD systems: Use DOCP or EOCP (depending on motherboard brand)

Why Enable XMP or DOCP on DDR4 & DDR5 RAM?

Here’s what you unlock by enabling XMP or DOCP on your DDR4 or DDR5 RAM:

• Maximum rated speed — reach 3200–6000MHz and beyond, as advertised on the box
• Improved FPS in games — especially for CPU-bound titles like Valorant, Apex, and CS2
• Faster multitasking & rendering — ideal for content creation or streaming
• Plug-and-play performance — no manual tuning needed

Before You Enable XMP or DOCP

Some quick checks before diving into the BIOS:

• ✅ Verify your RAM supports XMP (most DDR4/DDR5 kits do)
• ✅ Check your motherboard’s max RAM speed (found on the spec sheet)
• ✅ Update to the latest BIOS version for best compatibility

How to Enable XMP or DOCP in BIOS

Steps may vary slightly, but here's the general process:

Step 1: Enter BIOS

• Restart your PC.
• During boot, press the BIOS key (usually Del, F2, or Esc).

Step 2: Find the Memory Overclock Option

• XMP (Intel motherboards)
• DOCP (AMD motherboards - ASUS)
• EOCP (Gigabyte AMD boards)

Location depends on brand:

• ASUS – AI Tweaker or Extreme Tweaker tab
• MSI – OC tab
• Gigabyte – Tweaker tab
• ASRock – Advanced → OC Tweaker

Step 3: Select the XMP or DOCP Profile

• Choose the highest available profile (usually XMP Profile 1 or DOCP Standard).
• Save changes and exit (usually F10).

How to Confirm XMP/DOCP is Active

• Open Task Manager → Performance → Memory.
• Or use CPU-Z and check the Memory tab.
• Note: CPU-Z shows the actual frequency, which is half the effective DDR speed (e.g., 1600MHz = 3200MHz DDR).

Troubleshooting XMP/DOCP on DDR5 & DDR4

• No boot? Clear CMOS or reset BIOS.
• Try a lower profile (e.g., 5600MHz instead of 6000MHz).
• Make sure your CPU supports the speed (especially with DDR5).

Final Thoughts

Enabling XMP or DOCP is a must-do for anyone using DDR4 or DDR5 gaming memory. It delivers the performance your system was built for - whether you're gaming, editing, or just multitasking hard.

This simple BIOS tweak ensures you're not leaving free FPS or productivity gains on the table.

Looking for more performance tweaks? Check out our other BIOS optimization guides and RAM tuning tips right here on the blog!