XMP 1 and XMP 2 difference

[jrrog1975]

I just upgraded from a Z270 to Z390 using the XI Code. I moved the G.Skill RAM from my other system. On the Z170 I only had 1 XMP option. On this new board I see 2. What's the difference and which one should I choose?

[Zammin]

I ran into this last night. Using G Skill ram as well, 3200mhz C16 Trident Z RGB. XMP 1 is the same as XMP on last gen in that it changes the 4 main timings, clock speed and voltage. The motherboard basically handles the rest. XMP 2 changes the above and a whole tonne of other RAM settings (on my system at least) and in my case it made my system very unstable. Games kept crashing and stuttering. XMP 1 seems to work fine.

[Korth]

They're just pre-programmed SPD profiles. Use whichever one runs faster if you like (unless one profile doesn't run stable). If you've manually configured your memory timings then the factory preset SPD/XMP/etc profiles would be ignored anyhow.

[Silent Scone@ROG]

XMP I is the validated board profile that you will have seen on past generations. Every time a board is validated, this profile is the one used by the memory vendor and ASUS. On Z390, there is now the option to use the DIMM profile which is XMP II. These settings are not validated, so mileage will vary depending on the kit and CPU.

XMP I - Board optimised timings

XMP II - Default XMP timings

Often, XMP II timings will be slightly looser depending on the memory kit. If you check within the UEFI or memtweakit, you'll see a difference in memory subsets.

[Rcmorr09]

XMP I is the validated board profile that you will have seen on past generations. Every time a board is validated, this profile is the one used by the memory vendor and ASUS. On Z390, there is now the option to use the DIMM profile which is XMP II. These settings are not validated, so mileage will vary depending on the kit and CPU.

XMP I - Board optimised timings

XMP II - Default XMP timings

Often, XMP II timings will be slightly looser depending on the memory kit. If you check within the UEFI or memtweakit, you'll see a difference in memory subsets..

That's very good to know! I've tried both on my hero xi and they both have the same speed and timings. With that said is there a preferred profile, am I risking anything using say xmp 2 in terms of stability maybe?

[Silent Scone@ROG]

That's very good to know! I've tried both on my hero xi and they both have the same speed and timings. With that said is there a preferred profile, am I risking anything using say xmp 2 in terms of stability maybe?

Same primaries, but subs will often be tighter on the ASUS profile. You can try both and check for instability.

[Rcmorr09]

Same primaries, but subs will often be tighter on the ASUS profile. You can try both and check for instability.

Last question, I chose ram that had been tested on the motherboard, the list that's available was that tested on xmp 1 or 2? Thanks for the answers!

[Korth]

@ASUS ... lol I wish ASUS gave us a little more documentation about stuff like this ... so we'd actually know the features exist.

I mean meaningful documentation which actually tells the end user what features are there, what they do, what changing them will do.
Not uninformative nonsense like "Enable/Disable setting = enables or disables setting in BIOS" lol.

I don't feel it should be the consumer's responsibility to have to constantly monitor and report to support forums to basically read stuff unanswered in the user manual.

[Silent Scone@ROG]

Last question, I chose ram that had been tested on the motherboard, the list that's available was that tested on xmp 1 or 2? Thanks for the answers!

What the board applies at default is XMP I, and those are the settings that are validated.

@ASUS ... lol I wish ASUS gave us a little more documentation about stuff like this ... so we'd actually know the features exist.

I mean meaningful documentation which actually tells the end user what features are there, what they do, what changing them will do.
Not uninformative nonsense like "Enable/Disable setting = enables or disables setting in BIOS" lol.

I don't feel it should be the consumer's responsibility to have to constantly monitor and report to support forums to basically read stuff unanswered in the user manual.

Hi Korth, it is in the manual.

[Korth]

Hi Korth, it is in the manual.

Ah, I was wrong in this instance, sorry for the accusation, my apologies. And thanx for the response. I still maintain that ASUS generally provides awfully inadequate documentation, but that's something which has already been said elsewhere.