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How to Check and Verify Your System RAM Speed in MHz

Introduction

RAM (Random Access Memory) speed, measured in MHz (Megahertz), is an important factor that impacts your computer’s overall performance. Faster RAM allows programs and files to load quicker. Verifying that your RAM is running at its rated speed is important to ensure your system is performing optimally.

This article will walk through multiple methods to check RAM speed on Windows and Mac machines. It will also cover how to enable XMP profiles in the BIOS to reach advertised RAM speeds.

Check RAM Speed in Windows

There are a few easy ways to check RAM speed on Windows 10 and Windows 11:

Use Task Manager

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
  2. Go to the Performance tab
  3. Click on Memory on the left side
  4. Look for the “Speed” value at the bottom right of the window. This shows your RAM speed in MHz.

Use Command Prompt

  1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog
  2. Type cmd and press Enter
  3. In the Command Prompt, type wmic memorychip get speed and press Enter
  4. The speed of each RAM stick will be displayed in MHz

Use Third-Party Tools

Utilities like CPU-Z and Speccy can easily display detailed RAM information including speed, capacity, type, timings, and more. They provide an alternative way to check RAM speed in Windows.

Check RAM Speed on Mac

Checking RAM speed on a Mac is straightforward using built-in tools:

Use System Information

  1. Go to Apple Menu > About This Mac
  2. Click System Report
  3. Go to Memory > Memory Slots to view RAM speed

Use Activity Monitor

  1. Open Activity Monitor located in Applications > Utilities
  2. Click the Memory tab
  3. Look at the bottom of the window to see the physical RAM speed

Enable XMP Profile in BIOS

RAM manufacturers advertise speed ratings that are often higher than standard JEDEC specs. To reach advertised speeds, you need to enable the XMP profile in BIOS.

Here is how to enable XMP:

  1. Reboot and enter BIOS, usually by pressing Del, F2, or F10 on startup
  2. Navigate to the AI Tweaker or Advanced menu
  3. Locate a setting named XMP or DOCP and enable it
  4. Select the matching profile for your RAM speed (e.g. DDR4-3200)
  5. Save changes and exit BIOS

After enabling XMP, verify the new RAM speed in Windows using the methods described above.

Test RAM Stability

It’s important to test for system stability after making changes to RAM settings. Use memory testing software like MemTest86 to check for any errors:

  1. Download and create a bootable USB drive with MemTest86
  2. Boot into the USB drive and allow multiple passes of testing
  3. If any red errors appear, your RAM is not stable at the set speed
  4. Reduce RAM speeds in small increments until stable

Conclusion

Checking and verifying RAM speed is useful for monitoring performance. Comparing the speed in Windows to rated specs can indicate if RAM is underperforming. Tools like Task Manager provide an easy way to check. Enabling XMP in BIOS will also allow RAM to reach advertised speeds. Just remember to test stability after making changes.

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