RAM Speed limited despite EXPO activated

[Roman123]

Hello,

 

I installed a compatible Corsair RAM kit on an ASRock X670E Steel Legend (it supports up to 7600 MHz) motherboard, but despite enabling the EXPO profile, the memory remains stuck at 4800 MHz instead of the expected 6000 MHz. I’ve already performed all necessary checks, including a BIOS update, proper RAM placement in A2/B2 slots, and a CMOS reset, without success (also tried Windows reinstallation in addition). 

 

In CPU-Z, it shows that my memory is running at 2994 MHz and never reaches 3000 (it should be at least 3000 × 2 = 6000 MHz). My friend has the same kit and gets 6000 MHz. In Task Manager, it shows 6000 MHz, but using "wmic memorychip get speed" returns 4800 MHz.

 

 

Here is the result after a diagnostic (it's in french but you can see EXPO activated and ram speed), it shows the real speed too : 

 

 

My PC specifications : 

CPU : 7800X3D (latest update version)

GPU : 4080 super (latest update version)

Motherboard : X670E Steel Legend (BIOS latest update version)

RAM : 6000MHz/CL30 (activated with EXPO)

 

Do you have any suggestions, thanks for your help !

 

Regards,

Roman

 

 

 

[Tan3l6]

14 minutes ago, Roman123 said:

Here is the result after a diagnostic (it's in french but you can see EXPO activated and ram speed), it shows the real speed too :

Diagnostic with what?

 

But - It seems to report JEDEC speeds, not real speeds... perhaps.

Does the "wmic memorychip get speed" really show 4800 while CPU-Z shows ~3000MHz? Because that really is strange.

[Roman123]

14 minutes ago, Tan3l6 said:

Diagnostic with what?

 

But - It seems to report JEDEC speeds, not real speeds... perhaps.

Does the "wmic memorychip get speed" really show 4800 while CPU-Z shows ~3000MHz? Because that really is strange.

I did the diagnostic with UserDiag a software that gives accurate benchmark of PC. 

 

The speed in CPU-Z should be at 3K at minimum it already shows that there are something wrong.

 

Here is the command result : 

[RONOTHAN##]

35 minutes ago, Roman123 said:

In CPU-Z, it shows that my memory is running at 2994 MHz and never reaches 3000 (it should be at least 3000 × 2 = 6000 MHz). My friend has the same kit and gets 6000 MHz. In Task Manager, it shows 6000 MHz, but using "wmic memorychip get speed" returns 4800 MHz.

This isn't an issue with the memory clock, or technically even an issue at all. You're differing from 6000MT/s by 8MT/s, less than 1% difference off. What's causing this is the actual base clock (the frequency that everything in the system is based off of with multipliers) is fluttering, and since you've got a board without an external clock gen, you're relying on the clock gen from the CPU itself which isn't known to be 100% accurate (it goes up and down by about 0.5MHz from its target 100MHz). You can improve it a bit by disabling spread spectrum in the BIOS, but realistically this just doesn't matter. 

 

As for the wmic memorychip get speed, odds are that's just returning the JEDEC values, same with whatever that French program you're using. If you look in that program, it reports the actual frequency is 5990MT/s, which is basically 6000MT/s, the target frequency. I'd still trust CPU-Z more though, I've yet to see that software completely freak out when it comes to reporting frequencies.

[Tan3l6]

1 hour ago, Roman123 said:

I did the diagnostic with UserDiag a software that gives accurate benchmark of PC. 

Mine:

 

As said before by RONOTHAN## - the "Current frequency" is the one to note, not the "Memory Slot" info.

Everything should be fine with your RAM.

[PDifolco]

1 hour ago, Roman123 said:

Hello,

 

I installed a compatible Corsair RAM kit on an ASRock X670E Steel Legend (it supports up to 7600 MHz) motherboard, but despite enabling the EXPO profile, the memory remains stuck at 4800 MHz instead of the expected 6000 MHz. I’ve already performed all necessary checks, including a BIOS update, proper RAM placement in A2/B2 slots, and a CMOS reset, without success (also tried Windows reinstallation in addition). 

 

In CPU-Z, it shows that my memory is running at 2994 MHz and never reaches 3000 (it should be at least 3000 × 2 = 6000 MHz). My friend has the same kit and gets 6000 MHz. In Task Manager, it shows 6000 MHz, but using "wmic memorychip get speed" returns 4800 MHz.

 

 

Here is the result after a diagnostic (it's in french but you can see EXPO activated and ram speed), it shows the real speed too : 

 

 

My PC specifications : 

CPU : 7800X3D (latest update version)

GPU : 4080 super (latest update version)

Motherboard : X670E Steel Legend (BIOS latest update version)

RAM : 6000MHz/CL30 (activated with EXPO)

 

Do you have any suggestions, thanks for your help !

 

Regards,

Roman

 

 

 

Your UFLCK clock is weird at 2992 MHz as well, should be 3000 or 1500

The bottom right window seems to report base Jedec speed not looking at the actual clock of the RAM, the left one says 5990

But anyway having like 10MHz less on 6000 is a nothingburger...

 

 

 

[Roman123]

On 5/21/2025 at 7:13 PM, RONOTHAN## said:

This isn't an issue with the memory clock, or technically even an issue at all. You're differing from 6000MT/s by 8MT/s, less than 1% difference off. What's causing this is the actual base clock (the frequency that everything in the system is based off of with multipliers) is fluttering, and since you've got a board without an external clock gen, you're relying on the clock gen from the CPU itself which isn't known to be 100% accurate (it goes up and down by about 0.5MHz from its target 100MHz). You can improve it a bit by disabling spread spectrum in the BIOS, but realistically this just doesn't matter. 

 

As for the wmic memorychip get speed, odds are that's just returning the JEDEC values, same with whatever that French program you're using. If you look in that program, it reports the actual frequency is 5990MT/s, which is basically 6000MT/s, the target frequency. I'd still trust CPU-Z more though, I've yet to see that software completely freak out when it comes to reporting frequencies.

Hey!
Thank you for your very informative reply, and sorry for the late response.

 

Initially, I ran this user diagnostic with their tool because I was experiencing FPS drops and stuttering in games. I reinstalled completly my Windows, and things seem fine now. The only thing that was bothering me was the RAM speed.

 

So, if I understand correctly, there's no real difference in terms of performance and I shouldn't experience any issues while gaming, right?

 

By the way, how did you find out that my motherboard doesn't have an external clock generator? Is that normal? Because I checked some forums about this specific motherboard model, and people don’t seem to have the same issue with EXPO. At first, I actually thought there was a problem with my RAM and even contacted Corsair to replace it. So now I’m not sure if I should go through with the replacement or if it's unnecessary—since, as you mentioned, the system just reads the JEDEC values and the actual speed is around 6000 MHz (about 5900 MHz).

[RONOTHAN##]

3 hours ago, Roman123 said:

how did you find out that my motherboard doesn't have an external clock generator? Is that normal?

Yeah, it's very normal that it doesn't have one nowadays. There's keywords on the motherboard product page that indicate it if you know what you're looking for, but this is a feature that's limited to more overclocking centric motherboards. ASRock, for instance, calls it the Hyper BCLK engine.

 

It used to be back in say the X58 days that every board came with one because you couldn't overclock without it, but nowadays they have a clock gen built into the CPU that is largely good enough. Only reason to have one is if you're doing BCLK overclocking (rarely recommended) or are doing something that requires you to change the BCLK within the OS (frequency validations for world records is the main use case), though even BCLK overclocking can usually be done just fine with the standard built-in clock gen. On AM5 though it does add an extra feature, ECLK overclocking, where you can overclock PBO, but this doesn't help much so again, it's not on many boards (cheapest AM5 board to have it is the B650 Taichi Lite). 

 

3 hours ago, Roman123 said:

Because I checked some forums about this specific motherboard model, and people don’t seem to have the same issue with EXPO. At first, I actually thought there was a problem with my RAM and even contacted Corsair to replace it. So now I’m not sure if I should go through with the replacement or if it's unnecessary—since, as you mentioned, the system just reads the JEDEC values and the actual speed is around 6000 MHz (about 5900 MHz).

Weird, because eevry motherboard I've used that doesn't have an external clock gen will have the BCLK run slightly below 100MHz and cause this "issue." I wouldn't go through the replacement, it's more of a hassle than it's worth and it's not going to change anything. If it really bothers you, go into BIOS and disable spread spectrum, that will bring you up closer to the 100MHz BCLK at the cost of more EMI coming from your computer if that's something that you need to be concerned about. 

[Roman123]

hey, thanks for your reply.

 

So, is it good I can save like that ? Btw I can't modify the BCLK 0 (MHz to anythiung else expcet Auto : 

[RONOTHAN##]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:15 AM, Roman123 said:

hey, thanks for your reply.

 

So, is it good I can save like that ? Btw I can't modify the BCLK 0 (MHz to anythiung else expcet Auto : 

Can you reupload that photo? it didn't upload properly. 

[Roman123]

11 hours ago, RONOTHAN## said:

Can you reupload that photo? it didn't upload properly. 

Yeah sure  :

[RONOTHAN##]

6 hours ago, Roman123 said:

Yeah sure  :

Weird, it won't let you set it to 101 or anything like that? I mean, it won't really work at values above 102 (the chipset often doesn't initialize above 102MHz), but it should let you change it. If it doesn't, it's probably a BIOS bug, and realistically it's not that big a deal as you get at most a 2% system performance uplift by messing with it. 

[Roman123]

16 hours ago, RONOTHAN## said:

Weird, it won't let you set it to 101 or anything like that? I mean, it won't really work at values above 102 (the chipset often doesn't initialize above 102MHz), but it should let you change it. If it doesn't, it's probably a BIOS bug, and realistically it's not that big a deal as you get at most a 2% system performance uplift by messing with it. 

Ah, my bad I didn't know I can write number to replace the "Auto", so do I put 100, 101 or 102 ? I am a bit scared that i can have an impact on other components (I use this computer mainly for gaming), whats the best middleground for my PC specifications, what do you think ? Thanks ! 

[RONOTHAN##]

1 hour ago, Roman123 said:

Ah, my bad I didn't know I can write number to replace the "Auto", so do I put 100, 101 or 102 ? I am a bit scared that i can have an impact on other components (I use this computer mainly for gaming), whats the best middleground for my PC specifications, what do you think ? Thanks ! 

If you're scared, leave it on auto. It's not a setting you want to touch unless you know what you're doing. Besides, it'll only improve performance by a maximum of 2% (auto is 100MHz, so a 2MHz increase will result in a 2% performace uplift across the board, barely anything).