AMD EXPO explained in the video

The main feature that was introduced with the AM5 platform is the support for DDR5 memory. As with AM4, which was introduced along with AMD’s transition from DDR3 to DDR4, socket AM5 was introduced, which now supports DDR5. In fact, Socket AM5 only offers DDR5 support. Unlike rival Intel, which has chosen to support both DDR4 and DDR5 memory with Alder Lake (12th Gen Core) CPUs, AMD uses DDR5 exclusively on the AM5 platform.

What is AMD EXPO?

AMD EXPO stands for Extended Overclocking Profiles and was developed to enable users to achieve advanced memory overclocking in conjunction with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series processors. Similar to Intel’s current XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) technology found in most memory suites for Intel desktop platforms, AMD’s EXPO technology aims to do the same but as an open standard with an emphasis on the best settings for AMD platforms.

Overclocking RAM on Ryzen 7000: AMD EXPO Explained in Video (1)[1)

Source: AMD

The point of AMD EXPO is that it’s a one-click DDR5 overclocking feature for AM5 motherboards. On the surface, EXPO is essentially a set of XMP-like profiles designed specifically for AMD’s Ryzen 7000 (Zen 4) processors.

It should be noted that despite the presence of EXPO, DDR5 memory with XMP profiles is supported on Ryzen 7000 platforms. However, AMD strongly advises customers to use EXPO-DIMMs in their systems to get the best performance from AMD systems.

Overclocking RAM on Ryzen 7000: AMD EXPO Explained in Video (2)[2)

Source: AMD

As with most other AMD standards, the company is also making EXPO an open and royalty-free standard (XMP is assumed to incur a fee, but has never been officially released). Therefore, memory pool partners will be able to implement EXPO profiles without needing AMD’s blessing or having to pay AMD for the privilege.

Apart from that, EXPO will be a self-certification programme. So AMD doesn’t charge it for it, but at the same time, not much is done to validate the certificate either.

Instead, manufacturers of memory kits must publish their own self-certification reports. These reports detail the memory tested on which systems, with any timings and voltages. The idea behind this is that openness goes both ways and buyers should be able to see the full configuration settings a profile requires. Detailed data is exaggerated in some ways, but it also means that potential customers can preview the full timing when memory tool makers choose a high-timing group with tight primary timings and loose secondary timings.