A freshly assembled gaming PC doesn't necessarily perform at its potential out of the box. BIOS defaults are conservative — designed for stability across the widest range of hardware combinations, not maximum performance for your specific parts. These are the settings worth changing, in the order that matters most.
This guide covers Intel 13th/14th gen (Z690/Z790) and Intel Arrow Lake (Z890) platforms, and AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 series (X670E/X870E). The specific menu names vary by motherboard manufacturer, but the settings themselves are the same.
Before You Start
Update your BIOS first. Motherboard manufacturers release BIOS updates that improve memory compatibility, fix platform bugs, and sometimes meaningfully improve performance. A board you bought six months ago may already have a BIOS update that changes how you should configure it.
How to update:
1. Download the latest BIOS from your motherboard manufacturer's support page (use the exact model number)
2. Copy it to a FAT32-formatted USB drive
3. Enter BIOS (Delete/F2 on POST), navigate to the update utility (usually called EZ Flash, Q-Flash, or M-Flash depending on brand)
4. Select the file and let it flash — don't power off during the process
After a BIOS update, settings may reset to defaults. You'll need to re-apply the settings below.
The High-Impact Settings
1. Enable XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) — Do This First
This is the single most impactful setting for most users. DDR5 memory ships running at the JEDEC base speed (4800 MT/s), not its rated speed. XMP/EXPO stores the timing and voltage profile for the rated speed and needs to be manually enabled.
Where to find it:
- ASUS: AI Tweaker → AI Overclocking → XMP
- MSI: OC → XMP
- Gigabyte: Tweaker → Extreme Memory Profile
- ASRock: OC Tweaker → DRAM Timing Configuration
Select XMP Profile 1 (or EXPO Profile 1 on AMD). If Profile 1 is unstable, try Profile 2.
Impact: On gaming, running memory at 4800 MT/s vs. 6000 MT/s (a typical DDR5 kit speed) can cost 5–15% frame rate in memory-bandwidth-sensitive games.
2. Enable Resizable BAR (ReBAR) — Intel and AMD
Resizable BAR allows the CPU to access the full GPU VRAM at once rather than in 256MB chunks. It's a near-universal performance improvement across most games, usually 5–15% on modern GPUs (RTX 4000/5000, RX 7000/9000 series).
Requirements: AMD SAM or Intel ReBAR needs to be enabled in BIOS, and the GPU must support it (all modern GPUs do), and the OS must support it (Windows 10 2004+ does).
Where to find it:
- ASUS: Advanced → PCIe/PCI Configuration → Resizable BAR → Enabled
- MSI: Settings → Advanced → PCI Subsystem Settings → Above 4G Decoding → Enabled, then Re-Size BAR Support → Auto
- Most boards also require enabling Above 4G Decoding in conjunction with ReBAR
Verify it's active in GPU-Z (look for "ReBAR" in the GPU tab).
3. Disable CPU Power Limits (Intel Platforms)
Intel's consumer CPUs (especially Core i7/i9) are configured with official TDP ratings that don't reflect how the CPUs actually perform when power limits are removed. Many motherboard manufacturers ship boards in an "unlimited power" mode by default, but some (especially non-Z series boards) enforce Intel's official limits.
Check current behavior:
Run Cinebench 2024 nT. If your CPU drops significantly in performance after the first few seconds compared to its benchmark scores, it's hitting a power limit.
Where to find it:
- ASUS: AI Tweaker → CPU Power Management → Long Duration Package Power Limit / Short Duration
- MSI: OC → CPU Features → Long Duration Power Limit / Short Duration Power Limit
Set both to the maximum supported value (usually 4095W or "unlimited"). This is not overclocking — it's removing an artificial restriction on a CPU that can handle the thermal load with an adequate cooler.
Only do this if your cooling solution is adequate. Running an i9-13900K at full power requires a 280mm or 360mm AIO or a high-end tower cooler.
4. Enable Fast Boot / Disable Unnecessary POST Delays
BIOS initialization adds time to every boot. Several settings affect how fast the system gets to Windows:
- Fast Boot: Enabled (skips some hardware initialization checks on non-cold boots)
- Post Delay Time: 0 seconds (some boards add a 1–3 second POST pause by default)
- Numlock at Boot: Set to your preference; minor but reduces input delay on first boot
These don't affect in-game performance — they affect how quickly you get to Windows.
Platform-Specific Settings
Intel Arrow Lake (Core Ultra 200 series, Z890)
Arrow Lake introduced changes to recommended BIOS settings:
- Intel Application Optimization (APO): Enable this if your board supports it — it dynamically allocates workloads between P-cores and E-cores based on application type. Measurable improvement in some games.
- E-Core Ratio: Arrow Lake's E-cores behave differently than Raptor Lake. Disabling E-cores (which was sometimes recommended for gaming on 13th/14th gen) is not recommended on Arrow Lake — performance is generally better with E-cores enabled.
- Ring Ratio: Leave at Auto unless you're specifically overclocking
Intel 13th/14th Gen (Raptor Lake, Z790/Z690)
- E-Core behavior for gaming: Controversial. Some games see improvement with E-cores disabled or parked. Benchmark your specific games before committing to E-core adjustments.
- Thermal Velocity Boost: Leave enabled. Disabling TVB to "simplify" the CPU's boost behavior typically reduces performance.
- Intel Adaptive Boost Technology (ABT): Enable if available — allows higher all-core boost clocks when thermal headroom permits.
AMD Ryzen 9000 Series (AM5, X870E)
- Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO): Set to Auto or Advanced with modest positive curve (start at +30). PBO allows the CPU to boost higher than stock limits when thermal conditions permit. With good cooling, PBO is a free performance gain.
- Curve Optimizer: For experienced users, per-core undervolting can improve thermals and let the CPU boost higher and longer. Start with Global -10 and test stability before going further.
- FCLK (Infinity Fabric): On DDR5 kits above 6000 MT/s, you may need to manually set FCLK = half the memory speed (e.g., 3000 MHz for 6000 MT/s memory). When FCLK and memory speeds are synchronous (1:1 ratio), latency is significantly better.
- Game Mode vs. Creator Mode: Some AM5 boards offer a game mode that disables some CCD cores for lower latency. Test with your specific games — it helps in some titles and hurts in others.
What Not to Change
These settings are frequently mentioned but usually not worth touching for gaming:
CPU overclock (manual): On modern Intel 13th/14th gen and Ryzen 9000, the automatic boost algorithms are very well-tuned. Manual overclocking typically yields less than 3% performance improvement over letting the CPU boost automatically, while requiring testing time and potentially reducing stability.
LLC (Load Line Calibration): Leave at Auto or one level above default. Aggressive LLC settings can cause vdroop or overvoltage issues. Not worth adjusting unless you're deep into overclocking.
PCIe Link Speed: Leave at Auto. Manually setting PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 for your GPU will not improve performance — the system negotiates the correct speed automatically.
Fan curves: Not a performance setting but worth configuring in the BIOS fan control section so your system isn't running fans at 100% unnecessarily. Set fans to scale linearly from quiet at idle to full speed at 80°C+.
Stability Testing After Changes
Any time you make BIOS changes, verify stability before trusting the system with your work or considering it complete:
- Cinebench 2024 nT — run the multi-threaded benchmark. If it crashes or produces artifacts, a setting is too aggressive.
- 3DMark TimeSpy — GPU stability check. Run the full benchmark, not the quick test.
- Prime95 (Small FFT, 15 minutes) — CPU stability with high thermal stress. If you made CPU power or voltage changes, run this.
- Gaming session — one hour in a demanding title. Real-world stability is the final test.
A system that crashes in benchmark doesn't mean you broke it — reset to defaults, re-apply settings one at a time, and identify which change caused the problem.
BIOS Settings Summary Table
| Setting | Recommendation | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| XMP / EXPO | Enable (Profile 1) | High — 5–15% gaming performance |
| Resizable BAR | Enable | High — 5–15% GPU performance |
| CPU Power Limits (Intel) | Remove limits if cooling allows | Medium-High |
| Fast Boot | Enable | Low (boot time only) |
| PBO (AMD) | Auto or Advanced | Medium — free performance |
| Manual CPU OC | Skip | Low reward, high effort |
| LLC | Leave at Auto | Skip unless deep OC |
| PCIe Speed | Auto | No impact |