This is the exact BIOS pass run on a fresh AM5 build before Windows ever gets installed. It's short, but skipping any of these steps is how people end up with RAM running at the wrong speed for months without noticing, or a build that boots to the wrong drive every time it's rebooted.

1. Update the BIOS first

Before changing any settings, check the board's current BIOS version against the manufacturer's site. On the ROG Strix X870-A used in the current CoreBit build, this meant confirming the board was running a recent revision (BIOS 2103) before making any changes — new CPUs, especially just-released ones, often need a BIOS newer than what shipped on the board.

Why this matters: a brand-new CPU on an outdated BIOS can fail to post entirely, or post with the wrong clocks. Update first, configure second.

2. Enable EXPO (or XMP on Intel)

By default, DDR5 memory runs well under its rated speed until you turn on a memory profile. On AMD boards this is EXPO; find it under the memory/overclocking section of BIOS and enable Profile 1. Reboot and confirm the speed in BIOS matches what's printed on the RAM.

Advanced → AI Tweaker / Overclocking → DRAM Profile → EXPO I

If the system fails to boot after enabling EXPO, that's usually the board asking for a small voltage bump or a manual timing adjustment — not a sign the RAM is bad.

3. Disable HPET

HPET (High Precision Event Timer) can introduce input latency and inconsistent frame timing in games. Most competitive-focused builds disable it. It's usually tucked under Advanced settings, sometimes labeled differently depending on board vendor.

If you can't find it in BIOS, it can also be disabled from Windows via an elevated Command Prompt: bcdedit /set useplatformclock false — but doing it at the BIOS level first is cleaner.

4. Set boot order and drive mode

Before installing Windows, set your NVMe boot drive as the first boot priority so you're not fighting boot order every restart. Also confirm the drive mode is set to NVMe/AHCI (not RAID) unless you're actually running multiple drives in an array.

5. Fan curves — set them before you forget

It's easy to install Windows, get distracted setting up software, and never come back to fan curves. Do it in BIOS first: set a curve that ramps gradually rather than jumping straight to full speed under any load, especially for the AIO pump and radiator fans.

6. Save, exit, install Windows

Once EXPO is confirmed running, HPET is off, and boot order/fan curves are set, save (usually F10) and move on to the Windows install. Anything past this point — Armoury Crate, RGB software, drivers — is a Windows-side task, not a BIOS one.