All fixes / Any game, Windows

Random game crashes from an unstable XMP or EXPO memory profile

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR 0x0000001A 0x00000124

Your RAM's speed profile is pushing past what your system can handle. It can look like a graphics driver problem, a game bug, or random blue screens, but the RAM is the real cause.

Why it happens

XMP (Intel) and EXPO (AMD) are overclocking profiles that run your RAM faster than its default speed. They're usually fine, but they aren't guaranteed to be stable with every CPU, motherboard, and RAM combination. When they aren't, you get crashes that look like they're coming from somewhere else: driver timeouts, black screens, games closing, or blue screens. Mixed RAM sticks bought separately make this more likely.

How to fix it

1. Write down your current memory setting in the BIOS (the XMP/EXPO profile name and speed), then disable XMP/EXPO so the RAM runs at default speed.
2. Play the game that was crashing for a few sessions. If the crashes stop, the memory profile was the cause.
3. Re-enable the profile, but choose a slightly lower speed (for example, DDR5-5600 instead of DDR5-6000) and leave everything else on auto. Don't raise voltages manually for this test.
4. Run a memory test such as TestMem5, OCCT, or MemTest86 at the new setting. Any error means the setting still isn't stable.
5. Check that your exact RAM kit is on your motherboard's supported memory list, and update the BIOS if a newer version mentions memory compatibility fixes.
6. If you're running two separately bought kits, test with just one kit installed.

Still broken?

If you still crash with XMP/EXPO fully off, the RAM isn't the cause. Look at your GPU driver, temperatures, and power instead. Or book a session and we'll go through your crash logs together.

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