1. A method of altering the performance of system memory of a computer system comprising a motherboard and at least one memory module having an SPD circuit device, the method comprising: identifying the motherboard and the memory module; searching a plurality of SPD update files associated with a plurality of motherboards and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of a plurality of memory modules; identifying a compatible SPD update file from the plurality of SPD update files based on the identities of the motherboard and the memory module, the compatible SPD update file being associated with the motherboard and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the memory module; using a software utility to erase pre-existing SPD data stored on the SPD circuit device and then write and verify installation of the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device; and then enabling new SPD settings for the memory module based on the data of the compatible SPD update file.