AMD Ryzen 9000 PCs don’t need to wait until the next major Windows 11 update to fix gaming issues

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AMD Ryzen 9000 PCs don't need to wait until the next major Windows 11 update to fix gaming issues

What you need to know

  • AMD Ryzen 9000 processors had worse performance than expected when they got into the hands of some reviewers.
  • AMD has since explained why its own testing and the testing of some reviewers did not align.
  • The company also promised a fix for certain issues affecting systems with Ryzen 9000 chips, though the fix originally required Windows 11 version 24H2.
  • The fixes have since been backported to Windows 11 version 23H2, increasing the number of systems that can see performance improvements.

As a tech enthusiast with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of processor launches that didn’t quite live up to expectations. The Ryzen 9000 processors from AMD are one such example, but it seems they’re making amends for their initial performance woes.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m thrilled about the impending upgrade in gaming performance for systems sporting AMD’s Ryzen 9000 processors, particularly in specific configurations. AMD has shed light on the discrepancy between their testing figures and the results observed by recent reviewers, assuring us that a forthcoming update will enhance gaming performance for PCs running Ryzen 9000 processors. Initially, gamers were looking forward to this improvement with Windows 11 version 24H2, slated for later this year. However, the optimizations have been moved forward and are now available in Windows 11 version 23H2, much to our delight!

In our tests, we didn’t find substantial decreases below AMD’s internal benchmark scores, and any enhancements from Windows updates would certainly be appreciated. However, some critics observed a larger disparity between their findings and those of AMD.

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In the lead-up to the release of Ryzen 9000 processors, AMD’s test results differed from those recorded by reviewers during performance tests. One reason for this discrepancy was that AMD ran its tests using an Admin account, which benefits from branch prediction optimizations not accessible to standard user accounts. However, a recent update (KB5041587) in Windows has made it possible for gamers to download an optional update to enhance the gaming performance of their PCs by taking advantage of these previously exclusive optimizations.

An AMD rep said the following to Wccftech:

“We wanted to let you know that the branch prediction optimization found in Windows 11 24H2 has now been backported to Windows 11 23H2. Users will need to look for KB5041587 under Windows update > Advanced options > Optional updates. We expect the performance uplift to be very similar between 24H2 and 23H2 with KB5041587 installed.”

The graph you see showcases AMD’s performance enhancements, where the speed of gameplay is expressed in frames per second. AMD anticipates comparable advancements regardless if a computer runs on Windows 11 version 24H2 or Windows 11 version 23H2.

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The level of performance enhancement can differ based on the specific game being played. Certain games might not experience a boost in frames per second at all. However, the Ryzen 7000 series processors are expected to deliver enhanced gaming performance.

Additionally, AMD highlighted other variables contributing to the discrepancies in their initial explanation.

  • “The AMD gaming test suite includes a broad set of esports, AAA, and popular older games, which are a combination of CPU- and GPU-bound titles. Game performance conclusions can be influenced significantly by the makeup of the test suite.
  • AMD tested Intel configurations using comparable DDR5-6000 memory as well as Intel default settings-baseline power profile which can have a small impact on gaming performance.
  • AMD also tests with Windows Virtualization-based Security (VBS) enabled.  This is the default Windows behavior and Microsoft recommends activating VBS to improve security, however it can affect gaming performance.
  • The “Zen 5” architecture incorporates a wider branch prediction capacity than prior “Zen” generations. Our automated test methodology was run in “Admin” mode which produced results that reflect branch prediction code optimizations not present in the version of Windows reviewers used to test Ryzen 9000 Series. We have a further update on accessing this performance for users below.”

Some of those elements can be improved through updates. For instance, Intel’s chips, which rival Ryzen 9000 processors, are capable of handling faster RAM. AMD redesigned its tests to more accurately reflect differences at peak performance, yet it has limited ability to narrow the gap in that regard.

The improvements for gaming performance can be applied to Windows 11 version 23H2, as the necessary updates will be backported. This means that gamers won’t need to delay their enjoyment, as they can immediately experience enhanced gaming performance.

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2024-08-28 15:39