AMD's recently launched Ryzen 9000 series processors are set to receive a significant performance boost thanks to an upcoming Windows 11 update. This development comes after initial reviews of the new CPUs failed to meet AMD's performance claims, leading to speculation about potential software issues.
The Performance Gap
When AMD released its Zen 5-based Ryzen 9000 series earlier this month, many reviewers found the performance improvements over the previous generation to be underwhelming. In some cases, the older Ryzen 9 7950X appeared to offer better value than the new flagship Ryzen 9 9950X. Hardware Unboxed reported that across a 13-game average at 1080p using an RTX 4090, the 9950X was only 1% faster than its predecessor.
The Windows Update Solution
AMD has now revealed that a Windows 11 version 24H2 update will optimize AMD-specific branch prediction code, addressing the performance discrepancies. This update is expected to benefit not only Zen 5 processors but also Zen 4 and Zen 3 architectures.
Key points about the update:
- Zen 5 processors will see the most significant improvements
- AMD predicts a 13% performance boost for the 9950X in Far Cry 6
- Cyberpunk 2077 is expected to see a 7% performance increase
- The update will be optional and available to all Windows 11 users soon
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| The AMD Ryzen 7 9700X, part of the 9000 series, is set to benefit from significant performance enhancements with the upcoming Windows 11 update |
The Admin Mode Mystery
Interestingly, reviewers discovered that using AMD's processors with a special Admin account on Windows could unlock better performance. AMD has clarified that this Admin mode takes advantage of branch prediction code optimizations, which are particularly beneficial for the wider branch prediction capacity of the Zen 5 architecture.
Looking Ahead
While AMD maintains that the Ryzen 9000 series delivers leadership performance across content creation, productivity and AI applications, the true impact of this Windows update remains to be seen. Tech enthusiasts and reviewers will be eager to test the 24H2 update to verify AMD's claims of improved performance across its Ryzen lineup.
As the update rolls out, potential buyers will need to weigh the performance gains against the cost difference between the 9000 and 7000 series processors. With Zen 4 and Zen 3 chips also set to benefit from the update, the value proposition of each generation may shift in the coming weeks.