Technical Insights on Performance Testing
AMD has addressed the community’s concerns regarding the performance of its Ryzen 9000 Series desktop processors, attributing the less-than-stellar results observed by independent testers to variations in system and software configurations. The company emphasized that its testing methodology, which involved running the Zen 5-based hardware in Admin mode, played a significant role in the outcomes reported.
In a detailed explanation, AMD noted, “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.” This statement highlights the complexities of performance testing, particularly in the context of different operating modes.
Moreover, AMD indicated that its tests were conducted with Windows Virtualization-based Security (VBS) enabled, a setting recommended by Microsoft that may inadvertently impact performance. Testers often disable VBS to alleviate unnecessary processor load, which could skew results further.
AMD’s gaming test suite encompasses a diverse range of titles, some of which are more reliant on CPU performance while others depend on GPU capabilities. Consequently, the performance metrics of a processor can vary significantly based on the games selected and their interaction with the testing environment.
Despite the mixed reviews, AMD confidently stated, “In light of this, the Ryzen 9000 Series delivers leadership performance across content creation, productivity and AI applications.” The company claims that, on a generational basis, the Ryzen 9000 Series offers approximately:
- 10 percent improvement in productivity and creative workloads
- 25 percent improvement in AI workloads
- 5-8 percent improvement in gaming compared to the Ryzen 7000 Series
However, independent tests, such as those conducted by Hardware Unboxed, revealed that the Ryzen 9950X was only about three percent faster than its predecessor, the Ryzen 7950X. TechSpot’s Steve Walton echoed these findings, noting that AMD’s claims of the 9900X outperforming Intel’s Core i9-14900K by an average of 12 percent were not substantiated in practice, as the 9950X was found to be six percent slower across multiple game tests.
Walton suggested that the design focus of Zen 5 on server and software development workloads rather than gaming could explain the underwhelming performance results.
In response to these challenges, AMD announced that optimized branch prediction code tailored for its processors will soon be available in Windows 11, version 24H2, accessible through the Windows Insider Program or via a downloadable ISO. This update is expected to help gamers achieve performance levels more in line with AMD’s projections for the Ryzen 9000 Series.
An AMD spokesperson confirmed, “The optimizations are already a part of 24H2. We’re collaborating with Microsoft to roll out this optional update to all Windows 11 users soon. Neither requires running in Admin mode.”
Additionally, AMD is focusing on enhancing user experience through improved chipset drivers. “We are working on a better implementation of the chipset driver to make transitioning between CPUs easier,” the spokesperson elaborated. “Reducing the friction to switch between CPUs and update the chipset driver is about improving the user experience – especially for reviewers who switch CPUs often during a review cycle.”