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Ryzen 7 9700X Delivers Better Performance Without the ‘Bug’
Recently, AMD unveiled two new CPUs from its next-generation Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 series: the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 7 9700X. Initial reviews have painted a somewhat mixed picture, particularly regarding gaming performance, which some have deemed underwhelming. However, these CPUs have demonstrated commendable performance in other applications. A recent analysis by Hardware Unboxed, a well-regarded tech YouTube channel, suggests that the perceived gaming shortcomings of the Ryzen 7 9700X may be linked to a bug in Windows 11, a glitch that also appears to impact Zen 4 CPUs based on benchmark tests.
In a recent video, Hardware Unboxed conducted a review of the Ryzen 7 9700X. Following their analysis, AMD observed that the performance metrics were lower than their internal benchmarks had indicated. Upon further scrutiny, it became evident that the discrepancy was attributable to a Windows 11 bug, which, while not a traditional bug, exhibited peculiar behavior. AMD advised Hardware Unboxed to switch from a local administrator account to a “hidden” administrator account—essentially the system administration mode—for retesting the Zen 5 chip. This adjustment yielded significantly improved results, closely aligning with AMD's original performance claims.
For example, in the game Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, utilizing the hidden administrator account allowed the 9700X to achieve an additional 10 frames per second (FPS) and a 7% boost in overall performance. Further comparisons with the Zen 4 chip, the 7700X, revealed that the bug appeared to affect the Zen 5 processor more acutely than its predecessor.
Using Administrator Mode Comes With Downsides Though
However, the community response has been mixed, with many commenters highlighting the potential security risks associated with running a PC in administrator mode, particularly the increased vulnerability to malware. Some users speculated whether gaming performance would improve under these conditions. Regardless, there is a growing hope that AMD will address this issue to prevent the need for such a workaround.
In related news, reports have surfaced indicating that AMD may increase the default thermal design power (TDP) of both the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X to 105W from the original 65W through a BIOS update. While this change could potentially enhance performance, AMD has yet to confirm any details regarding this update. Additionally, AMD has officially launched the remaining CPUs from its Ryzen 9000 series, including the Ryzen 9 9900X and the Ryzen 9 9950X, which are now available for purchase on platforms like Amazon and other retailers.
