AMD's recent launch of the Ryzen 9000 desktop CPUs faced its share of challenges, initially hindered by delays and subsequently receiving lukewarm reviews due to only marginal performance improvements over previous models. However, a surprising twist has emerged, as a Microsoft Windows update has provided a significant performance enhancement for AMD's Ryzen CPUs.
A Boost from Windows 11 Update
The Windows 11 2024 update, known as 24H2, is currently available in preview channels and has been evaluated by the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed. Their findings revealed an impressive average gaming performance boost of 11% for the Ryzen 7 9700X, with some titles experiencing enhancements as high as 35%. Notably, this update benefits not only the Ryzen 9000 series but also older generations, including the Ryzen 7000 and Ryzen 5000 series.
For instance, the Ryzen 7 7700X demonstrated an average uplift of 10% across various games. These improvements stem from optimized AMD-specific branch prediction code, as detailed in a recent blog post by AMD. The company noted, “Zen 5 will see the biggest boost, but this Windows update will improve performance for Zen 4 and Zen 3 as well. We're collaborating with Microsoft to roll out this optional update to all Windows 11 users soon.”
AMD's Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X will see large performance boosts with Windows 11 update 24H2.
Intel Users Left Behind
However, this optimization is exclusive to AMD, leaving Intel users without similar benefits from the new Windows update. Testing by Hardware Unboxed on a Core i5-14600K showed no performance improvements, further widening the performance gap in favor of AMD.
Evaluating the Ryzen 9000 Series
Despite the newfound performance enhancements, the Ryzen 7 7700X's performance scaling closely mirrors that of the Ryzen 7 9700X. While the latter offers an average of 11% faster gaming performance, it is only marginally ahead—by a mere 1%—of its predecessor, the 7700X.
This development strengthens AMD's position against Intel, yet the decision between purchasing a Ryzen 7000 or 9000 CPU remains largely a financial consideration, hinging on the price difference. Additionally, reports indicate that AMD's 3D V-Cache models, such as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, have also experienced performance improvements, much to the delight of users sharing their experiences on platforms like Reddit.
Beyond Gaming: Content Creation Gains
The enhancements are not limited to gaming; AMD asserts that content creation tasks will also see performance boosts. Although Hardware Unboxed focused solely on gaming, AMD highlighted that the UL Benchmark Procyon Office suite recorded a 6% performance increase following the installation of the 24H2 update.
As more benchmarks are anticipated in the coming days, the outlook appears promising for AMD Ryzen owners. Nonetheless, it is unfortunate that this update was not available prior to the Ryzen 9000 launch, as it could have provided AMD with a more competitive edge against Intel CPUs and informed reviewers of its potential impact.
Availability of Windows 11 Update 24H2
Regarding public access, Windows Central has indicated a possible release for the Windows 11 24H2 update in September or October. For those eager to experience the enhancements sooner, signing up for the Windows 11 Insider Program will provide early access to these performance boosts.
