Ryzen 9000: AMD tries to explain the poor gaming performance
Windows 11 24H2 should improve the performance of Ryzen 9000 CPUs in particular. However, AMD's communication still leaves a lot to be desired.
(Image: c't / chh)
AMD has stacked its own benchmark results for the Ryzen 9000 processors too high: in the graphics shown in advance, they achieve more frames per second (fps) than testers worldwide can reproduce. AMD attempts to explain itself in a blog post.
Apart from possibly deviating settings such as power limits and memory speed, AMD blames measurements with administrative rights in Windows 11. However, the statement leaves room for interpretation (more on this below):
"The 'Zen 5' architecture has improved jump prediction than previous 'Zen' generations. Our automated testing method was run in 'Admin' mode, which produced results that reflect optimizations to the jump prediction code that were not present in the Windows version that the testers used for the Ryzen 9000 Series."
Jump prediction is an essential part of modern processors. They try to predict which instructions will be needed in the near future based on the code being executed and load them into the cache in advance. CPUs determine entire branches of possible instructions, hence the name branch prediction.
Hardly any transparency
Caution is advised with AMD's formulation: Admin mode does not necessarily unlock the code improvements of Windows 11 24H2, but should deliver similar performance values. Once again, AMD remains silent on the details, which fits in with the picture of recent weeks: The company still does not explain the problem that led to the Ryzen 9000 CPUs being postponed. Admin mode was also not mentioned anywhere in the Reviewer's Guide. AMD has not yet mentioned the performance improvements with Windows 11 24H2 anywhere.
Reviewer's Guides under a so-called Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) are customary to give testers clues about performance and various setting options. They do not prescribe any test procedures. AMD mentions performance values for Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2 in the blog, and others in the guide.
| AMD-Benchmarks zum Ryzen 9 9950X (Quelle: AMD, keine c't-Benchmarks) | |||
| Benchmark | 24H2 | 23H2 | Reviewer's Guide |
| Far Cry 6 [fps] | 183 | 162 | 196 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 [fps] | 200 | 188 | 210 |
| Hitman 3 [fps] | 358 | 347 | 340 |
| Watch Dogs: Legion [fps] | 165 | 165 | 169 |
| Cinebench 2024 Single Thread [Punkte] | 140 | 140 | 140 |
| Procyon Office [Punkte] | 10.288 | 9.829 | 10.140 |
According to speculation, Windows 11 could intervene in the jump prediction to protect against side-channel attacks. Admin mode and the 24H2 update potentially change the behavior.
Especially with regard to Windows 11 24H2, the market launch of the Ryzen 9000 seems rushed once again. AMD had no need – Intel's Arrow Lake aka Core Ultra 200 is not expected to arrive until October – and has thus messed up the launch itself.
Current ways to improve performance
Interested parties can install an unfinished Insider build of Windows 11 24H2 at their own risk. To do this, you must join the Insider program.
There is no "admin mode" per se. Microsoft has only built into Windows 11 the option to set up an account with the name Administrator via the command prompt (CMD). User Account Control (UAC) is deactivated in this account; all programs start with administrative rights. The admin account is actually intended for emergencies and would reduce security if used permanently. On the one hand because of the execution of rights, on the other hand there is no longer any password protection. We strongly advise against using it.
Alternatively, you can right-click on a game and"run as administrator". Windows 11 should then treat the game in the same way as if you were in the admin account without user account control.
According to AMD, it is working with Microsoft to bring the improvements to the jump prediction as a Windows update before the 24H2 distribution. Incidentally, Ryzen processors with the Zen 4 (Ryzen 7000, 8000G/F, 7040, 8040) and Zen 3 (Ryzen 5000, 6000, 7030) architectures should also benefit from this, albeit to a lesser extent.
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(mma)