AMD is releasing new BIOS updates that boost the performance of its Ryzen 9600X/9700X processors and address some latency issues. The performance improvements and latency reductions come about a month after disappointing Zen 5 desktop CPU reviews and arrive alongside updates to Windows 11 that include optimized AMD-specific branch prediction for both Zen 4 and Zen 5 chips.
CPU reviewers have reported higher than expected core-to-core latency on the Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors, and AMD has now addressed this with a new BIOS optimization.
AMD's latest updates to AM5 motherboards include AGESA PI 1.2.0.2 firmware, which AMD says will fix some “corner cases” that require two transactions to read and write when passing information across different parts of a Ryzen 9 9000 processor can be shared. “We managed to halve the number of transactions for this use case, which helps reduce core-to-core latency in multi-CCD models,” says AMD.
This BIOS update also includes a new 105-watt cTDP option to increase the thermal design performance of the Ryzen 9600X and 9700X. “These processors have been validated at 105W since their release, so you won’t push them beyond their design limits,” says AMD. “This increase is particularly beneficial for multithreaded workloads, but you could also see some benefits in less threaded apps.”
You need to make sure you have adequate cooling to enable 105 watt mode. However, according to AMD, this should result in around 10 percent more performance for the Ryzen 9600X and 9700X. This new mode also does not void your warranty.
AMD is also launching its next round of AM5 motherboards this week, with the X870 and X870E boards both available in stores. AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series CPUs don't require these new boards, but they come with USB 4.0 as standard and also have PCIe 5 Gen 5 on the graphics and NVMe side, which can be used at the same time. There are rumors that the upcoming RTX 5090 will be a PCIe Gen 5 card, and AMD teases that full PCIe Gen 5 is “more important than ever now that we're on the cusp of a new generation of graphics cards.” -Have support.
The X870 and X870E boards also offer support for higher clocked memory. AMD has now enabled DDR5-8000 EXPO support on these new boards, which includes approximately 1 to 2 ns latency improvements over DDR5-6000.