Your AMD Ryzen CPU is about 10% slower than it should be
A comprehensive round of benchmarks reveals that both Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs can get massive gaming upgrades with a new Windows Update.
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Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
AMD’s Zen 5 CPUs haven’t been able to impress in gaming, showing only small generational improvements — but there are still some free frame rates to be won here. According to a comprehensive set of gaming benchmarks, a new Windows Update might be all that it takes to improve the performance of AMD’s best processors, and this includes Zen 4 CPUs, too.
Earlier this month, Hardware Unboxed revealed that AMD’s latest CPUs might be missing out on some frames per second (fps) in games due to a Windows bug. Switching to an Admin account (which is a little harder than it seems to be) fixed the problem, boosting both Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs by a considerable amount. AMD also hinted that this might be the issue behind Zen 5’s lackluster performance, although it also blamed other factors, such as using different test suites or not running on Admin mode.
Meanwhile, the update that fixes these issues appeared as a Windows Insider build, adding branch prediction optimizations that should improve the fps on Ryzen CPUs. Although AMD emphasizes Zen 5 improvements, Hardware Unboxed tested both the Ryzen 7 9700X and the Ryzen 7 7700X in a suite of 43 games, using the current Windows 23H2 build and the upcoming 24H2 build.
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X vs. 7700X: 40+ Game Benchmark [23H2 vs. 24H2]
The results speak for themselves. The Ryzen 7 9700X turned out to be around 11% faster with the new Windows Update. This is great news for any AMD user, but those who hoped that the gap between Zen 4 and Zen 5 will grow wider may be in for a disappointment: The Ryzen 7 7700X showed very similar gains, getting a 10% boost.
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Of course, in a suite of 40 games, these improvements look different in every title. For instance, in Rocket League, Zen 4 and Zen 5 are up to 16% faster than before the update. Gears 5 delivered a 35% performance uplift for the 9700X and a 33% boost for the Zen 4 part. In some games, the Ryzen 7 7700X actually got the bigger increase; in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, the Zen 4 went from 331 fps to 420 fps, which placed it a little bit ahead of Zen 5.
Hardware UnboxedOverall, the absolutely free 10% uplift for both CPU lineups sounds great, but this doesn’t help close the gap between the two generations. Across the entire test suite, Hardware Unboxed found that the Ryzen 7 9700X was only 1% faster than the Ryzen 7 7700X in gaming without the Windows Update. With the preview build, both CPUs saw such similar gains that the Zen 5 part is now only 2% faster. It’s an improvement, but just barely.
Still, free performance is still free, so it’s worth getting. Tom’s Hardware reports that Microsoft backported the branch prediction optimizations to the Windows 11 23H2 build, so you can try it out for yourself right away. The update to look for is called KB5041587 and it can be found in Windows Update > Advanced Options > Optional updates.
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
AMD Zen 5: everything we know about Ryzen 9000 and Ryzen AI 300
AMD Zen 5 is the next-generation Ryzen CPU architecture for Team Red, and its gunning for a spot among the best processors. After a major showing in June, the first Ryzen 9000 and Ryzen AI 300 CPUs are already here. AMD promises significant performance advantages for the new architecture that will give it a big leap in gaming and productivity tasks, and the company also claims it will have major leads over Intel's top 14th-generation alternatives, allowing it to compete among the best gaming processors.
Now that we've had the chips in hand for a while, here's everything you need to know about Zen 5, Ryzen 9000, and Ryzen AI 300.
Zen 5 release date, availability, and price
AMD originally confirmed that the Ryzen 9000 desktop processors will launch on July 31, 2024, two weeks after the launch date of the Ryzen AI 300. The initial lineup includes the Ryzen 9 9950X, the Ryzen 9 9900X, the Ryzen 7 9700X, and the Ryzen 5 9600X. However, AMD delayed the CPUs at the last minute, with the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 showing up on August 8, and the Ryzen 9s showing up on August 15.
AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 CPUs are only cheaper in spirit
Following up on reviews for the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X, a flurry of reports are coming out about AMD's pricing for its new Zen 5 CPUs. Across the lineup, which is sure to earn some spots among the best processors, AMD reduced prices compared to the previous generation. That's great. But it's not exactly an accurate picture of pricing right now.
First, the prices. You can see in the picture below the prices for the main four Zen 5 CPUs. Both Ryzen 9 models are $50 cheaper compared to their last-gen counterparts, the Ryzen 7 9700X is $40 cheaper, and the Ryzen 5 9600X is $20 cheaper. That's only true if you compare the list prices that AMD set. Ultimately, it's up to retailers to dictate the final price, which is something we saw in full effect with AMD's last-gen CPUs.
AMD RDNA 4: everything we know so far about the RX 8000 series
AMD's RDNA 4 graphics cards (also referred to as the Radeon RX 8000 series) are already on the horizon, but they're still a bit of a mystery. Fortunately, while AMD is still keeping quiet about its next-gen GPUs, various leakers break up that silence with plenty of rumors and tantalizing speculation.
Most likely set to launch this year or in early 2025, RDNA 4 GPUs may give Nvidia a run for its money, but will they be able to compete against some of the best graphics cards from the upcoming RTX 50-series? This is one of the few things that leakers all agree on, and we'll tell you all about it in our full roundup of RDNA 4 news below.
RDNA 4: Specs
