AMD has officially announced that Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 11 update, version 24H2, is poised to enhance the performance of its newly released Zen 5 CPUs. This news comes after the launch of the Ryzen 9000 series, which did not quite meet the high expectations set by AMD, according to multiple reviews. Initial feedback suggested that the chips underperformed, leading to speculation about possible issues with Windows optimization.
AMD has now confirmed that the upcoming Windows 11 Update will include optimizations specifically for AMD’s branch prediction code. This change is expected to unlock the full potential of Zen 5 processors, and will also offer performance improvements for older Zen 4 and Zen 3 chips. AMD has hinted at a 13% performance boost for the Ryzen 9950X in Far Cry 6 when running on Windows 11 version 24H2, compared to the current 23H2. A 7% increase in Cyberpunk 2077 has also been projected, which, while seemingly modest, marks a notable gain from a single OS update.
AMD’s spokesperson acknowledged, “Zen 5 will experience the most significant performance enhancements, but the benefits will extend to Zen 4 and Zen 3 processors as well.” While exact figures for older CPUs remain undisclosed, the promise of improved efficiency across multiple generations of chips has sparked interest among tech enthusiasts.
The Ryzen 9000 series, particularly the flagship Ryzen 9 9950X, faced criticism for its underwhelming performance relative to previous models. In a series of tests conducted by Hardware Unboxed, the 9950X showed only a 1% performance gain over the older Ryzen 9 7950X across a 13-game average at 1080p resolution using an RTX 4090. Productivity benchmarks revealed a similarly small margin, with the newer chip outperforming its predecessor by just 3%.
These results led some to question whether the new Ryzen 9000 series offered enough of an upgrade to justify its higher price tag. The anticipated improvements from the Windows 11 version 24H2 update could be AMD’s opportunity to shift this narrative, offering tangible performance boosts that better reflect the company’s initial claims.
As AMD continues to collaborate closely with Microsoft to roll out this crucial update, all eyes will be on the real-world benchmarks once version 24H2 is available. The tech community is eager to see if the optimizations will truly elevate the Ryzen 9000 series to the performance levels that were promised at launch.
Despite the challenges, AMD remains confident in its Ryzen 9000 series, stating that it “delivers leading performance across content creation, productivity, and AI-driven applications.” Whether these claims hold true will largely depend on how well the upcoming Windows 11 update addresses the current performance shortfalls.
The wait for this update may soon be over, with the rollout expected within the next month. Once released, it could significantly change the competitive landscape for AMD, especially if the performance gains are as substantial as predicted.
