Possible Windows Bug Found, Hurts Ryzen Gaming Performance

Summary

The video discusses a potential bug in Windows 11 affecting Ryzen processors' gaming performance, particularly Zen 5. AMD and the reviewer found that using a hidden administrator account improved gaming results, suggesting the issue might be more widespread across Ryzen CPUs. The video clarifies that this is not a Zen 5 specific problem and emphasizes the need for a Windows update to resolve the inconsistency in performance across different installations.

Takeaways

• 🔍 There is a potential bug in Windows 11 affecting the gaming performance of Ryzen processors, including both Zen 4 and Zen 5.
• 📉 The issue seems to have a slightly more significant impact on Zen 5 processors, but the difference is minimal.
• 🤔 AMD and the reviewer worked together to diagnose the gaming performance, with AMD confirming the data but noticing a discrepancy with their internal results.
• 🔄 Extensive retesting was done with fresh Windows installs and different hardware to understand the performance variance.
• 👥 After discussions with other reviewers, it was found that the initial data was accurate, and the review was published.
• 🕵️‍♂️ AMD discovered that using a hidden administrator account in Windows could result in significant gaming performance gains for Zen 5 processors.
• 🔑 The local user account with admin rights is not the same as the system administrator account with elevated privileges, which may affect Ryzen performance in bursty workloads like gaming.
• 🎮 The performance boost observed with the administrator account was not exclusive to Zen 5; it also affected Zen 4 processors.
• 📊 The testing showed that the performance uplift with the administrator account varied across different games, with some showing significant improvements and others showing little to no change.
• 💻 The reviewer suggests that the issue may not be specific to Zen 5 and could be a broader issue affecting Ryzen processors in general.
• 🆕 AMD expects a future Windows update to address the bug, which could improve gaming performance for Ryzen processors.

Q & A

What issue was identified in the video script related to Windows 11 and Ryzen processors?

A bug in Windows 11 was identified that seems to be affecting the gaming performance of Ryzen processors, both Zen 4 and Zen 5, with a slightly more significant impact on Zen 5.

What was AMD's initial response to the gaming performance data presented in the video?

AMD concluded that the gaming data was accurate and did not claim it was wrong, but they felt there were a few percentage points missing from the Ryzen 7 9700X results compared to their internal findings.

What steps were taken to retest the gaming performance of the Ryzen processors?

The video creator spent days retesting with fresh Windows installs, different motherboards, and memory kits to understand the issue better.

What is the significance of the 'administrator account' in the context of this issue?

AMD suggested that testing with a 'hidden administrator account' with elevated privileges might yield different results, as it could affect how Ryzen processors perform bursty workloads like gaming.

How did the use of the administrator account affect the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 7700X?

Using the administrator account resulted in a performance boost for both processors in various games, but the gap between them varied, with some games showing a larger improvement for the 9700X and others showing similar or no change.

What was the average performance improvement for the Ryzen 9 7900X when using the administrator account across the tested games?

The Ryzen 9 7900X saw an average performance improvement of 4% when compared to the initial review data when using the administrator account.

What does the video suggest about the potential impact of this issue on Intel processors?

The video does not provide data on Intel processors, but it suggests that the issue might affect other CPUs as well, not just Ryzen, though this has not been confirmed.

Why did the video creator decide to hold the Ryzen 9 1900X review?

The creator held the review to avoid the possibility of AMD sharing information with others who might have only tested Zen 5 processors and incorrectly concluded that Windows 11 is to blame for its weak gaming performance.

What is the main takeaway from the video regarding the Windows bug and its impact on Ryzen processors?

The main takeaway is that the Windows bug is not specific to Zen 5 processors but seems to be a more general issue affecting Ryzen processors' gaming performance, which may be resolved in a future Windows update.

What is the video creator's plan regarding updating the gaming performance data for Ryzen processors?

The creator plans to wait for a potential Windows update that may address the issue before retesting and updating the gaming performance data for Ryzen processors.

How does the video address the inconsistency in performance results observed by the creator and other reviewers?

The video acknowledges the inconsistency in performance results and speculates that it might be related to the Windows bug, although it is not certain and more investigation is needed.