The recent launch of AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors has sparked a lively debate within the tech community, particularly regarding their performance metrics. Reviewers have reported a spectrum of results, with some noting only modest gains, while others have observed slightly better improvements. This disparity has left many users questioning the reliability of these findings.
Performance Variance and Windows 11
Interestingly, it appears that both sets of results may be accurate, with the culprit potentially being Windows 11 itself. A recent analysis by the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed (HwU) examined the performance of Windows 11 24H2 following the Ryzen branch prediction optimization patch. Their findings revealed an impressive average framerate boost of up to 11% compared to Windows 11 23H2.
However, users should temper their expectations. While the test results from HwU are credible, individual experiences may vary significantly after upgrading from 23H2 to 24H2. An underlying issue within the operating system could hinder performance, even after a clean installation, complicating the troubleshooting process.
In their analysis, HwU categorized the installations as “Good Install” for the version yielding better performance and “Bad Install” for the one with inferior results. The term “Patch” refers to the optimizations Microsoft later backported for 23H2.
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Test Case 1 |
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Test Case 2 |
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Test Case 3 |
In the first test case, the performance difference was recorded at 9% in favor of 24H2 against a “Good Install” of Windows 11 23H2, utilizing a select group of 23 titles that demonstrated a more significant disparity. In a previous test involving a “Bad Install” of 23H2, an 11% improvement was noted across 43 titles, underscoring how a poorly executed Windows installation can severely impact gaming performance.
Several factors may contribute to these performance inconsistencies. Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) and Hypervisor Code Integrity (HVCI) have been shown to affect performance even in the latest Windows 11 versions. Additionally, scheduling-related issues may also play a role in these variances.
This situation highlights a critical takeaway: even a seemingly well-configured Windows 11 setup could be underperforming without the user’s knowledge, leading to a frustrating experience for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike.
Source and images: HwU (YouTube)
