AMD AGESA 1.2.0.2 update cuts Ryzen 9000 inter-core latency by nearly 60%, boosts performance

HARDWARE NEWS manhkbrady - Sep 17, 2024, 22:00

In the previous month, there was a discovery of a significant setback in AMD's dual-CCX Ryzen 9000 series processors. Specifically, this was a substantial increase in latency for inter-chip communications in AMD's Ryzen 9000 12-core and 16-core processors. Thanks to AMD's AGESA 1.2.0.2 update, it seems that this issue has been resolved.

Users who perform a BIOS/UEFI update on their motherboards can experience the advantages of reduced inter-CCX latencies with AMD's latest processors. Inter-CCX latencies for a Ryzen 9 9950X seem to have decreased from about 180ns to around 75ns. This represents a 60% reduction in latency. This improvement enables cores to communicate more quickly and reduces the time spent waiting for data to transfer from core to core.

Early adopters of this updated BIOS have already observed performance enhancements. This new update is expected to have a significant impact on latency-sensitive tasks such as gaming. However, all workloads that make use of high core counts should benefit from this reduction in latency.

(Ryzen 9000 inter-CCX latencies decreased from approximately 180ms to about 75ms – according to Overclock.net)

In general, this is positive news for owners of AMD Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" CPUs and for the overall progress of the red team. Other manufacturers are anticipated to release their respective AGESA 1.2.0.2 BIOS updates later this month, which will result in more users transitioning to the new firmware for a smoother and stable experience with Zen 5 chips. The BIOS update will also introduce the new "105W TDP" mode for the AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X CPUs.

This development will necessitate reviewers to re-evaluate AMD's Ryzen 9000 series CPUs before upcoming CPU launches. With Intel's Arrow Lake CPUs set to launch next month, it will be essential for AMD's retesting to be conducted promptly to ensure a fair comparison. And as always, remember to check out on our comparator so you can secure the finest deal on your next favorite game.