AMD dropped us a line to let us know that performance optimizations from the next version of Windows have been backported to the current version.
If you recall, benchmark numbers AMD’s new Ryzen 9000 “Zen 5”-based desktop processors were well behind the expected performance gains compared to the previous generation. Those expectations were set by AMD, and in response to community outcry over the missed marks, AMD gave a number of excuses. One of those was that it tested using the latest Insider Preview build of Windows, and that this build contained significant optimizations related to branch prediction over extant builds.
Putting aside for now the absurdity of testing with a preview build of Windows, we’ve already tested that claim and found that the new build did indeed slightly improve performance on Zen 5. There are lots of reasons someone might not want to run a preview build on their personal PC, though. If you’re in that group yet you still want the best performance for your Ryzen machine, you’re in luck, because AMD shot us a line to let us know that those optimizations have now been backported to Windows 11 23H2.
Indeed, if you’re on the current stable version of Windows 11, go to the Windows Update settings page, click “Advanced”, and then “Optional updates”.
