AMD-Based PCs Suffer a 3-15 Percent Performance Hit with Windows 11
- Paul Thurrott
- Oct 07, 2021
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AMD revealed that customers are now experiencing a 3-15 percent performance hit when they upgrade to Windows 11. A fix is on the way.
“AMD and Microsoft have determined that compatible AMD processors may exhibit reduced performance in certain applications when running Windows 11,” an AMD support document explains. “A software update is in development to address this issue with expected availability in October of 2021.”
According to AMD, there are two problems triggered by the Windows 11 upgrade that impact performance by 3-5 percent in one case and 8 to 15 percent in the other. That latter issue impacts gaming, and AMD specifically recommends that eSports participants wait to upgrade until the fix is available.
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The issues are apparently more pronounced in PCs using an AMD processor with 8 or more cores above 65-watts of thermal design power (TDP).
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Conversation 37 comments
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oscar90
Log in to Reply<p>Oh, good info. The gaming issue is a dealbreaker for me as i only use my Ryzen based Windows machine for tripple A gaming. </p>
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martinusv2
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I have a Ryzen 5900x, so far didn’t see any slow down in Cyberpunk 2077. Maybe it’s so small, I do not see it, but there maybe a slowdown. </p><p><br></p><p>At least, AMD and Microsoft saw this early and we will have a fix this month.</p>
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<p>I have to wait anyways because my AMD rig I use for gaming does not have TPM 2.0. I have a module on order but it is on backorder.</p>
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blue77star
Log in to Reply<p>You don’t need module to install it.</p>
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crunchyfrog
Log in to Reply<p>This keeps changing it seems. I’ll install one anyways just to cover that base.</p>
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madthinus
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>You can get the latest Bios update, which now by default turn TPM on. Or you can do it manually. Then all should be good. Look for CPU fTPM setting. Should be set to on.</p>
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sharps
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I turned this on my bios on a Ryzen 5 2600. After turning it on it shows it will work with Windows 11 (before it was ineligible).</p>
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sean8102
Log in to Reply<p>Like others have said you don’t need a physical TPM module. Your CPU has TPM 2.0 implemented via firmware. You just need to turn it on in your BIOS (don’t forget you have to turn on secure boot as well).</p><p><br></p><p>My system is a few years older than yours. An Intel Z370 motherboard and 8700K CPU. Once I turned on pTT (Intel’s name for their firmware based implementation of TPM 2.0) The "whynotwin11" app and the PC health check app showed my PC was fully compatible.</p><p><br></p><p>And it must be since I did a clean install of the "RTM/"Release" build and it’s been solid as a rock.</p>
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cruzallen
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>My system, ASRock B550 with Ryzen 9 3900X, now qualifies upon enabling fTPM in the BIOS (UEFI). I’d also say give it a try; it should work for you as well. Then, you can sell your physical TPM module to someone who doesn’t have a firmware method of enabling TPM 2.0.</p><p><br></p><p>I am going to wait a bit to actually install Windows 11 however, for several reasons, especially since my clients won’t be upgrading any time soon and I’d rather not keep going back and forth.</p>
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AwkwardSwine
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p> AMD 3000 & 5000 series CPUs have TPM built in on chip. Just turn it on in the BIOS config screen. Lots of how to articles are online if you want step by step instructions.</p>
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skyczy08
Log in to Reply<p>There are at least 10 OS breaking issues like this. </p>
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blue77star
Log in to Reply<p>I was talking about this for the past month. I have 5950x and a month ago when I installed Windows 11 saw terrible performance of L3 cache. I could not stress enough about it on Feedback App, but it was ignored.</p>
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bluvg
Log in to Reply<p>Apparently the coming fixes are not only from the Microsoft side.</p>
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ringofvoid
Log in to Reply<p>With the extremely short development & testing period, Windows 11 should be considered beta software for at least 6 months to a year. Gamers should be patient as you’re not going to see performance improvements until a bunch of games support the new DirectStorage API (and then only if you have the hardware). If you’re dying for the new pretty interface, Stardock’s got some products that’ll spiff up Windows 10 until Windows 11 is ready for prime time.</p>
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sean8102
Log in to Reply<p>I def think there is no need to rush out and install Windows 11. But I was planning to wipe my system clean anyways recently. I saw that the "RTM"/"Release" build of Windows 11 was out. So I did a clean install of it.</p><p><br></p><p>I haven’t had a single crash, BSOD, performance issue, or bug in general. It’s been rock solid. Not surprising really, 99% of Windows 11 is just Windows 10 with a new UI smacked on top of it. Minus some geniuenly new features like Android apps (though that still isn’t released), and auto HDR (I think that might be coming to Windows 10 also though).</p><p><br></p><p>As for DirectStorage the requirements aren’t anything crazy. A PCI-E 3.0 x4 NVME drive with a sequential read speed of 2.5 GB/s or higher. I recently got a 1TB WD Black SN 750 with a seq read speed of 3.2 GB/s for $120.</p>
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solomonrex
Log in to Reply<p>Intel has the same issue!</p><p><br></p><p>It’s related to the security mitigation ‘fixes’ for the CPUs, and as long as that feature is enabled (as it will be from OEMs, OR if it’s fresh install on an old machine) it’s a permanent regression in performance.</p>
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Alastair Cooper
Log in to Reply<p>This isn’t the virtualisation-based security issue. This is another issue specific to AMD.</p>
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eric_rasmussen
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I upvoted this feedback in the feedback hub during the insider testing phase. Just like many of the bugs reported by insiders in Windows 10, this one got ignored.</p><p><br></p><p>I have several Ryzen systems and I was excited to benchmark Windows 11 because of all the gaming features Microsoft talked about in the reveal Livestream. I was sad to see performance quite a bit worse than Windows 10 and went to report the issue – only to find it had already been reported and hearted a ton of times already.</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft needs to bring back QA. Firing QA and replacing that team with insiders is not working at all. What good is a feedback hub that never gets watched?</p>
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ezzy
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>MS wasn’t the least bit interested in anything but the GUI during the 11 beta. That is absolutely true.</p><p><br></p><p>Still, we can’t be sure that AMD isn’t partially to blame here. The second, and potentially most impactful issue is in one of their own drivers. Seems like they knew this for months and now can fix it in just a couple of weeks?</p><p><br></p><p>It’s almost as if their PR department had it’s hands in this because it’s been on every website I’ve visited today.</p>
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mikegalos
Log in to Reply<p>So you’re saying that you reported this problem and the article is that they’re fixing what you reported.</p><p><br></p><p>Not sure what you’re complaining about.</p><p><br></p>
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wright_is
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Because the problem was reported months ago, they haven’t done anything until now, they haven’t warned users of Ryzen systems that they will see a performance drop. They waited until the public release and users were moaning on social media that it slows down their systems, before they acknowledged it.</p><p><br></p><p>This is, unfortunately, typical of big tech. Instead of tackling problems head on, they bury their heads in the sand, hoping it will go away and only acknowledge the problem when it turns into a shit storm.</p>
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polloloco51
Log in to Reply<p>Windows 7, although lacking security patches, is more stable than Windows 11 in it’s current state.</p><p><br></p><p>Windows 7 had years of thorough development, and patches. </p><p><br></p><p>Windows 11 was released with only. 3 months of testing from the community.</p><p><br></p><p>Windows 11 really should not be installed by anyone, until everything is checked thoroughly. Imagine, that one project you’re working on, gets deleted by a bug. Or a program crashes unexpectedly. </p><p><br></p><p>How Microsoft can recklessly release a complex operating system like this, and this fast, is beyond belief. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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jimchamplin
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Ryzen 5 4600H, can’t tell that it’s any different.</p>
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sean8102
Log in to Reply<p>I know I’m just a sample size of 1, but I’ve been running the "RTM"/"Release" build of Windows 11 since it became available and haven’t had a single issue. No crashes, BSOD’s, performance issues, or bugs in general. It’s been great.</p><p><br></p><p>I did do a clean install of Windows 11, so I’m sure that helps. But it def wouldn’t be the only reason I’m having no issues running Windows 11 on my gaming desktop.</p><p><br></p><p>Makes sense really. Under the hood it’s EXTREMELLY similar to Windows 10. Just a new coat of paint. Sadly the UI stuff still needs work. Like how poor dark mode still is. So many parts of Windows are still white background with black text even with the OS in dark mode. But if I understand what WinUI3 is that when it’s completed should allow Microsoft to fairly easily update the look of things like the file properties window, device manager, disk properties etc etc to all have the same look as parts of Windows 11 like file explorer. And will make it easier for app developers to update their apps to match the look of Windows 11 much easier.</p>
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Maverick010
Log in to Reply<p>I am actually running Windows 11 2 custom systems (one is my Son’s and the other is mine), with my system running an AMD Ryzen 5900X on a Gigabyte Aorus X570 Xtreme v1.1 Motherboard, and 32GB Corsair memory. Windows 11 is on my main M.2 Western Digital Black 1TB SSD. All running fine there. My Son’s system is a little similar running on an AMD Ryzen 3900X and MSI MEG X570 Godlike board and same SSD for the OS.</p><p><br></p><p>Also have Windows 11 installed so far on a Dell G15 gaming laptop with an 8th Gen Intel Core CPU and here is the kicker, an unsupported HP Envy X360 laptop with a Ryzen 2500U. I have not experienced any issues at all. The HP, I admit I have not fully thrown it through the ringer, but the Windows 11 UI is running smoothly on it.</p><p><br></p><p>Overall I think Microsoft is going in the right direction and cannot wait to see how Windows 11 evolves over the next 6 months to a year. </p>
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Maverick010
Log in to Reply<p>Keep the tin foil hat theories at home. Windows 11 is actually more stable than you think and security wise is ahead of Windows 7. Windows 7 actually was just a refinement and polishing of Windows Vista with a UI update. </p><p><br></p><p>Windows 11 is built on Windows 10’s solid foundation, and now going through facelift with the GUI changes and settings refinements. Still in its infancy, but what you speak, is completely incorrect. If you really think about this, Insiders, and Microsoft partners probably has been testing the foundation for quite awhile. Once Microsoft went official with Windows 11, the GUI and major changes that they kept in secret, were now tested in the opening. </p><p><br></p><p>Just look at the Android functionality which was found in the Windows store, but had pretty much NDA traces, as it was being tested behind closed doors, until they are ready for a wider audience.</p><p><br></p><p>Also Windows 11 updates are much better and smaller. They learned a lot between Windows Vista/7 up through Windows 10. I have been running Windows 11 on my main system since early builds and now the RTM and is a pleasingly and refreshing nice new look and has been rock stable. Also not noticing any major performance hit on a AMD Ryzen 9 5900X. </p><p><br></p><p>There is absolutely no major issue with Windows 11, and updates will continue rolling out for next few months as they have with practically every version of Windows. Windows 11 just may receive updates a little quicker than Windows 10 due to being the new kid, and because of the new updates process that they can practically update any part of the OS individually now.</p>
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polloloco51
Log in to Reply<p>Sorry that’s incorrect! I actually never said, Windows 7 was in any way secure. I would strongly recommend anyone to NOT use Windows 7, for any reason. Except for offline legacy programs or in VM.</p><p><br></p><p>Paul Thurrott and others, actually have publicly questioned, Windows 11’s extremely short three months release. So, not really a "tin foil hat", like you incorrectly said.</p><p><br></p><p>Windows 11 only has had 3 months or 90 days of testing by the community. Some feedback, went completely unnoticed. That is certainly not enough for a public release.</p><p><br></p><p>Yes, Windows 11 is basically Windows 10 with a different shell and minor performance tweaks. </p><p><br></p><p>It still was modified, with new code added and removed. Therefore, it should have been tested at least 6 months more before RTM. </p><p><br></p><p>It is those undiscovered bugs that can ruin everything or cause severe workflow disruptions.</p><p><br></p><p>There are now a few examples, of Windows 11’s premature release. Probably more later on</p><p><br></p><p>Including:</p><p>Performance degradation on high end AMD processors</p><p>Windows 10 taskbar remaining after upgrade</p><p>Memory issues with file explorer</p><p><br></p><p>Probably more as, more users install Windows 11</p><p><br></p><p>Microsoft rushed Windows 11 to release, and arguably should have kept in testing, much longer. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
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bluvg
Log in to Reply<p>There are two conflicting narratives going on here:</p><p><br></p><p> 1) Windows 11 is nothing more than the latest Windows 10 + rounded windows</p><p> 2) Windows 11 has too many buggy features and was rushed to market</p><p><br></p><p>One could argue both are true, but I don’t think it’s a solid argument. If #2 is true, I think we must dismiss #1.</p>
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jaboonday
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>The irony here is – I just bought an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X processor and a new motherboard to replace my current Intel Core i5 7th gen processor/motherboard. </p><p><br></p><p>I’m 100% sure that regardless of the performance issues, when I actually add the new hardware to my box the performance is going to be light years better than what I’ve got now. It was time to upgrade anyways – Photoshop and Lightroom have been giving me some pokey performance lately. Gonna max out the new board too – 64GB RAM because even at 32GB, there’s times when I’m using almost 100% of that.</p>
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AwkwardSwine
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I curious why you got the AMD 3700x instead of a 5000 series? The price difference can’t be all that much can it? A 5600x or 5800x are great choices right now.</p>
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jaboonday
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Adorama had a sale on the 3700X, making it about $160 cheaper than the 5800X. I looked at some benchmarks and saw the performance for the 3700X was acceptable.</p><p><br></p><p>In other words, I’m a cheapskate. I really would have preferred a 5000 series chip but just wasn’t willing to spend the money on that since I also needed to get a new motherboard.</p>
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sean8102
Log in to Reply<p>I’d suspect that yeah even with this issue between Windows 11 and AMD CPU’s, you’ll notice the upgrade.</p><p><br></p><p>But it’s not like you got anything to worry about regarding this since it’s a software bug/issue, and the fix is expected this month (I’m guessing through a cumulative update to Windows 11).</p>
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jaboonday
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Definitely not worried about the performance long term. I just thought it was a funny coincidence.</p>
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mejason83
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>How did they not know about this from the dev/beta channels and have it patched for launch?</p>
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kacert
Log in to Reply<p>Where do you get they didn’t known about it? Just because something is not fixed before shipping is because it is not a blocker. You seriously think that if they are going to release a fix this month for something that is likely in the core of the kernel (even if you don’t believe there is a QA process) that they didn’t worked on it before? </p><p>It just didn’t make the cut and it goes with the next release. </p><p>I would say if the release date is clear there is already a build with a fix just not released to the public. </p><p><br></p>
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peterc
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Well win 11 on my surface laptop 4 (15") AMD Ryzen 7 4980U is not having any problems at all…. </p>
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epguy40
Log in to Reply<p>AMD performance fixes from MS and AMD coming next week on Oct. 19 (via new Win11 update) and Oct. 21 (via. updated AMD CPPC driver)</p><p><br></p><p>wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-cpus-l3-latency-performance-fix-to-be-resolved-by-microsoft-through-windows-11-update-on-19th-october-cppc-driver-on-21st/</p>