How to boost gaming performance on AMD PCs running Windows 11

AMD confirms that Ryzen 9000 (Zen 5) series processors have performance issues on Windows 11.
This problem also affects Ryzen 7000 series (Zen 4) processors.
You can fix this issue by updating the system to the latest version of version 23H2.
It’s also possible to upgrade early to version 24H2 to apply the fixes.

If you have a computer with an AMD Ryzen 9000 or 7000 series processor, you can improve the gaming performance by more than 10 percent by simply updating the system to the latest system update on Windows 11 23H2 or upgrading to version 24H2.

AMD recently acknowledged an issue with the Ryzen 9000 series (Zen 5) processors (which also affects Ryzen 7000 processors using the Zen 4 architecture) and Windows 11, which degrades system performance. According to the company, this happens because the operating system is not able to work correctly with the new branch prediction feature.

Branch prediction is a technique that processors use to anticipate which path the program will take at a decision point (a branch). This helps the processor fetch instructions ahead of time, improving performance, and in this case, it also enhances gaming performance.

The processor manufacturer said that this problem would be resolved with the release of Windows 11 24H2, and testing conducted by the YouTube channel Hardware Unboxed showed that the new feature update improved performance by up to 11 percent. However, it has also been found that Microsoft is also porting the changes to Windows 11 23H2 in the latest system update KB5041587.

If you want to boost your computer performance as soon as possible, you can either install the latest system update on version 23H2 or upgrade to version 24H2. (Disabling memory integrity and virtualization can further optimize the operating system for gaming.)

In this guide, I will show you the steps to update and upgrade your AMD Ryzen (7950X, 7900X, 5950X, 5900X, or 7800X3D, 7700X, or 7600X) computer to boost gaming performance on Windows 11.

Boost gaming performance on AMD Ryzen systems

If you have a computer running Windows 11, you have two options to improve gaming performance. You can install the latest preview of the September 2024 Patch Tuesday Update for version 23H2 or try an early upgrade to Windows 11 24H2.

Install update KB5041587 on Windows 11 23H2 (preview)

If you’re still on version 22H2, upgrade to version 23H2, and then download and install the newest system update.

To install the Windows 11 update KB5041587, use these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Windows Update.
Check the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” toggle switch to download the update KB5041587.
Click the Check for updates button.
Click the “Download and install” option to apply a preview (if applicable).
Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, the preview for the update KB5041587 will download and install automatically on Windows 11 23H2.

Other ways to download and install Windows 11 updates manually include using the Microsoft Update Catalog website, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and more.

Upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 (preview)

Windows 11 24H2 is expected to launch sometime in September or October, but if you can’t wait, you can still perform an in-place upgrade. You will install the feature update’s preview version, but the update is almost finished. However, I still recommend creating a backup of your computer before proceeding in case you have to roll back.

To upgrade to Windows 11 24H2 early to boost gaming performance, use these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the Windows Insider Program page.
Click the Get started button.
Click the “Link an account” button.
Sign in with your Microsoft account.
Click the Continue button.
Select the Release Preview Channel option under the “Pick your Insider settings” section.
Click the Continue button.
Click the Continue button to agree to the terms and conditions.
Click the Restart button.
Open Settings after the reboot.
Click on Windows Update.
Click the “Check for updates” button
Click the “Download & install” button to download the latest preview of Windows 11 24H2.
Click the Restart button.

After you complete the steps, Windows Update will update the computer to version 24H2, adding the new features and improvements as well as the performance improvements.

You can also check out my full guide, which outlines all the different ways to upgrade to version 24H2.

It’s important to note that AMD has also said that enabling and switching to the hidden Administrator account on Windows 11 is a temporary workaround to regain the desired performance.

What option did you choose, and have you noticed any performance differences? Let me know in the comments.

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