AMD Addresses Inter-Core Latency Issues in Strix Point APUs with Upcoming BIOS Updates

Recent analysis has revealed that the Strix Point APUs from AMD exhibited latency levels exceeding 170 nanoseconds (ns) between Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. This latency has had a detrimental impact on performance, particularly evident during multi-threaded operations.

Improved Inter-Core Latency with Upcoming BIOS Update

To address these performance issues, ASUS and AMD have announced an upcoming BIOS update that aims to reduce inter-core latency significantly. Early reports indicate that the revised latency will be brought down to approximately 60-70 ns, a substantial improvement that could enhance performance in various workloads.

The Impact of Die Design on Core Latency

The intricate die architecture used in AMD’s Zen 5 chips has contributed to the core-to-core latency challenges. This has manifested in both the high-end Ryzen 9000 desktop processors and the Strix Point APUs, which include models like the Ryzen AI 9 365, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. Such latency issues are even more pronounced in chips featuring dual Core Complex Dies (CCDs), necessitating attention.

A notable example of these latency concerns was illustrated by Anandtech in their review of the Ryzen 9 9950X and the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Both analyses highlight how these latency setbacks can affect the overall computational performance, especially in applications requiring substantial multi-core processing power.

Strix Point Latency — Image Credit: @9550pro

Next Steps for Strix Point Users

While a BIOS update has successfully mitigated latency for the desktop Ryzen 9000 processors, Strix Point APUs were initially left with lingering high latency issues. Fortunately, developments reported by @9550pro indicate that AMD has managed to address these inter-core latency challenges effectively.

The previous range of inter-core latency typically hovered around 160 to 180 ns, presenting a considerable barrier to performance, especially in multi-core scenarios. The introduction of the experimental update aims to nearly halve this latency, showcasing an impressive improvement to roughly 60-70 ns.

What’s Next for Updates

Although core latencies remain somewhat higher when comparing Zen 5 to Zen 5 and Zen 5c configurations, the enhancements from this update are expected to produce tangible benefits for workloads requiring high multi-core utilization. The ASUS TUF Gaming Air 2024 will be the first notebook to benefit from this update, having received BIOS version 312 or higher. Future updates are anticipated to roll out to additional ASUS models and eventually to notebooks from other manufacturers.

Source: @9550pro

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