AMD Unveils the Ryzen 9 9950X3D: A Game Changer for Performance
This week, AMD launched its flagship processor, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which it promotes as the ultimate CPU for both gaming and productivity tasks. After conducting thorough tests on the processor, we confidently assign it a commendable rating of 9 out of 10, highlighting its impressive all-around performance.
New Features in Chipset Driver Package
Alongside the CPU release, AMD introduced enhancements in its chipset driver package. A standout feature is the removal of the need to reinstall Windows when changing CPUs. Additionally, this driver package addresses a Virtualization-based Security (VBS) issue encountered in Windows 10.
Testing Guidelines and VBS Considerations
AMD specifically requested that tests incorporate the VBS setting, adhering to Microsoft’s recommendations. The statement from AMD emphasized:
To align with Microsoft’s guidance, AMD recommends enabling VBS (it is enabled by default).The benchmarks published in this guide are captured with VBS enabled, so please enable VBS if you wish to use this data to sanity check. While not recommended, if you choose to disable VBS, it is best to shut it off in the BIOS and not in software.
Insights on Windows 10 vs Windows 11 Performance
AMD specified that testing should use Windows 11, either version 23H2 or 24H2, though it’s important to note that VBS is not enabled by default on Windows 10 nor is it advised to be maintained on Windows 10 installations. Interestingly, testing revealed that both the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, exhibited diminished performance on Windows 11.
Virtualization-based Security (VBS), also referred to as Core Isolation, is designed to enhance security by utilizing Windows hypervisor and hardware virtualization to create a safe environment against harmful code targeting the kernel. This security measure is part of Microsoft’s recommendation for users considering a move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 via a clean installation.
Benchmark Results Show a Clear Advantage for Windows 10
The YouTube channel Tech YES City conducted a series of tests, revealing that Microsoft’s preferred settings do not yield optimal gaming performance. In a benchmark for Fortnite, users experienced an impressive 18% performance increase when using Windows 10 compared to Windows 11 with VBS enabled.
Even with VBS disabled on Windows 11, Windows 10 still maintained a performance edge, though the difference narrowed to approximately 9.25% favoring Windows 10.
Similar trends were noted in games such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, although performance variations were less pronounced compared to Fortnite.
Future Testing Plans
We anticipate revisiting this topic with our own Ryzen CPU tests following our previous assessment of Intel’s i9-14900K, aiming to provide further insights into CPU performance under varied conditions.
For more detailed examination, check out the findings from Tech YES City on YouTube.
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