Windows 11 performance bug affecting AMD CPUs fixed by chipset driver

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X (Image credit: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • AMD addressed a performance issue affecting systems running Windows 11 on AMD chips.
  • The fix comes with AMD Ryzen Chipset Driver release 3.10.08.506.
  • Microsoft fixed a separate issue affecting AMD chips running Windows 11 earlier this week.

AMD released a chipset driver to address performance issues affecting PCs with AMD chips running Windows 11. The update fixes an issue that affects AMD's preferred core technology, which shifts threads to the fastest core on a processor. Affected PCs saw performance drops, causing frustration among gamers. Microsoft also fixed a separate issue that affects AMD processors running Windows 11.

AMD outlines the fix for the issue related to its preferred core technology as well as Microsoft's earlier fix for the L3 caching issue:

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Known Performance ChangesImpactResolution
Issue 1: Measured and functional L3 cache latency may increase for some applications.◦ Applications sensitive to memory subsystem access time may be impacted.
◦ Estimated performance impact of [less than] 3-5% in affected applications, with possible outliers in some games.
◦ A Windows 11 software update is now available to address this issue under Microsoft Knowledgebase ID 5006746.
◦ More information on downloading and installing this update can be obtained under Microsoft article KB5006746.
◦ Systems with this update applied will enumerate KB5006746 in the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Installed Updates interface.
Issue 2: UEFI CPPC2 ("preferred core") may not preferentially schedule threads on a processor's fastest core.◦ Applications sensitive to the performance of one or a few CPU threads may exhibit reduced performance.
◦ Performance impact may be more detectable in >8-core processors above 65W TDP.
◦ An AMD Chipset Driver package is now available to address this issue under version 3.10.08.506.
◦ Systems with this update applied will report AMD Chipset Software 3.10.08.506 (or newer) within the Apps & Features interface of Windows 11.
In addition:
For AMD processors with the "Zen 3" architecture: Systems configured with AMD Chipset Driver 3.10.08.506 (or newer) should report version 7.0.3.5 (or newer) for the AMD.Power.Processor.Settings entry in the Windows 11 Provisioning Packages interface.
For AMD processors with the "Zen+" or "Zen 2" architectures: Systems configured with AMD Chipset Driver 3.10.08.506 (or newer) should have the AMD Ryzen™ Balanced power plan selected and active in the Control Panel > Power Options interface.

With both of these fixes, AMD-powered systems should deliver expected performance when running Windows 11.

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Sean Endicott
News Writer

Sean Endicott is a News Writer at Windows Central, where he covers Windows 11, Surface hardware, Microsoft 365, AI, apps, and the broader PC ecosystem. Since joining the site in 2017, he has written well over a thousand articles across the Microsoft landscape, covering breaking news, analysis, and feature reporting.

He writes Windows Wrap, a weekly column covering the biggest stories in Windows and the PC industry, and what they mean for the platform going forward.

Before joining Windows Central full-time, Sean worked in journalism and media production after earning a First Class degree in Broadcast Journalism from Nottingham Trent University. Outside of tech, he is an award-winning American football coach based in Nottingham, England, and was named BAFCA Youth Coach of the Year in 2024.