In the Zen5-based Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9000X3D series, the 2nd Gen 3D-V-Cache is now positioned below the processor cores. This change allows the primary heat source, the CCD, to interface directly with the cooling solution. Since the 3D V-Cache is less sensitive to temperature, this results in up to 46% better thermal resistance, according to AMD. Cooler temperatures enable higher sustained clock speeds, both single- and multi-threaded.
AMD Provisioning Packages Service Update
The latest update to the AMD Provisioning Packages Service, which is included in the chipset driver update for Windows 11, brings significant improvements to the user experience. This service manages AMD provisioning packages, including processor and nonvolatile memory express (NVMe) power management.
Designed specifically for Ryzen 9 processors, the service optimizes CPU power and performance during gaming. It uses power/frequency optimization and core parking within the Windows Game Mode power profile. The service dynamically applies optimizations to specific power profiles when an application is launched. When gaming, it “parks” the cores on the second CCD that lacks the 3D V-Cache, making them temporarily unavailable to the OS. This ensures the game runs on the CCX. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X 3DV features two CCDs (Core Chiplet Dies).
Each CCD in this processor contains a single CCX (Core Complex) with 3D V-Cache, improving the L3 cache hit rate and overall game performance and particularly bolstering critical elements such as the 1% low frames per second (FPS) rate.
If there are changes to the CPU name, core count, logical processor count, or L3 cache count, the service will automatically uninstall and reinstall the relevant AMD provisioning packages. AMD advises performing a clean installation of Windows when changing the processor to avoid potential configuration issues with other software. The time to complete provisioning changes is typically around two minutes after booting to Windows.
While there is no BIOS option for this feature, the AMD Provisioning Packages Service can be disabled in Windows Services settings. NVMe provisioning requires Windows 11 version 22H2 or later. The Windows 10 user experience remains unchanged.
Overall, this update enhances the predictability, performance, and efficiency of Ryzen 9 9000X3D V-Cache-enabled processors, particularly for gaming, by intelligently managing power and core usage.
AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer
The AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer enhances the performance of Ryzen 9 9000X3D 3D V-Cache processors in gaming and non-gaming tasks. It achieves this by dynamically adjusting the “favored” processor cores based on the current application. During gaming sessions, the OS prioritizes cores connected to the larger L3 cache. Conversely, for non-gaming tasks, it favors the cores with the highest frequency. Notably, the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer does not “park” any cores.
This feature benefits desktop processors such as the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, Ryzen 9 9900X3D, Ryzen 9 7950X3D, and Ryzen 9 7900X3D. However, it does not provide advantages for single CCX X3D processors like the Ryzen 7 9800X3D or Ryzen 7 7800X3D.
Configuration options for this feature are available in the BIOS under AMD CBS/SMU Common Options/CPPC Dynamic Preferred Cores. The settings include:
– Auto | Driver: Allows the driver to decide which CPUs to prefer based on the active window.
– Cache: Always prefers CPUs in the 3D V-Cache CCX.
– Frequency: Always prefers CPUs in the highest frequency CCX.
Overall, the AMD 3D V-Cache Performance Optimizer significantly boosts the efficiency and performance of compatible Ryzen 9 processors by intelligently managing core usage based on the task at hand.
AMD Application Compatibility Database
The new AMD Application Compatibility Database, which requires both a new BIOS and chipset driver, is designed to address specific game titles that exhibit performance-limiting behavior not fully resolved by the AMD Provisioning Packages Service. These targeted optimizations reduce the thread pool size for the affected games, resulting in improved L3 cache utilization and higher FPS. This is achieved by repurposing the Windows Compatibility Toolkit’s ‘ProcessorCountLie’ feature, originally co-developed with Microsoft.
Users with Socket AM5 Platform Ryzen 9 9000 series and Ryzen 9 7000 series processors, both with and without X3D, can benefit from this new feature after a BIOS update. Currently, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D benefits from an AMD Application Compatibility Database File with optimizations for several games, including Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Dying Light 2, Far Cry 6, Metro Exodus, Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition (RT), Total War: Three Kingdoms, Total War: Warhammer III, and Wolfenstein: Young Blood.
Overall, the AMD Application Compatibility Database enhances gaming performance by intelligently managing thread pool sizes and improving cache utilization for a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D for Productivity
Rendering is a good example of productivity. The choice between CPU and GPU rendering hinges on a project’s specific needs and constraints. While GPUs excel in parallel processing and are often faster for many rendering tasks, some studios and creators still prefer CPUs. CPUs can handle larger amounts of system memory, offer better price-performance ratios compared to professional GPUs with limited VRAM, and provide high precision and stability. Additionally, CPUs are usually certified by most ISVs to run their applications smoothly without issues. This makes CPUs a reliable choice for many rendering workflows, even if they take more time.
For the first-generation implementations of AMD Ryzen 3D V-Cache, the cache tile being placed on top of the CCD limited the potential for higher clock frequencies and headroom increases due to thermal constraints. This meant that while certain workloads such as gaming saw big performance increases with 3D V-Cache enabled CPUs, highly-threaded, productivity-centric applications could see worse results with the lower frequencies on the 3D V-Cache-enabled CCD.
With the cache tile being placed underneath the CCD in second-generation 3D V-Cache parts, the CPU frequency is able to boost to higher frequencies, helping make these parts much more comparable in performance to the standard, non-3D V-Cache CPUs on highly multi-threaded workloads. This capability gives demanding users the best of both worlds of gaming and productivity.
Blender Benchmark
Blender Benchmark version 4.3.0 was used to assess the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor’s rendering performance. With a score of 613.88, the processor’s performance ranked among the top 37% of benchmarks running the same workloads. Given the inclusion of GPU results, the CPU performed brilliantly in proportion to its core count.
