AMD Ryzen on Windows 10

Windows 10 version 1903 improves performance for AMD Ryzen processors

Windows 10 May 2019 Update can now make better use of the AMD Ryzen multi-core processors, which translate on improved system responsiveness and performance.

Alongside the new features and enhancements, the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, version 1903, is also making some internal changes to boost performance on devices using AMD Ryzen processors.

While AMD CPUs already have a price to performance advantage compared to Intel, because they’re cheaper and offer more core counts per processor, the hold back it’s been the single core performance. However, the company reveals that starting with the third generation, Ryzen processors are up to 21 percent better in single-threaded performance.

And this isn’t just because the improvements that AMD is doing with its new 7nm silicon technology. Part of the problem was Windows 10 not being able to use the many cores inside the processor efficiently, but starting with the May 2019 Update things are changing.

Beginning with the new feature update, Windows 10 is introducing some Ryzen specific changes, including topology awareness, which means that the OS will be now able to focus on single Core Complex (CCX) unit in the processor whenever possible eliminating the latency on tasks that only need to use a very small number of cores, which often affects gaming.

Windows 10 scheduler fix. Image source: AMD
Windows 10 scheduler fix. Image source: AMD

In addition, Windows 10 version 1903 is also making changes to improve the performance of the scheduler, which reduces the clock ramping time when going from base to boost clock speeds from 30ms to 1-2ms, which translates into 20 times improvement.

Windows 10 topology awareness. Image source: AMD
Windows 10 topology awareness. Image source: AMD

All these changes mean that after installing the Windows 10 May 2019 Update on your AMD-base system, you should notice a boost on performance and responsiveness, including in gaming.

These changes should apply to devices using the first, second, and even more noticeable in the third generation of Ryzen and Ryzen Threadripper processors, because of the many advances that AMD is doing with the new generation.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].