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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Performance Boost: MSI BIOS Optimizations Deliver up to 14.5% Gain

AleksandarK

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AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor with 16 cores, 32 threads, and 3D V-Cache is an exceptional content creation and gaming workload machine. However, MSI's proprietary BIOS features reportedly enable substantial performance headroom beyond stock settings. MSI's latest internal testing confirms that specific firmware configurations can deliver up to 14.5% performance improvements in demanding titles like Monster Hunter Wilds. The performance uplift hinges on firmware update, with MSI recommending the installation of chipset driver v7.01.08.129 or higher, which includes the critical AMD Application Compatibility Database driver. Users who update to BIOS versions featuring AGESA 1.2.0.3 or newer may encounter an "Unknown Device" in Device Manager, which can be resolved by installing the AMD Application Compatibility Database driver included in the latest chipset package. When paired with AGESA 1.2.0.3+ BIOS implementations, this configuration yields measurable framerate improvements of approximately 10% in Metro Exodus and 8% in Far Cry 6 at 1080p resolution compared to legacy firmware.

MSI's BIOS feature suite provides several optimization pathways. Memory Try It! delivers pre-configured memory timing profiles, while High-Efficiency Mode optimizes graduated memory bandwidth across four performance tiers. The X3D Gaming Mode modifies core and SMT configurations and provides additional gaming-specific enhancements, though potentially at the expense of multi-threaded application performance. Benchmark data from MSI demonstrates that implementing DDR5-8000 CL38 Memory Try It! profiles alongside "Tighter" High-Efficiency Mode settings and X3D Gaming Mode activation delivers a 14.5% performance uplift in Monster Hunter Wilds compared to baseline DDR5-4800 configurations, and approximately 8% over XMP DDR5-7200 settings. Titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Far Cry 6 both recorded approximately 6% performance gains under similar test conditions. MSI cautions that memory overclocking implementations may impact system stability, while X3D Gaming Mode's thread management modifications could reduce performance in heavily multi-threaded workloads. Performance benefits will necessarily vary based on GPU capabilities and system configuration.



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This just shows that high-speed, tuned memory doesn't show much improvement over JEDEC DDR5-5600 when on a X3D CPU.

I "downgraded" from 32 GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 (EXPO/XMP profile) RAM to 128 GB of DDR5-5600 CL46 (JEDEC) and I can barely feel any frame drops on a 7950X3D. Albeit I'm not playing any particular memory-sensitive game, but the difference does not seem noticeable in real world use, except in wallet :laugh: and the amount of software I can run simultaneously:

1742492253343.png 1742492298387.png

That and running with the JEDEC profile (which I believe is 1.1v stock) also relieves stress on the memory controller and SoC, so apparently my 7950X3D's idle power usage is lower:

1742492554770.png
 

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I saw gains on my X3D. They are still there, just muted a bit by the cache. But I am running at ddr5 4800.. a bit slow :D

But smooooth.
 
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This just shows that high-speed, tuned memory doesn't show much improvement over JEDEC DDR5-5600 when on a X3D CPU.

I "downgraded" from 32 GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 (EXPO/XMP profile) RAM to 128 GB of DDR5-5600 CL46 (JEDEC) and I can barely feel any frame drops on a 7950X3D. Albeit I'm not playing any particular memory-sensitive game, but the difference does not seem noticeable in real world use, except in wallet :laugh: and the amount of software I can run simultaneously:

View attachment 390732 View attachment 390733

That and running with the JEDEC profile (which I believe is 1.1v stock) also relieves stress on the memory controller and SoC, so apparently my 7950X3D's idle power usage is lower:

View attachment 390734
Ok.....This post is about the 9950X3D, which is built differently than the 7950X3D.


On topic, I think AMD users are a little sour on MSI these days, not "Godlike" at all.
 

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On topic, I think AMD users are a little sour on MSI these days
I have been sour about them since.. 2004 or so lol. My buddy had a few MSI boards.. I just had an HP in those days lol.. but with an Asus board mwaha.

No troubles for me, many for him..
 
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I have been sour about them since.. 2004 or so lol. My buddy had a few MSI boards.. I just had an HP in those days lol.. but with an Asus board mwaha.

No troubles for me, many for him..
This makes no mentoin of the risks involved in all this tuning, so lets fry another board while we just test more random settings.
 

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This makes no mentoin of the risks involved in all this tuning, so lets fry another board while we just test more random settings.
Sure I guess, but he was never into tuning. I will give them a try next time. Equal rights, equal fights and all that
 
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Ok.....This post is about the 9950X3D, which is built differently than the 7950X3D.


On topic, I think AMD users are a little sour on MSI these days, not "Godlike" at all.
Still applies though. The X3D cache takes care of most the performance gains. My point is that if one has a X3D CPU you don't need to spend too much on fast RAM.

If one still wants to eke out more performance though, then the option to spend more is there.
 
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I like MSI, but this is something I'm afraid of using. I don't want this blowing up my 9950X3D and they will say its my fault. Naw son.
 
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Benchmark Scores They're pretty good, nothing crazy.
I think they're more sour about ASROCK bricking 9800X3Ds thanks to insufficiant bios testing.
 
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With the latest BIOS, MSi added an "X3D performance mode". I turned it on because I was curious, but all it does is disable SMT. Thanks, MSi! :laugh:

I'm wondering if this is something similar.
 
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With the latest BIOS, MSi added an "X3D performance mode". I turned it on because I was curious, but all it does is disable SMT. Thanks, MSi! :laugh:

I'm wondering if this is something similar.
Good to know, I know what mode I won't be doing.

I might do my upgrade this weekend, sadly I'll be doing it without a 5090. 6900XT will have to serve me for a few more months or a year or two. /sigh First rebuild without a new GPU in tow.
 
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Anyone know how insane power consumption is with this tuning? I doubt it blows past 14900K but I bet it's way up there.

Also curious how they are running DDR5 8000 on AMD? I thought the sweet spot was still 6000 so you have 1:1 ratio. Interesting results though.
 
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Anyone know how insane power consumption is with this tuning? I doubt it blows past 14900K but I bet it's way up there.

Also curious how they are running DDR5 8000 on AMD? I thought the sweet spot was still 6000 so you have 1:1 ratio. Interesting results though.
I don't know, but people are surely running DDR5-8000. I don't have that kind of patience to tune RAM, so I returned my 8000 kit and bought a DDR5-6000 CL26 kit.
 
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I think they're more sour about ASROCK bricking 9800X3Ds thanks to insufficiant bios testing.
Not unless they are Youtuber fanboys that over react to every undocumented claim that's posted in some reddit with little validity. All manufacturers have had some issues and none are particularly abnormal for a new enthusiast platform. I'ts called early adopters tax. All products start out with "insufficient" bios testing to some degree. Market forces manufacturers to release as soon as possible.
 
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Benchmark Scores They're pretty good, nothing crazy.
Not unless they are Youtuber fanboys that over react to every undocumented claim that's posted in some reddit with little validity. All manufacturers have had some issues and none are particularly abnormal for a new enthusiast platform. I'ts called early adopters tax. All products start out with "insufficient" bios testing to some degree. Market forces manufacturers to release as soon as possible.
I downloaded that same bios on MSI with no issues. And that is one of the more recent bioses, not some early release version.
 
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