ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, announces the launch of the new AmITX Mini-ITX motherboards, a range of compact form factor motherboards sporting the latest Intel technology for high-performance computing. The new AmITX series supports processor options ranging from low power consumption Intel N97 to high-performance 14/13/12th generation Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 and includes features such as PCIe 5.0 x16, 2.5 Gbe, DDR5, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and M.2 B/E/M Key to suit applications in smart city, smart manufacturing, and smart medicine.

The Mini-ITX motherboards in the AmITX series boast 2.5GbE LAN for ultra-fast data connectivity, USB 3.2 Gen 2 to connect with other devices, M.2 B/E/M Key slots for SSD, and wireless cards, and RS-232/422/485 to connect with machine components. The high-performance computing AmITX-RL-I supports 14/13/12th Gen Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 processors up to 65 W TDP, up to 64 GB of DDR5 4800 MHz memory, and has a PCIe 5.0 x16 slot for a GPU card. The low power consumption AmITX-ALN has an Intel N97 processor with 12 W ultra-low power, supports up to 32 GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory, and has a PCIe 3.0 x1 slot.

Today CHIEFTEC is proudly announcing the availability of two Gaming Cases in the VISIO Series, targeted at different audiences stylistically and functionally. The CHIEFTEC Visio and Visio Air feature a dual-chamber design that supports the latest back-connect motherboards (compatible with ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero). This design optimizes cable management for a clean interior view and unobstructed airflow.

Both cases allow for the mounting of 360 mm radiators on the top and bottom, 240 mm radiators on the motherboard side, and CPU tower coolers up to 175 mm in height. High-end GPUs up to 410 mm can be easily accommodated thanks to the spacious and well-ventilated configuration. Both models are ideal for gamers and versatile enough for both work and home environments.

When the initial batch of AMD X870/E motherboards were announced, there were no signs of Mini-ITX motherboards, but now Gigabyte has launched its first X870 Mini-ITX board and it's a bit of a hit and miss in our opinion. The X870I Aorus Pro Ice comes in white, as per the Ice moniker that Gigabyte likes to use for its white products and this might really appeal to some and put others off. Feature wise, we're looking at a single PCIe 5.0 x16 slot—as per most Mini-ITX boards—two NVMe M.2 slots, one PCIe 5.0 and one PCIe 4.0, but for some reason, Gigabyte decided that a single USB4 port was enough.

What makes the single USB4 port decision even worse is the fact that the board only has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps USB Type-C port and the front panel header is also limited to 10 Gbps. On a brand new board, this is really quite disappointing, but the Pro SKUs are usually feature limited models from Gigabyte. The rest of the ports around the back consists of an HDMI 2.1 port, although it too is limited to 4K 60 Hz output, which again is disappointing—the USB4 port is capable of 4K at 240 Hzvia DP Alt mode—two USB 3.2 Gen 2 10 Gbps USB Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 5 Gbps USB Type-A ports and two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, a 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ethernet jack, a WiFi antenna connector for the onboard RTL8922AE WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 module and a pair of 3.5 mm audio jacks mounted on a separate PCB. There's also a BIOS flashing button around the back.

MSI is thrilled to introduce the upcoming AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, an innovation built on the Zen 5 architecture and featuring AMD's groundbreaking 3D V-Cache technology. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is designed for peak performance with improved IPC and superior power efficiency compared to the previous generation, promising an exhilarating leap in computing power.

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D integrates seamlessly with the AM5 socket ecosystem, providing users access to PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth and high-speed DDR5 memory support. Built on a 4 nm process, this processor establishes a new performance, power efficiency, and responsiveness benchmark, ideal for intensive gaming and content creation. MSI's X870(E) motherboards are fully compatible with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, featuring a robust lineup from MEG X870E GODLIKE to MAG X870 TOMAHAWK WIFI. MSI's X870(E) motherboards and AMD's latest processors unlock peak gaming performance for users.

ASRock, the global leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, and gaming monitors, announced today that its AM5 series motherboards are fully compatible with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, maximizing its impressive gaming performance. This allows PC enthusiasts worldwide to be among the first to experience the exceptional capabilities brought by the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the first model released in the 9000X3D processor series. ASRock AM5 motherboards will continue to receive updates to ensure seamless compatibility with upcoming Ryzen 9000 Series X3D processors, delivering outstanding performance for gaming enthusiasts.

Users can download and install the latest AGESA 1.2.0.2a BIOS from the ASRock website or use the BIOS Flashback and Instant Flash features for an easy upgrade. ASRock recommends updating to the latest BIOS version promptly to ensure optimal system compatibility and performance.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, IPC solutions, and storage devices, today is excited to unveil the brand new Z890AX-E PRO motherboard, designed to run the latest Intel Core Ultra (series 2) processors. Packed with powerful technology and user-friendly features, the Z890AX-E PRO is ready to deliver a superior experience to all users.

Tailor-made for users seeking dependable performance across various tasks, from home entertainment and casual gaming to office productivity, the Z890AX-E PRO brings unparalleled reliability and functionality to personal computing. Built on the Intel Z890 single-chip architecture, the Z890AX-E PRO supports the latest Intel Core Ultra 9/7/5 processors, ensuring efficient and seamless multitasking for home and office users. With support for up to 192 GB of DDR5 memory across 4 DIMM slots and PCIe 5.0 M.2 support, this motherboard delivers exceptional performance for running multiple applications, streaming media, or gaming.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that new ROG Maximus Z890 Apex motherboards have been used to achieve 5 world records, 19 global first-place records and 31 first-place records. In the hands of some of the world's premier professional overclockers, the Maximus Z890 Apex has coaxed dazzling performance out of the latest Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2) lineup and the latest high-performance memory kits.

Veterans of the overclocking scene will not be surprised to learn that these records were achieved with an Apex motherboard on the bench. This series has an undeniable pedigree. Since the very first model, ASUS has designed Apex motherboards for the singular purpose of helping the world's most talented overclockers shatter barriers on their way to new records.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products, announced the upcoming release of Kingston FURY Renegade DDR5 CUDIMMs, compatible with Intel's new 800-series chipset (formerly codenamed Arrow Lake). Intel's 800-series chipset is the first platform to utilize Clock Drivers on CUDIMMs (Clocked Unbuffered Dual Inline Memory Modules). At 6400 MT/s DDR5, JEDEC mandates the inclusion of a Client Clock Driver (CKD) on UDIMMs and SODIMMs. This component buffers and redrives the clock signal from the processor, enhancing signal integrity to the module. To distinguish these advanced modules from standard DDR5 UDIMMs and SODIMMs, JEDEC has designated them as CUDIMMs and CSODIMMs, respectively.

Kingston FURY Renegade RGB and non-RGB CUDIMM modules start at an overclocked speed of 8400 MT/s and are available as 24 GB single modules and 48 GB dual channel kits. Since CUDIMMs and UDIMMs share the same 288-pin connector, Kingston FURY UDIMMs with XMP and EXPO profiles are also compatible with Intel 800-series motherboards. However, it's recommended to verify compatibility through the motherboard manufacturer's QVL (Qualified Vendor List) or by checking the Kingston Configurator for supported speeds and capacities.

Gigabyte, the world's leading computer brand, proudly announces that the AORUS Z890 series motherboards are now officially available for purchase. Designed to maximize the performance of the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, the groundbreaking D5 Bionic Corsa technology was introduced along with advanced thermal management and optimized power design on these boards. GIGABYTE's continuous partnership with HWiNFO further enhances the boards with real-time monitoring of CPU vCore power phase outputs and efficiency. With these powerful boards now on sale, users can enjoy unmatched performance and seamless customization, making them the ideal platform for enthusiasts and professionals.

D5 Bionic Corsa is the core technology for AORUS Z890 series motherboards, which leverages AI-enhanced innovations across software, hardware, and firmware to boost DDR5 memory speeds to an unprecedented 9500+ MT/s. The AI SNATCH Engine, powered by advanced AI overclocking models, optimizes configurations for DDR5 XMP memory and CPUs, enabling up to 20% faster speeds. With XMP AI BOOST and CPU AI BOOST, users can achieve world-class overclocking performance with just one click. The AI-driven PCB Design enhances signal integrity by reducing reflection by 28.2%, while HyperTune BIOS fine-tunes the Memory Reference Code (MRC) for peak performance. The VRM Thermal Balance mechanism ensures heat dissipation across the VRM with a heatpipe design, while optimized PWM firmware balances current output for superior stability.

Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, proudly announces the remarkable overclocking achievement by Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE motherboard with the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processor. Featuring Vcolor CUDIMM 24 GB x 2 modules, esteemed overclocker HiCookie has once again pushed the limits and set an astonishing record of DDR5-10600. This achievement reinforces GIGABYTE's commitment to providing cutting-edge technology for overclocking enthusiasts.

The Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE is a motherboard designed exclusively for overclocking enthusiasts, offering exceptional capabilities with its advanced all-digital power design. Equipped with overclocking toolkit, convenient shortcut keys, toggle switches, and voltage detection functions, Z890 AORUS TACHYON ICE empowers overclockers to push beyond their boundaries effortlessly. Featuring the latest D5 Bionic Corsa, an AI-enhanced overclocking technology that seamlessly integrates software, hardware, and firmware, overclockers can now leverage AI technology to unlock groundbreaking DDR5 speeds with ease.
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GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, is proud to announce the launch of X3D Turbo Mode, a revolutionary BIOS feature designed to maximize gaming performance on X870E, X870, and 600 series motherboards with AMD Ryzen 7000 X3D and Ryzen 9000 series processors.⁠

GIGABYTE X3D Turbo Mode is a cutting-edge BIOS feature that pushes the boundaries of gaming performance. Empirical testing demonstrates that this innovative BIOS feature delivers tangible benefits to gamers, with performance increases of up to 35% for incoming Ryzen 9000 X3D processors and an astounding 20% for Ryzen 9000 non-X3D processors. Moreover, X3D Turbo Mode's unique optimization parameters allow even Ryzen 9000 non-X3D processors to achieve similar gaming performance levels as their Ryzen X3D counterparts. Experience smoother gameplay, higher frame rates, and reduced latency by GIGABYTE's BIOS wizardry-X3D Turbo Mode.

MSI, a leading global provider of high-performance server solutions, is excited to showcase its comprehensive lineup of motherboards and servers based on the OCP Modular Hardware System (DC-MHS) architecture at the OCP Global Summit from October 15-17 at booth A6. These cutting-edge solutions represent a breakthrough in server designs, enabling flexible deployments for cloud and high-density data centers. Featured innovations include CXL memory expansion servers and AI-optimized servers, demonstrating MSI's leadership in pushing the boundaries of AI performance and computing power.

DC-MHS Series Motherboards and Servers: Enabling Flexible Deployment in Data Centers
"The rapidly evolving IT landscape requires cloud service providers, large-scale data center operators, and enterprises to handle expanding workloads and future growth with more flexible and powerful infrastructure. MSI's new rage of DC-MHS-based solutions provides the needed flexibility and efficiency for modern data center environments," said Danny Hsu, General Manager of Enterprise Platform Solutions.

ASUS today unveiled a lineup of Z890 motherboards from the ROG Maximus, ROG Strix, TUF Gaming, Prime and ProArt families, supporting Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2). ASUS is marking the occasion with all-new motherboard features that accelerate performance and streamline the build process. ASUS AI Advisor is a new natural-language build assistant powered by AI. AEMP III, NitroPath DRAM Technology and DIMM Fit unleash DDR5 memory kits. NPU Boost provides overclocking of the integrated NPU in an Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) CPU for accelerated AI performancei. ROG M.2 PowerBoost provides more M.2 slots on a motherboard than ever before. On top of all that, there is Thunderbolt 5, WiFi 7 and new PC DIY features to discuss.

Primed to perform with Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) in a new socket
Intel Core Ultra processors (Series 2) use the new LGA 1851 socket. Users of these processors will need an Intel 800 series motherboard to use one, and a Z890 motherboard specifically to take advantage of CPU overclocking. These options feature up to 24 cores in a new disaggregated architecture. Performance-cores, aka P-cores, take center stage with their high clock rates, while a cluster of Efficient-cores, aka E-cores, provide high-end multithreaded performance.

MAXSUN has officially launched 12 new Z890 series motherboards, designed to support Intel's next-generation Core processors. These motherboards, crafted with cutting-edge technology, deliver exceptional performance for gaming, content creation, and high-end computing tasks. As a key Intel partner, MAXSUN has developed this line with the Z890 chipset, covering four main series: iCraft, Terminator, eSport, and Challenger, providing users with a diverse selection tailored to their needs.

The Z890 series offers a variety of form factors to accommodate different user preferences. Whether you're a hardcore gamer seeking top performance, a fan of clean white builds, or someone looking to build a compact mini PC, MAXSUN's Z890 motherboards deliver powerful solutions with both aesthetic appeal and technical prowess to meet various demands.

MSI, a leading brand in gaming hardware, is thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration with SEGA, a prominent Japanese game publisher, to bring gamers on an epic journey through the expansive world of Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Embark on an epic journey in Metaphor: ReFantazio with MSI's Cutting-Edge Motherboards
From 2024 October 11th to November 11th, MSI is offering a special promotion: purchase an X870(E) motherboard and receive a Metaphor: ReFantazio Standard Edition PC digital game key for free.

LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, has introduced the latest model to its O11 series of PC cases with the O11 Vision Compact. Developed in collaboration with PC Master Race (PCMR), the O11 Vision Compact is a refinement of the previous O11 Vision. It maintains the 3-sided tempered glass showcase style while adding a top mesh panel and bracket for top cooling options. With a fixed motherboard tray and a more compact design, the O11 Vision Compact can support back-connect ATX motherboards. It features a large grommet passthrough for AIO radiators to connect to a side-mounted radiator in the second chamber. The O11 Vision Compact even integrates a rear passthrough for an internal IPS display, which can be easily mounted above the motherboard. The O11 Vision Compact is available in black and white at an MSRP of $119.99.

Two Configurations
The O11 Vision Compact now includes a top mesh option for excellent airflow in addition to the top glass configuration. The top glass mode provides a completely unobstructed view of the system with top, front, and left-side tempered glass panels. The magnetic mounting key in the top left corner performs double duty, securing the mesh configuration top bracket to the front glass, and with top glass, holding the three glass panels together with 35 kg of supporting force.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Lian Li O11 Vision Compact is now live]

MiTAC Computing Technology Corporation, an industry-leading server platform design manufacturer and a subsidiary of MiTAC Holdings Corporation (TSE:3706), today announced the launch of its new high-performance servers, featuring the latest AMD EPYC 9005 Series CPUs and AMD Instinct MI325X accelerators.

"AMD is the trusted data center solutions provider of choice for leading enterprises worldwide, whether they are enabling corporate AI initiatives, building large-scale cloud deployments, or hosting critical business applications on-premises," said Ravi Kuppuswamy, senior vice president, Server Business Unit, AMD. "Our latest 5th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs provide the performance, flexibility and reliability - with compatibility across the x86 data center ecosystem - to deliver tailored solutions that meet the diverse demands of the modern data center."

MSI, a leading global provider of high-performance server solutions, today introduced its latest AMD EPYC 9005 Series CPU-based server boards and platforms, engineered to tackle the most demanding data center workloads with leadership performance and efficiency.

Featuring AMD EPYC 9005 Series processors with up to 192 cores and 384 threads, MSI's new server platforms deliver breakthrough compute power, unparalleled density, and exceptional energy efficiency, making them ideal for handling AI-enabled, cloud-native, and business-critical workloads in modern data centers.

NZXT, a leader in PC gaming components, gear, and prebuilt gaming systems, is thrilled to announce the launch of the N9 Z890 and the N7 Z890 Intel ATX motherboards. Offering two new motherboards that are optimized to support the latest Intel Core Ultra desktop processors, each providing a robust feature set suited to give gamers the performance they desire while also sleekly fitting into any PC build.

The N9 Z890 is designed for enthusiast PC gamers looking to build a high-end Intel -based gaming PC and push its performance to the limit. It enables gamers to unlock their peak performance by providing the thermal headroom and tools needed to reliably achieve higher overclocks for the new Intel Core Ultra desktop processors and memory. Meanwhile, the N7 Z890 refreshes NZXT's existing N7 lineup with a well-balanced ATX motherboard, offering the power and stability required to run any Intel Core Ultra desktop processor, making it an ideal choice for most PC gamers.

ASRock has unveiled a full lineup of Z890 motherboards, led by the new Taichi series flagship models. This series offers a powerful mix of options for extreme enthusiasts, including the ASRock Z890 Taichi AQUA, Taichi OCF, Taichi, and Taichi Lite. Other ASRock Z890 motherboards include the gaming-focused Phantom Gaming series, featuring the Nova, Riptide, and Lightning models, as well as the popular Steel Legend, LiveMixer, and Pro series for mainstream users. The new Z890 motherboards support the latest Intel Core Ultra 200 series processors, offering more high-speed expansion such as PCI-Express 5.0 support for a graphics card, as well as M.2 SSD, and more importantly up to two Thunderbolt 4 ports for all Z890 motherboards.

The New Era of Taichi
The white-styled ASRock Z890 Taichi AQUA introduces a unique hybrid thermal design developed in collaboration with Alphacool, which combines air and water cooling for the VRM and M.2 block. The Z890 Taichi AQUA also features the first detachable M.2 water block for Gen-5 SSDs, simplifying and streamlining installation.

MSI proudly introduces the next generation of motherboards, designed to pair seamlessly with Intel brand-new Core Ultra Processors. The Z890 MEG Series, MPG Series, MAG Series, and PRO Series motherboards are designed to harness the power of Intel's latest technology, delivering enhanced AI computing efficiency compared to previous generations. These boards provide exceptional performance with advanced features, MSI innovations, premium components, and improved connectivity. But what truly sets them apart is their user-friendly DIY solutions, empowering you to take control of your computing experience. Built with gamers, creators, and all users in mind, MSI's Z890 motherboards offer the very best in computing power. On launch, there will be 5 models available, which are the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K / 265KF, and Intel Core Ultra 5 245K / 245KF processors.

With the introduction of MSI's Z890 motherboards, designed to push performance boundaries and with a completely redesigned, more intuitive BIOS, users can now maximize motherboard performance with ease. Powered by MSI's Ultra Engine, memory design optimization enables overclocking up to 9200+ MT/s across the entire Z890 motherboard lineup. And with the returning of the MEG Z890 UNIFY-X, built with overclocking in mind, takes memory frequencies even higher, reaching up to 9600 MT/s. The Z890 motherboards incorporate a number of powerful features like AI Boost with the ability to overclock the NPU further for AI enhancement capabilities, Game Boost, Performance Preset, enhanced XMP Memory Profiles, and Memory Try It!, allowing users to elevate their system's performance to new heights.

GIGABYTE Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced the launch of its revolutionary Z890 motherboards. These next-generation motherboards are set to redefine the standards in performance, AI integration, and user experience for enthusiasts and professionals alike. Powered by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, these motherboards push the boundaries of what's possible in computing.⁠

Infinite Memory Performance
GIGABYTE Z890 lineup equips the D5 Bionic Corsa technology to create phenomenal new peaks in memory performance to DDR5 XMP 9500 and above. A true marvel of AI-enhanced overclocking technology for DDR5 memory, D5 Bionic Corsa boasts four key technologies from software, hardware to firmware side. The AORUS AI SNATCH and AI SNATCH Engine present AI-overclocking for ultimate performance, while AI-Driven PCB Design and HyperTune BIOS deliver AI-design for signal enhancement on motherboards. The AORUS AI SNATCH is an auto-overclocking software by AI model, and enables users to unleash utmost performance with one-click activation. The AI SNATCH Engine is the AI model served as the core of AORUS AI SNATCH software, trained by AI TOP on diverse overclocking datasets to improve precision and optimize performance with stability. The AI-Driven PCB Technology employs AI algorithms to optimize vias, routing and stackups, while the Hypertune BIOS uses AI to optimize MRC and adapt to signals for peak efficiency, significant memory clock boost, and enhanced overall performance.

ASRock has a pretty comprehensive lineup of upcoming Socket LGA1851 motherboards based on the top Intel Z890 chipset, which the company will launch alongside the new Intel Core Ultra 2-series "Arrow Lake-S" desktop processors later this month. The company's Z890 lineup has been leaked to the web by VideoCardz. The lineup covers nearly every brand extension by ASRock, addressing a wide category of PC users, from the entry level that just wants an office desktop to harness the CPU power of the new processors, to the two distinct classes of the enthusiast segment—one which overclocks, and the other that needs every possible premium I/O from this platform, with the bulk of the lineup targeting gaming PC builders across price-segments.

At the very top are ASRock Z890 Taichi OCF and the ASRock Z890 Taichi. The Taichi OCF is the spiritual successor to the OC Formula series by ASRock targeting professional overclockers. It has the strongest possible CPU VRM solution from the company, the largest selection of overclocker-friendly features, and a 1 DIMM per channel (1DPC) memory configuration, for the highest possible memory overclocks. The Taichi OCF has most if not all of the I/O goodies ASRock has to offer. For this, you'll have to seek out the regular ASRock Z890 Taichi, with its four DDR5 memory slots, nearly the same overclocking feature-set as the Taichi OCF, but some added toys, such as Thunderbolt 4. The Z890 Taichi Lite is an interesting product—it has nearly all features that place it into the high-end segment, such as that 8-layer PCB, a strong CPU VRM, and premium onboard audio, among others; but skips on the bulk of the dramatic flair of the Z890 Taichi.

Memory and SSD maker Crucial noticed an uptick in support requests by users claiming that their Gen 5 or Gen 4 NVMe SSDs would drop to PCIe Gen 1 speeds, besides being unable to boot into Windows after a restart. Crucial then did some digging, and localized the issue to users with motherboards based on the AMD X670E chipset, AMD's flagship Socket AM5 platform chipset. While not a function of the chipset itself, it turns out that there is a flaw in the way AMD designed the PCI-Express I/O of the X670E platform, specifically the PCIe Gen 5-capable M.2 NVMe interfaces that are attached to the CPU, causing them to drop in speeds to Gen 1. This problem isn't surfacing on the AMD B650 or the B650E, or even the X670—it is oddly specific to the X670E, despite the Gen 5 M.2 NVMe slots not being wired to the chipset.

While AMD made no public statement on the technical aspect of the flaw, if we were to guess, this could be a faulty implementation of PCIe ASPM (active state power management) at the firmware level, which reduces the speed of the PCIe link layer to reduce power. The default setting for PCIe ASPM in most motherboard UEFI setup programs tends to be "disabled," although there could be a bug in the firmware of X670E motherboards, causing it to engage, and in a buggy manner. Most UEFI BIOS setup programs tend to have two separate sets of PCIe ASPM settings—one for the CPU-attached PCIe root (which includes the x16 PEG and CPU-attached NVMe slots), and the other for downstream PCIe connectivity from the chipset.

AMD today made four key announcements for its Ryzen 9000 series "Granite Ridge" desktop processors based on the "Zen 5" microarchitecture. These mainly aim to improve upon the products as originally launched in August. To begin with, AMD announced a 105 W cTDP (configurable TDP) mode for the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 9600X processors, with full warranty coverage. This setting can be enabled in the UEFI setup program of a motherboard running its latest version of UEFI firmware, which encapsulates the AGESA ComboAM5 PI 1.2.0.2 microcode. The setting raises the PPT (package power tracking) value of the 9700X and 9600X to 140 W, and treats them as if they were 105 W TDP processors. These chips were originally launched by AMD with 65 W (88 W PPT), and as reviewers quickly found out, unlocking power improves performance at stock clock speeds, as it improves boost frequency residence of these chips.

Next up, is the AGESA PI 1.2.0.2 microcode itself, which introduces the 105 W cTDP mode for the 9700X and 9600X along with warranty coverage, which we just talked about; plus works to improve the core-to-core latency on the Ryzen 9 9900X and Ryzen 9 9950X. These are processors with two CPU complex dies (CCDs), each with either 8 or 6 cores enabled. To the software, this is still a single-socket (1P) CPU with 12 or 16 cores. Although some awareness of the dual-CCD architecture is added to the OS scheduler to help it localize certain kinds of workloads (such as games) to a single CCD, reviewers noted that core-to-core latency on the dual-CCD chips was still too high, which should affect performance when a software's threads are migrating between cores, or if a workload is multithreaded, such as media encoding. AMD addressed exactly this with the new AGESA PI 1.2.0.2 update.