Microsoft releases hotfix to increase Bulldozer performance

Chaos · 12-15-2011, 09:46 PM

Currently, the performance of AMD Bulldozer CPUs is slower than expected. This behavior occurs because the threading logic in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2 is not optimized to use the Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) scheduling feature. This feature was introduced in the Bulldozer family of AMD CPUs.

Source: Microsoft

andyg · 12-16-2011, 07:17 AM

Interesting. Thanks Chaos.

It will be very interesting to see some benchmarks in a few days when this Hotfix has been reviewed.

Needless to say it was much needed! Let's hope it's better than just a 2% or 3% overall gain. Bulldozer needs this to work. 25% or more would start to make this chip worth a second look.

mkk · 12-16-2011, 09:09 PM

Microsoft has withdrawn the public download for this update, and early tests show mixed results with very slight benefits but also some performance losses due to it. Maybe it was a bit too hot and needs improvement... For now don't install unless you have a very specific setup where it is known to help.

andyg · 12-17-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkk

Microsoft has withdrawn the public download for this update, and early tests show mixed results with very slight benefits but also some performance losses due to it. Maybe it was a bit too hot and needs improvement... For now don't install unless you have a very specific setup where it is known to help.

Thanks for the info. Mkk. AMD aren't having much luck with the Bulldozer. It's all their own fault though.

I just wish they would get their act together and start giving Intel at least a bit of competition at the top end.

Intel are already showing signs of slowing down. De-activating two of the cores on their latest chips for example. Still it's a six core (12 with hyper threading) but could have been eighty (16). Intel said it was due to heat issues and OEM "issues." Not likely! They just don't need to activate all eight cores, they are well ahead with just the six.

There's probably topics about this on the net, but I read it in PC Format magazine, so no links; sorry.