Recent reports indicate that AMD's Zen 5 desktop processors are set to receive a significant power boost. The upcoming AGESA 1.2.0.1A Patch A is rumored to raise the default power limits (TDP) from 65 W to 105 W for specific models, including the 8-core Ryzen 7 9700X and the 6-core Ryzen 5 9600X. This news comes as a surprise following the recent reviews of the Ryzen 9000 series, which praised their lower power consumption compared to previous generations. While the 105 W TDP increase is not as high as the initially rumored 120 W for the 9700X, it still represents a substantial increase in power allocation.
The reason behind this significant TDP boost seems to be addressing the lower performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X compared to their predecessors. Initial tests showed that both CPUs performed similarly to earlier models, especially in gaming scenarios, with noticeable improvements only seen when using Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO). Even at 65 W, the Ryzen 7 9700X struggled to outperform the 7800X3D in gaming performance, indicating the need for better power delivery. Users who prioritize efficiency can still choose the default 65 W TDP mode, while those looking for higher performance will have access to the new 105 W TDP mode. The performance benefits of this update are yet to be seen, but with the significant increase in power allocation, expectations are high for noticeable improvements. A 105 W TDP is expected to allow the chips to reach up to 142 W in terms of Package Power Tracking (PPT).
It's important to note that AMD has not officially confirmed these changes, and it remains unclear if they will be included in the final BIOS release. The new TDP update is anticipated to be included in the official, non-beta release of the AGESA 1.2.0.1A Patch A BIOS for all AM5 motherboards.
