Largest BIOS upgrade ever? The 7800X-3D brings a huge performance jump.
Largest BIOS upgrade ever? The 7800X-3D brings a huge performance jump.
Gaming benchmarks show that the AMD AGESA 1.2.0.2b update slightly improves performance on Ryzen processors. After checking my BIOS since early 2024, I found the latest version installed on my Mobo (MSI B650 Tomahawk). The upgrade appeared to work, so I applied it and adjusted my overclocking parameters. Notably, SMT is now turned off by default. This change seems to have boosted performance significantly. Previously, reaching 5.25 GHz all-core was difficult even without SMT disabled, but with the update, I achieved that speed while keeping power consumption low at 65 watts and temperatures around 62-63°C on air cooling (using DeepCool Assassin-IV with Kryonaut). Turning SMT back up increased frequencies but also raised temperatures slightly. Before this update, I struggled to hit 80°C max temperature. My original overclock settings were straightforward, focusing on stability and safe voltage limits. The new BIOS introduced several tweaks: PBO remains active with tighter limits, a quick all-core curve optimizer reduced max frequencies by 25%, and X3D Gaming Boost added noticeable gains in FPS and cooler temps. Previously, my CineBench score was around 1040; after the changes, I scored 1127. I haven’t yet tried advanced overclocking, but the results are impressive. My RAM might be limiting performance since it’s a 6000 MHz module that struggles beyond that threshold, and the FCH tuning interferes with its operation. So far, this quick adjustment has survived two hours of stress testing, suggesting stability. If you don’t have an AMD BIOS with AGESA 1.2.0.2b, consider updating if your manufacturer offers it.
The board supports SMT out of the box, as indicated by the X3D Gaming Boost feature. The BCLK control has been available in the BIOS since at least version 1J0, and the maximum clock speed for the X3D CPU is 5250 MHz.
I was previously restricted to a maximum of 5050MHz on a single core. The cap was raised after I updated the BIOS in February 2024. Before that, tuning for FCH base clock wasn’t possible, and my single-core limit stayed fixed at 5050MHz regardless of overclocking settings. With the earlier BIOS, I was limited to all-core frequencies only, and there was a strict restriction on single-core performance—possibly to safeguard the 3D V-Cache. Now it appears the limits were lifted, with some sources citing an increase to 5250MHz, especially when SMT is disabled. Version 1J0 seems to reflect optimizations for the new Ryzen 9000 processors.
I’ve managed to raise my X3D CCD performance to 5250 since owning the board. It seems they adjusted some auto-parameters and possibly altered the voltage, which likely caused the higher average clock speed you’re seeing. 1J0 was a while back, around AGESA 1.2.0.0.
A recording from 2023 featuring the FCH Base clock configuration.
Funny thing about sharing the link—it was probably just a joke, right? Still, I’d definitely check out 1.2.0.2b if you haven’t tried it yet. It’s cool that I hit the default single-core ceiling before; now I’m a bit puzzled but at least things are improving.
The piece highlights problems with Ryzen 9000 and 1.2.0.2a causing memory latency. 1.2.0.2b seems to have minimal impact for Ryzen 7000 users; the Tomahawk-specific BIOS version appears to be the most stable (also adds curve shaper and improved memory overclocking). I've observed fewer issues compared to earlier versions. Despite this, my BIOS is now freezing again.
It's definitely helping me more than my BIOS from February 2024. I noticed the curve shaper and I'm interested in how it functions or what advantages it offers over the standard curve optimizer. My BIOS tends to freeze for about a second each time I make changes, save, or load a profile—probably just normal behavior during data saving.
You seem to be confusing ECLK and BCLK. The base clock is likely BCLK, as your board probably has it available without needing an external clock generator. Most boards, including the B650M HDV, include BCLK which is standard. If you're seeing issues, check the voltage levels and consider adjusting the clock offset to see if performance improves. Also, ensure your CPU and other components are compatible with the voltage you're using. SSD compatibility can vary based on these factors too. Keep an eye on stability and temperature, as high voltages can cause problems. Backup data is always a good idea, especially with unstable clocking. If you're unsure about specific settings, testing with lower voltages might help.