Summary
Following the release of the Ryzen 8000G series of processors, bothAMDand various motherboard manufacturers released a BIOS update to consumers that should fix a performance issue specific to those APUs.AMDusers with an APU such as Ryzen 5 8600G or Ryzen 7 8700G should update their motherboard BIOS to ensure better performance.
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G and Ryzen 7 8700G are the latest in a line of AMD processors that combine the functions of a CPU and a graphics card into a single chip. AMD has dubbed these processors as accelerated processing units (APU). The Ryzen 8000G series in particular has integrated Radeon 700M graphics as part of its kit. With a starting price of $229, thesebudget-friendly AMD processorswere designed for both laptop users and desktop builders who want to play games without immediately needing a dedicated GPU to do so. However, one feature intended to help with temperature management, called Skin Temperature-Aware Power Management (STAPM), has provided the opposite effect and caused unintentional performance issues for desktop users.
Thankfully, AMD found a fix for this throttling problem. Working with motherboard manufacturers, AMD released a BIOS update that fixes performance issues caused by unintended STAPM behaviors on desktop PCs. Users who want to download and install this BIOS update should refer to their motherboard manufacturer’s website for details, and follow the instructions on how to update the BIOS for their specific device. If the update requires BIOS Flashback to work, users will have to supply a viable USB flash drive as well. At the time of writing, the update is available to users witha compatible AMD motherboardfrom brands such as Asus, Asrock, Gigabyte, and MSI. However, users who do not have a Ryzen 8000G processor are not affected by this particular issue.
AMD Ryzen 8000G Series APUs Performance Issue Fix
While the integrated Radeon 700M graphics of the Ryzen 8000G APUs do not compare toa dedicated AMD Radeon RX GPUoutright, recent driver updates have made them a viable alternative for PC gamers looking to play titles such asFortniteandPalworld.Recent updates have allowed the Radeon 700M to use features from the RX 7000 series such as AMD Fluid Motion Frames, and the integrated graphics have drawn comparisons to Nvidia’s GTX 1650 and 1650 Ti GPUs.
Between the Ryzen 8000G APUs andthe upcoming Kraken Point lineup, AMD is banking heavily on these processors in 2024. Only time will tell how effective the BIOS update for the Ryzen 8000G series will be.
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU is a powerful entry-level gaming APU that combines AMD’s efficient and performant mobile Zen 4 cores with a capable iGPU in the shape of the AMD Radeon 760M.It packs in acceptable gaming performance at a price point that decimates most of its comparable discrete GPU and CPU combinations even as it is one of the first CPUs or APUs that pack AMD’s Ryzen AI tech to support on-chip AI acceleration.
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU
The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G 8-Core, 16-Thread CPU is a powerful APU that delivers modest gaming performance for PCs that do not currently utilize a discrete GPU by using the fastest iGPU solution currently available to end users.It comes bundled with a stock cooler, an octa-core CPU config, and a rated TDP of 65W, making it a great well-priced alternative to many budget CPU and GPU combos on the market currently.The AMD Ryzen 7 8700G also happens to be one of AMD’s first desktop CPUs that offers the AMD Ryzen AI engine built into the chip.
