AMD has released an update for its Ryzen processors. The update primarily addresses critical vulnerabilities and improves stability. You should definitely install the update. In particular, security is significantly enhanced.
Manufacturers regularly provide updates for their hardware. This time, AMD has introduced an update for its Ryzen processors.
What is this update about? The update is primarily designed to eliminate risks associated with the proprietary security technology (PSP) and is intended to improve performance. Additionally, another processor driver is receiving a few updates.
We from MeinMMO explain why you should install the update and what you need to keep in mind in this article.
Update from 30.8.2021: We have corrected a misleading passage and added further information.
The update addresses critical vulnerabilities and may improve performance
What’s included in the update: Fundamentally, it must be said that the official release notes (changelog) from AMD are not very extensive. However, AMD explains that it is primarily about critical security patches for the proprietary technology “Platform Security Processor” (PSP).
This technology is integrated into AMD processors. It is responsible for various security mechanisms built into your processor. It involves a small microcontroller from the manufacturer ARM, which is embedded in AMD processors and executes the PSP firmware.
AMD had mentioned several security vulnerabilities on its own website, but it is not clear which vulnerabilities AMD has specifically addressed now (via amd.com). Furthermore, not much is known about PSP, and AMD does not want to reveal many details (via extremetech.com).
Additionally, several fixes for AMD MicroPEP drivers are also included. This part is responsible for managing transitions between power states (sleep and active mode, overclocking) and clock speeds (via pcgamer.com). The operating system and CPU can optimize energy consumption through different P-states (performance states). Depending on the needs, a CPU is operated at different frequencies. This ensures optimization of energy requirements.
It could be that performance improves somewhat and your processor comes back into action faster. However, this is just speculation and has not yet been confirmed.
Therefore, we recommend that you install the update. The critical security patches alone are an important reason why you should definitely install the update.
Ryzen update is available for all common motherboards and processors
Who is this update for? The update applies to all chipsets that currently support Ryzen processors. This includes, for example, X570, B550, A520, X399, X470, B450, X370, B350, and A320.
Where can I download the update? You can download the update directly from AMD (via amd.com). To do this, go to the website and scroll down, where you can select the software.
Here, first choose the chipset in the drop-down menu and then the socket of your processor. All Ryzen processors use AM4. In a third step, you then select the chipset your motherboard has. Be sure to choose the correct chipset.
Which motherboard do I have? If you want to find out which motherboard you have installed, search in the Windows 10 search for “System Information”. This will display all information about your computer. Under the point “BaseBoard-Product” you will then find the information regarding the chipset.
Afterward, you can install the software. AMD itself recommends that you uninstall the old software beforehand if your existing version is completely outdated. You will also need administrator rights to install the software.
In the processor market, AMD has gained influence. Success is also strongly connected to the Ryzen processors. This is evidenced, for example, by the bestsellers on Amazon, where AMD, for instance, led over its competitor Intel in the first quarter of 2021:
AMD dominates Intel with its processors on Amazon – despite discounts
