Latest AMD AGESA Firmware Inadvertently Disables Cores On Some Ryzen 5 7600X CPUs

Ryzen 7000
Ryzen 7000 (Image credit: AMD)

It looks like AMD's latest AGESA ComboAM5PI 1.0.0.4 firmware has done more harm than good. As tipped by hardware leaker chi11eddog, the firmware reportedly disables some cores on the Ryzen 5 7600X, prompting various motherboard vendors to pull the update from their websites.

The flawed firmware doesn't affect all Ryzen 5 7600X, one of the best CPUs. It only impacts the samples that leverage a dual-CCD design. Given the Ryzen 5 7600X's hexa-core, 12-thread configuration, a single CCD is more than sufficient. However, some Ryzen 5 7600X processors arrive with two CCDs under the hood. Obviously, AMD fused off the additional CCD, so you can't just magically unlock more cores.

Chipmakers such as AMD, Intel, or Nvidia aim to maximize silicon production and habitually recycle dies that don't meet the requirements for specific models into their lower-tier products. That's how dual CCDs found their way into the Ryzen 5 7600X. In retrospect, AMD utilized the same strategy for previous Ryzen 7 5800X and Ryzen 5 5600X processors.

It would seem that the AGESA ComboAM5PI 1.0.0.4 firmware has difficulties distinguishing the single-CCD Ryzen 5 7600X samples from the dual-CCD ones. It's plausible that it doesn't correctly recognize the CCD and, as a result, disables one of the processor's cores. According to the chi11eddog, the firmware locks down Core0.

MSI and ASRock have removed the firmware from their X670 and B650 motherboard product pages. On the other hand, Gigabyte still has the firmware up for download on some of the brand's 600-series motherboard support pages, but you should avoid it at all costs.

If you recently upgraded your motherboard's firmware and have noticed an evident performance loss on your Ryzen 5 7600X, you should roll back to the previous firmware. A fix is reportedly on the way, and the new firmware should arrive in the next couple of weeks.

Zhiye Liu
News Editor and Memory Reviewer

Zhiye Liu is a news editor and memory reviewer at Tom’s Hardware. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • helper800
    D'oh!
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    You would think they've tested all known CPU configs for AM5 so far, as there aren't many.

    Come on, AMD. Do better.

    Regards.
    Reply
  • Boffins Bork Cores

    much better title

    ah I miss the old British tech sites
    Reply
  • TechieTwo
    Asrock only had the AGESA 1.0.0.4 up as a Beta BIOS so it's no surprise it is still being evaluated before it becomes a permanent validated BIOS update. It's understood that a Beta BIOS may have issues.
    Reply
  • ClowReed
    And Asus...? It was a surprise for me that some 7600X come with dual CCD. Interesting.
    Reply
  • jkflipflop98
    ClowReed said:
    And Asus...? It was a surprise for me that some 7600X come with dual CCD. Interesting.

    yes, that doesn't really make much sense.
    Reply
  • Coffee Fueled Curmudgeon
    AMD were previously rumoured to be using a defective Ryzen 9 chipsets where only a single core was operable and classifying them as Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 parts. Were quite a few articles at the time after Der Bauer came across one. Reducing waste etc etc
    Reply
  • RodroX
    lol... how many people went out for vacation on AMD at the same time?
    ... or Is someone on AMD using chatGPT to finish work faster and go get some snacks?
    Reply
  • Thekobk
    The latest bios version also makes the 5950 unstable with any undervolting, matter of fact I had to increase all cores by 10 in curve optimizer.
    Reply
  • TR909
    No matter the reason, it is unacceptable for such a big company to have so poor QA.
    Reply