A BIOS update, set to roll out soon, promises to reduce core-to-core latency from over 170 nanoseconds (ns) to an improved range of 60-70 ns. 

The issue, rooted in the complex die design of AMD's Zen 5 architecture, has been a bone of contention for users and reviewers alike. Strix Point APUs with clusters of Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores, have been particularly affected. This latency has hampered multi-threaded performance, impacting processors like the Ryzen AI 9 365, Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and Ryzen AI 9 HX 375. 

Tech commentator @9550pro said: "While the problem was resolved for the desktop Ryzen 9000 processors through a BIOS patch, the high latency on the Strix Point APUs still exists. Thankfully, this is soon going to be history, as ASUS and AMD have managed to sort out this problem.”

The inter-core latency problem stems from communication between Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores. While latency within Zen 5 cores remains low, moving data across clusters saw delays of 160-180 ns, resulting in diminished performance during multi-threaded workloads. 

Anandtech highlighted the issue in its Ryzen 9 9950X and Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 reviews, showcasing how the latency disrupted the otherwise high-performing chips. 

The forthcoming BIOS update represents a major step forward. Early data shared by @9550pro reveals the experimental patch has already halved latency to 60-70 ns—a performance leap that will significantly boost efficiency in demanding applications. 

Though the revised latency remains higher than the intra-cluster figures for Zen 5 cores, the improvement is expected to deliver noticeable benefits. Early adopters of ASUS TUF Gaming Air 2024 laptops have already received BIOS version 312, implementing the fix. 

The fix will roll out to ASUS devices, with broader availability planned across other manufacturers. This development solidifies AMD's commitment to addressing user concerns and optimising their processors for high-performance computing.