AMD Resolves STAPM Throttling, Prompts Reevaluation of Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G

Last month, we took a deep dive into AMD’s latest Ryzen 8000G APUs, specifically the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G. However, during our review process, we encountered an issue that caused these APUs to throttle after a short period of time. This presented a couple of problems for us. Firstly, it compromised the accuracy of our performance data, making it difficult to assess the true capabilities of these processors. Secondly, it shed light on an oversight by AMD when they carried over the STAPM feature from their mobile series of Pheonix chips (Ryzen 7040) to the desktop platform.

In response to this issue, we have updated our review of the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G to reflect the performance with STAPM enabled on the initial firmware, as well as with STAPM disabled using the latest firmware. You can find our comprehensive and updated review by following the link below:

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G Review: Zen 4 APUs with RDNA3 Graphics

As we discussed in our previous article on Ryzen 8000G APU STAPM Throttling, AMD, in collaboration with AM5 motherboard vendors like ASUS, has released updated firmware that eliminates the STAPM limitation. To provide a quick recap, Skin Temperature-Aware Power Management (STAPM) is a feature introduced by AMD back in 2014 for their mobile processors. It aims to manage power consumption based on the internal temperatures of the processor and the laptop’s surface temperature.

The purpose of STAPM is to prevent Laptops from becoming uncomfortably warm for users by dynamically adjusting power generation based on thermal conditions. However, in the case of Ryzen 8000G APUs like the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G, which are designed for desktop use, the STAPM feature becomes irrelevant as desktop platforms are not typically placed on a user’s lap.

During our testing of the Ryzen 7 8700G with the initial firmware, we observed power throttling (STAPM) after approximately 3 minutes of running a gaming load. This resulted in a drop in sustained power from around 83-84 W to about 65 W, representing a significant decrease of around 22%. While Zen 4 architecture is known for its efficiency at lower power levels, hitting this limit inevitably leads to a decline in overall performance. It appears that AMD overlooked the need to disable STAPM when transitioning the Pheonix chips to the AM5 desktop platform.

However, after retesting the same game (F1 2023) at the same settings (720p High) with the latest firmware that removes STAPM limitations, we observed no power throttling issues. Power was sustained for over 10 minutes of testing, indicating that the performance remains consistent with what the Ryzen 7 8700G should have delivered at launch.

The question arises: how does the removal of STAPM affect our initial results? To address this, we have added the new data to our review while retaining the initial results. This allows users to compare the performance and identify any differences. While benchmark runs are limited by their duration, real-world scenarios involving tasks like video rendering and sustained loads are more likely to showcase performance gains. After all, a 22% drop in power over an hour-long task is significant.

Using Blender 3.6 as one of our longer benchmarks, we observed a performance increase of approximately 7.5% on the Ryzen 7 8700G after removing STAPM limitations. The Ryzen 5 8600G APU also saw a boost of around 4% in the same benchmark. Across all the rendering tests in our CPU performance suite, performance gains ranged from 2% to 4.4% on the Ryzen 5 8600G and 5% to 7.5% on the Ryzen 7 8700G. It’s important to note that these gains are not “free” performance but rather the performance that should have been available from the start.

When examining how STAPM affected our initial data, we found that the difference in World of Tanks at 768p Minimum settings was marginal at best, with a slight impact of around 1% due to STAPM. Given the CPU-intensive nature of World of Tanks, combined with integrated graphics, both the AMD Ryzen APUs (5000G and 8000G) outshine Intel’s integrated UHD graphics in gaming. While gaming benchmarks are typically time-limited, it’s difficult to pinpoint precise performance gains. However, the key takeaway here is that with STAPM limitations removed, performance should remain consistent over sustained periods, ensuring that our figures and updated review data are reliable.

In terms of

Background Information

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About AMD: AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

  

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About ASUS: ASUS, founded in 1989 by Ted Hsu, M.T. Liao, Wayne Hsieh, and T.H. Tung, has become a multinational tech giant known for its diverse hardware products. Spanning laptops, motherboards, graphics cards, and more, ASUS has gained recognition for its innovation and commitment to high-performance computing solutions. The company has a significant presence in gaming technology, producing popular products that cater to enthusiasts and professionals alike. With a focus on delivering and reliable technology, ASUS maintains its position as a important player in the industry.

  

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About Intel: Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

Technology Explained

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AM5: Socket AM5 (LGA 1718) is a zero insertion force flip-chip land grid array (LGA) CPU socket designed by Advanced Micro Devices, that is used for AMD Ryzen microprocessors starting with the Zen 4 microarchitecture. AM5 replaces the Socket AM4 and is AMD's first LGA socket designed for mainstream, non-enthusiast CPUs.

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APU: An APU, or Accelerated Processing Unit, is a type of processor that combines a CPU and a GPU on a single chip. This type of processor is becoming increasingly popular in the computer industry due to its ability to provide both computing and graphics processing power in a single package. APUs are used in a variety of applications, from gaming PCs to high-end workstations. They are also used in embedded systems, such as those found in smartphones and tablets. The combination of CPU and GPU on a single chip allows for more efficient power consumption and better performance than traditional CPUs. Additionally, APUs are often used in conjunction with other components, such as RAM and storage, to create powerful and efficient systems.

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CPU: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations. It is the most important component of a computer system, as it is responsible for controlling all other components. CPUs are used in a wide range of applications, from desktop computers to mobile devices, gaming consoles, and even supercomputers. CPUs are used to process data, execute instructions, and control the flow of information within a computer system. They are also used to control the input and output of data, as well as to store and retrieve data from memory. CPUs are essential for the functioning of any computer system, and their applications in the computer industry are vast.

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UHD: Ultra High Definition (UHD) is a technology that revolutionizes the quality of digital display with resolutions much higher than standard HD. UHD offers sharper images and higher resolutions in order to provide the user with better clarity and detail. UHD is widely used in gaming, media streaming, and HDTVs, as it offers superior viewing experience. In the computer industry, UHD is used to create high-end visuals for gaming, video conferencing, and streaming of 4K content. UHD also enables users to extend their desktop workspace and multitask better with multiple screens. With UHD, computer users can also enjoy an improved multimedia experience that provides more depth and vivid colors. UHD gives users more options for connecting their monitors and TV displays to their computers for enhanced gaming and streaming experience.