# Gigabyte’s X3D Turbo Mode: A Bold Claim That Disappoints
In the fast-changing realm of PC hardware, companies consistently compete for consumer interest with assurances of revolutionary performance enhancements. Recently, Gigabyte, a prominent motherboard manufacturer, grabbed headlines with a daring assertion: a performance increase of “up to 35 percent” achievable through a straightforward BIOS adjustment. This functionality, referred to as “X3D Turbo Mode,” was promoted as a transformative feature for AMD’s soon-to-be-released Ryzen 9000X3D series processors. However, as additional information surfaced, it appears that this assertion may have been too optimistic.
## The Ryzen 9000X3D Series and Gigabyte’s Turbo Feature
AMD is scheduled to launch its Ryzen 9000X3D series on November 7, with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D being one of the most eagerly awaited models. These processors are anticipated to utilize AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, which has already demonstrated significant performance gains in gaming scenarios. In the lead-up to this launch, Gigabyte announced that its latest motherboards would include a BIOS option called “X3D Turbo Mode,” which could potentially unlock up to 35 percent additional performance with a single adjustment.
This announcement sparked considerable enthusiasm, particularly among gamers and PC enthusiasts. The prospect of such a major performance enhancement without needing intricate overclocking or hardware changes was undeniably attractive. Furthermore, Gigabyte asserted that even non-X3D CPUs could experience up to a 20 percent performance uptick with this feature.
## The Truth: A More Modest Improvement
Yet, as the initial excitement subsided and more details became available, it became evident that Gigabyte’s assertions were somewhat overblown. In a video released by Aorus Japan, the company’s motherboard subsidiary, they shared further insights into the X3D Turbo Mode and its genuine performance enhancements.
### Key Insights from Gigabyte’s Benchmarking:
1. **Tomb Raider (Ryzen 7 9800X3D)**: The highest performance gain reported in Gigabyte’s testing was a modest 5 percent increase in *Tomb Raider*.
2. **Far Cry 6 (Ryzen 9950X)**: The Ryzen 9950X approached the claimed performance improvement, showing an 18 percent rise in *Far Cry 6*.
3. **Resolution**: Both tests were performed at Full HD (1080p) resolution, which is typically employed to showcase CPU performance in gaming.
While these results are certainly appreciated, they significantly fall short of the “up to 35 percent” increase that Gigabyte initially advertised. The use of “up to” in promotional communications is commonplace, yet in this instance, it appears that the potential for such an exceptional enhancement is confined to very particular circumstances, if it exists at all.
## The Fine Print: Requirements and Restrictions
Gigabyte’s X3D Turbo Mode is not a universal capability that will function across all systems. According to the company’s video, this feature is exclusive to Ryzen 9000 and AM5 CPUs equipped with 3D V-Cache. Consequently, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D may also gain from the turbo mode, it is primarily tailored for the premium Ryzen 9000X3D series.
Moreover, the turbo mode necessitates a Gigabyte motherboard with the latest BIOS update. Thus, users with motherboards from other brands, such as Asus, MSI, or Asrock, will be unable to utilize this feature—at least not in its current form. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that comparable “turbo modes” are expected to be offered by other motherboard manufacturers as part of the AGESA ComboAM5PI 1.2.0.2 update, albeit without the same exaggerated marketing claims.
## How Does X3D Turbo Mode Operate?
The precise workings of Gigabyte’s X3D Turbo Mode have stirred interest within the hardware community. In the Hardware Luxx forum, a user named “Iceman021” managed to evaluate a similar feature on an Asus ROG Crosshair X670E motherboard with a beta BIOS version. The results illuminated how this turbo mode functions:
1. **SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) Disabled**: When X3D Turbo Mode is activated, SMT is deactivated. This means that instead of 16 threads, an 8-core CPU will only have 8 threads available. While this may decrease latency in certain scenarios, it could also adversely affect performance in CPU-heavy tasks that take advantage of multithreading.
2. **Latency and CCD Optimization**: The turbo mode automatically fine-tunes latencies and Core Complex Dies (CCDs). For CPUs with two CCDs, one of the CCDs is deactivated. This is especially pertinent for AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, which relies on efficient CCD utilization.