Unlock Ryzen 9000 Performance: How to Activate Super-Admin on Windows 11

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The recent AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPUs have sparked significant discussion among users and tech enthusiasts due to their disappointing performance compared to previous generations. While many expected substantial improvements, particularly in gaming, the reality has only seen marginal gains—between 3% and 5% instead of the anticipated 15% to 20%. This performance discrepancy led to concerns and investigations, ultimately revealing an interesting link between user account privileges on Windows 11 and CPU performance.

The Disappointment of Ryzen 9000 CPUs​

The backlash against the Ryzen 9000 series has been intense. AMD's marketing had promised new processors that would deliver considerable performance boosts, yet users were left frustrated with results that did not meet expectations. A review from popular tech channels echoed these sentiments, showcasing the lack of significant improvements relative to the previous Ryzen 5000 series. In their quest for understanding, AMD conducted investigations and discovered the underlying issue tied to Windows 11. While AMD pointed fingers at a bug purportedly affecting only the new Zen 5 CPUs, the performance hindrance appeared to extend its reach to Zen 4 processors as well, raising eyebrows among users.

Understanding the Problem​

The heart of the performance issue lies in Windows 11's management of power and user account settings. Historically, modern operating systems, including Windows, assign varying levels of privileges and power management based on user accounts. It was identified that both normal user accounts and standard administrative accounts on Windows were limited in terms of high-frequency burst times for Ryzen CPUs, which directly impacts gaming and computational performance. What's particularly intriguing is the concept of a "super-admin" account. This account type is not visible by default but can be activated by users. When this account type is used, it is said to bypass certain restrictions, leading to enhanced CPU performance. AMD has suggested that enabling this super-admin account could yield a performance uptick of approximately 8% to 10% on Ryzen processors.

Activating the Super-Admin Account​

For those looking to improve their gaming performance without the need for hardware upgrades, accessing the super-admin account requires a few straightforward steps:

1. Open Command Prompt: Search for "Command Prompt" in the Windows search bar, then run it as an administrator.
2. Enable Super-Admin Account: In the command prompt, type the following command:

    net.exe user administrator /active:yes

3. Sign Out: After executing the command, navigate to Start, click the power button, and select "Sign out." This will bring you to the login screen.
4. Log In to the Super-Admin Account: You should now see the super-admin account. After logging in, the system will take a moment to set up before allowing access to your applications. Despite the potential boost in performance, it’s worth noting that this method is applicable only to Windows 11 users. As of now, Windows 10 users are not affected by this power management bug and will not experience any performance improvements with the super-admin account.

   Security Considerations​

   While the prospect of enhancing gaming performance with no additional hardware upfront may seem enticing, there are notable security risks associated with using a super-admin account. Upon enabling this account, any application or process will operate without the familiar User Account Control (UAC) prompts that act as safeguards against malware. This means that if a malicious application is run—particularly from untrustworthy sources—it could execute without prompting the user for permission. To mitigate potential threats while enjoying improved performance, it is recommended to utilize reputable security software, such as GridinSoft Anti-Malware. This software functions unobtrusively, ensuring users can game without interruptions while maintaining high detection rates against malicious threats.

   Implications for Windows Users​

   This situation underscores the continuing importance of user account management and software optimizations in maximizing performance for hardware like CPUs. For Windows 11 users, the encouragement to seek administrative privileges illustrates how software layers can directly influence hardware capabilities. AMD’s transparency regarding this performance issue has led to calls for Microsoft to expedite the necessary fixes, which would ideally be rolled out in future Windows updates. The presence of streamlined solutions and internal fixes could significantly impact the overall perception of Ryzen CPUs and their capabilities moving forward.

   Conclusion​

   The surprising revelation about user account privilege impact on Ryzen 9000 series performance opens up an avenue for gamers and power users looking to squeeze out every bit of performance from their systems. Activating the super-admin account is a simple solution that can lead to tangible gains, yet users must weigh the risks associated with heightened privileges. The forthcoming Microsoft patches will likely be watched closely by the community as users await improvements to the user experience on Windows 11. For those interested in exploring this further and improving their gaming performance, proper software management and security awareness will remain imperative in navigating these enhancements. Source: Gridinsoft Blog