AMD has recognized a stuttering issue on Ryzen PCs caused by its trusted platform module’s firmware (fTPM). A permanent fix, which will be included in a BIOS update, is not scheduled for release until May.
Windows 11 requires a version of TPM 2.0. (although some users have still found a way around this requirement). It is used to generate a cryptographic key that is used to boot your device, so assisting in protecting it from hackers who may attempt to tamper with the sensitive data contained on your computer. While fTPM is incorporated in the firmware of your system, a dTPM, or discrete trusted platform module, is a separate chip installed on your motherboard that performs the same job.
For months, some AMD users have been reporting performance concerns, with one user describing a sudden reduction in frame rate and occasionally “robotic” sounding audio. The business replied to complaints only recently and traced the problem back to “extended fTPM-related memory operations in SPI flash memory (“SPIROM”) installed on the motherboard.” AMD notes that this can result in “temporary pauses in system interactivity or responsiveness” — or, in simple terms, stuttering.
As a temporary remedy, AMD says you’ll have to convert to a hardware-based dTPM, which may not be worth it given the impending update. If your motherboard includes a TPM 2.0 header, a TPM chip will cost between $20 and $60, depending on the manufacturer. AMD advises that before upgrading to a dTPM, users should disable TPM-based encryption technologies such as BitLocker Drive Encryption and make a backup of their system’s data.
If you’re not interested in purchasing and installing a TPM chip, you may simply wait for AMD to release “flashable customer system BIOS files” in early May. AMD states that the timing of the update would vary based on the motherboard type.
