MSI Reintroduces Support for AVX-512 on Alder Lake CPUs

For some Intel Z690 motherboards, MSI has released a new firmware update that restores AVX-512 support on 12th Generation Core 'Alder Lake' processors. While the move will help some applications, why would Intel be delighted with MSI re-enabling AVX-512 in their current CPUs?

Microsoft has released firmware for its MEG Z690 Unify-X motherboard (version 7D28vA22 beta) that supports AVX-512 via the BIOS/UEFI microcode selection option. A fully functional AVX-512 segment can pass required benchmarks (e.g., y-cruncher) substantially faster than chips without AVX-512.

Intel announced that its 12th Generation Core 'Alder Lake' processors, including the Core i9-12900K, fully supported AVX-512 instructions. The CPUs do contain the required hardware. Because Alder Lake's (E)fficiency cores lack AVX-512 support, Intel disabled it months before launch to protect overall stability. In order to avoid confusion, Intel created a new default microcode that 'permanently disabled' AVX-512. Except it didn't. 

Many professional and scientific applications require AVX-512 instructions. Gamers and normal users don't need AVX-512, thus disabling all E-cores to acquire it may not make sense. Still, removing AVX-512 from specific use cases doesn't seem to damage Intel — notably on CPUs lacking E-cores, like the Core i5-12400. But Intel's Alder Lake-6C CPUs may be able to allow it again. The P-cores in such low-cost processors are re-enabled, boosting performance in chosen programs without danger. Intel may respond with a tougher way to disable AVX-512, but you should be able to keep it if you don't change your BIOS.