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[Leonidas]

Intel addresses 13th/14th Gen Core instability: elevated voltage to blame, microcode update incoming - VideoCardz.com

Intel claims that instability is caused by elevated voltage, new microcode update incoming Finally, a statement on the ongoing saga. Game developers, system integrators, server providers, tech reviewers, and gamers were all waiting for Intel to provide a statement on the 13th/14th Gen Core...

videocardz.com

Based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors returned to us due to instability issues, we have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors. Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor.

Intel is delivering a microcode patch which addresses the root cause of exposure to elevated voltages. We are continuing validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed. Intel is currently targeting mid-August for patch release to partners following full validation.

Intel is committed to making this right with our customers, and we continue asking any customers currently experiencing instability issues on their Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.

Good to see Intel come out with this statement, and taking care of its affected customers.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

so it's nothing physically wrong, then?.

The so called "gaming yisus" (I haven't watching play anything tho) was going to do some independent analysis I think.

 

[simpatico]

so it's nothing physically wrong, then?.

The so called "gaming yisus" (I haven't watching play anything tho) was going to do some independent analysis I think.

Sounds like something is physically wrong if they want the chips to run at the advertised clocks.

 

[Leonidas]

so it's nothing physically wrong, then?.

The so called "gaming yisus" (I haven't watching play anything tho) was going to do some independent analysis I think.

Seems a small number may have been affected by the oxidation issue.

Intel: We can confirm that the via Oxidation manufacturing issue affected some early Intel Core 13th Gen desktop processors. However, the issue was root caused and addressed with manufacturing improvements and screens in 2023. We have also looked at it from the instability reports on Intel Core 13th Gen desktop processors and the analysis to-date has determined that only a small number of instability reports can be connected to the manufacturing issue.

For the Instability issue, we are delivering a microcode patch which addresses exposure to elevated voltages which is a key element of the Instability issue. We are currently validating the microcode patch to ensure the instability issues for 13th/14th Gen are addressed.

 

[Dorfdad]

so it's nothing physically wrong, then?.

The so called "gaming yisus" (I haven't watching play anything tho) was going to do some independent analysis I think.

or there is a problem and they are just going to under clock / voltage it to prevent it from happening.

 

[Setsuna Mudou]

Intel addresses 13th/14th Gen Core instability: elevated voltage to blame, microcode update incoming - VideoCardz.com

Intel claims that instability is caused by elevated voltage, new microcode update incoming Finally, a statement on the ongoing saga. Game developers, system integrators, server providers, tech reviewers, and gamers were all waiting for Intel to provide a statement on the 13th/14th Gen Core...

videocardz.com

Good to see Intel come out with this statement, and taking care of its affected customers.

Yeah... taking care... by cutting performance when they had those things frying for months after release to try and pull any kind of 0.00001% win in a couple benchmarks against AMD (at 3 times the TDP)

Bunch of dipshits at Intel for years and years... sort that shit Intel, just fucking sort your shit once and for all.

 

[The Mad Draklor]

 

[OverHeat]

Can’t wait to see the new benchmarks with the fix

 

[Leonidas]

Can’t wait to see the new benchmarks with the fix

Can't wait to see Zen5 trading blows with 1.5-2 year old (last gen) CPUs in gaming

 

[The Skull]

Intel is such a joke.

 

[Bernoulli]

Downgrade incoming

 

[OverHeat]

Can't wait to see Zen5 trading blows with 1.5-2 year old (last gen) CPUs in gaming

Will switch to intel if it happen but I doubt it. X3D will save the day.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

So all hardware can be fixed with software. It's so simple.

 

[Celcius]

Not what I was expecting but glad to hear they figured it out.
This microcode update would just be part of updated mobo bioses that would be released mid-August right?

 

[Chiggs]

I'm not an engineer but this smells like company-sanctioned bullshit that was only released because of certain YouTubers creating a stink about it. How big of an issue is it? I don't know but I sure as hell wouldn't trust Intel at all these days. They're desperate, they're lazy, and, ironically, they're in survival mode...maybe the latter brings out some inspired chip designs (worked for AMD), but you've got to be a pretty big moron to be taking part in ANY Intel first-gen offering.

I'll say that again with bold and underlines: you've got to be a pretty big moron to take part in any Intel first-gen offering.

 

[Bry0]

I want to see this tested first…

 

[peish]

Elevated voltage causing crashes sounds sketchy af. Usually is not enough voltages that cause you problems

Furthermore running too much voltage will degrade it faster.

Funny thing is most overclocked systems dont run into this issue. I guess those who just turn on xmp are the victims

 

[Black_Stride]

Can't wait to see Zen5 trading blows with 1.5-2 year old (last gen) CPUs in gaming

Will switch to intel if it happen but I doubt it. X3D will save the day.

Up to 12% faster with cherry picked examples......yeah id say thats trading blows.
I bet on average the 9700X will be less than 10% faster in gaming.....if we use Techpowerups suite of games.

Horizon Zero Dawn is such an outlier I dont know why they bother including it.
Especially when Forbidden West has come out

I'll say that again with bold and underlines: you've got to be a pretty big moron to take part in any Intel first-gen offering.

RaptorLake was the second iteration of the big.LITTLE model........the first iteration AlderLake doesnt have this issue basically launch problem free.
ArrowLake the desktop CPU we are "hopefully" getting this year is the second generation of disaggregated Core U CPUs the first generation MeteorLake doesnt have any issues.

Other than Arc Alchemist (which was largely fixed within 1 month) you would be hard pressed to find anything from Intel thats the first generation of anything and causing problems.

Not sure what you are getting at with that sentence.





<---- Is a big moron because running first generation AlderLake no issues since 2022.

 

[winjer]

Intel Publishes Official Response To 14th Gen & 13th Gen CPU Instability Issues: Cites Elevated Operating Voltages As Root Cause, New Microcode Patch In August

Intel has an official statement regarding 13th and 14th Gen CPU instability issues, citing elevating operating voltages as the root cause.

wccftech.com

Almost 2 years to fix a major issue like this. And that's if this new voltage reduction does anything, since the last microcode did nothing.
Intel spent more time and effort denying these issues, than actually fixing it.
And what happens to people that already have their CPUs degraded. Are they going to deny RMAs like they did with some people?

We also have a timeline of all the events that unfolded throughout the whole instability dilemma:

• [Dec 2022] The first instances of "Out of Video Memory" issues on 13th Gen Core i9 CPUs were reported back in 2022. (Source: Reddit). This is a few months after the release of Intel's 13th Gen CPUs & RTX 40 GPUs.
• [Throughout 2023] Several users have started reporting game crashes and issues in high-profile AAA titles such as Callisto Protocol and Hogwarts Legacy (among many others). Both tiles are based on Unreal Engine (released in 2023) and feature a shader compilation process at the start. There are currently thousands of such issues reported on Steam Community Forums and Reddit.
• [February 2024] A post by Sebastian Castellanos brings the issue to the limelight, highlighting the "worrying trend" of stability issues affecting 14th and 13th-gen CPUs.
• [February 2024] Our editor along with various other tech outlets start reporting the issue and bringing the matter on to the mainstream media. Quickly, it is pointed out that underclocking and undervolting the chips can result in better stability.
• [April 2024] NVIDIA Issued a formal statement that the stability issues are not related to its GPUs but rather Intel CPUs.
• [April 2024] Intel announces its investigation of the reports of instability issues affecting 13th and 14th Gen CPUs.
• [April 2024] Motherboard makers quickly roll out "Baseline" power profiles in new BIOS, which lower power limits on high-end 14th & 13th Gen CPUs but also lead to significant performance drops.
• [May 2024] Intel releases a statement, recommending motherboard makers to ship "Intel Default Settings" in BIOS by default rather than customized settings.
• [June 2024] Intel discovers a bug within its eTVB microcode while investigating the root cause of 14th and 13th Gen Instability issues. This doesn't fix the instability problems. Board makers quickly roll out BIOS with a new microcode fix.
• [July 2024] Intel denies an RMA to HardwareTimes editor who already RMA'd at least two CPUs which produced instability issues.
• [July 2024] Wendell from Level1Techs & Steve Burke from GamersNexus are the first big tech media outlets on YouTube to further highlight the instability issues, diving into additional details such as OEM frustration with the matter and a possible recall.
• [July 2024] GamersNexus highlights a potential "oxidation" defect being a problem with a certain batch of Intel 14th & 13th Gen CPUs that might lead to instability problems.
• [July 2024] Intel says the 14th & 13th Gen Mobile CPUs are not affected by the same instability issues as the desktop CPUs.
• [July 2024] Intel issues a statement confirming that they have found the root cause of the instability issues which happen to be elevated operating voltages and will be issuing a new microcode fix to its partners by mid of August

 

[kruis]

Intel had found another voltage issue bug in their CPUs while investigating the stabiility issue a month ago. This is not a good look for Intel.

Intel Isolates Root Cause of Raptor Lake Stability Issues to a Faulty eTVB Microcode Algorithm

Intel has identified the root cause for stability issues being observed with certain high-end 13th- and 14th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" processor models, which were causing games and other compute-intensive applications to randomly crash. When the issues were first identified, Intel recommended a...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[SomeGit]

Patch mid August, just in time for Zen 5 reviews to include pre nerf benchmarks.

 

[Zathalus]

It will fix the issue this time, pinkie swear.

 

[winjer]

Leonidas didn't post a part of Intel's statement, regarding the issues with oxidation.
Intel finally confirms there are issues with their manufacturing process.
So if you have a 13th gen CPU made in 2022-2023, there is a good chance you have a CPU with the oxidation manufacturing issue.

So that you don't have to hun down the answer -> Questions about manufacturing or Via Oxidation as reported by Tech outlets:

Short answer: We can confirm there was a via Oxidation manufacturing issue (addressed back in 2023) but it is not related to the instability issue.

Long answer: We can confirm that the via Oxidation manufacturing issue affected some early Intel Core 13th Gen desktop processors. However, the issue was root caused and addressed with manufacturing improvements and screens in 2023. We have also looked at it from the instability reports on Intel Core 13th Gen desktop processors and the analysis to-date has determined that only a small number of instability reports can be connected to the manufacturing issue.

For the Instability issue, we are delivering a microcode patch which addresses exposure to elevated voltages which is a key element of the Instability issue. We are currently validating the microcode patch to ensure the instability issues for 13th/14th Gen are addressed.

I'll be on the thread for the next couple of hours trying to address any questions you folks might have. Please keep in mind that I won't be able to answer every question but I'll do my best to address most of them.

 

[Kenpachii]

Elevated voltage causing crashes sounds sketchy af. Usually is not enough voltages that cause you problems

Furthermore running too much voltage will degrade it faster.

Funny thing is most overclocked systems dont run into this issue. I guess those who just turn on xmp are the victims

Too high voltages kills cpu's over time, so if that shit spikes high i can see it kill the cpu's over time.

 

[Insane Metal]

Damn Intel is such a nice company. Literally the good guys of cpus.

 

[Celcius]

How does such a big voltage issue get past testing?

 

[winjer]

How does such a big voltage issue get past testing?

Now does it pass testing for 2 years?

 

[Black_Stride]

How does such a big voltage issue get past testing?

This is 2 years later?
If they were launching them in 2024 and didnt do shit since 2022 except testing thousands and thousands of chip, they would have caught it easy work.

Its literally taken 100s of thousands of samples and 100s of thousands of hours of "stress" for this issue to show up in a small percentage of chips.
You are really surprised they didnt catch it prelaunch?

 

[winjer]

This is 2 years later?
If they were launching them in 2024 and didnt do shit since 2022 except testing thousands and thousands of chip, they would have caught it easy work.

Its literally taken 100s of thousands of samples and 100s of thousands of hours of "stress" for this issue to show up in a small percentage of chips.
You are really surprised they didnt catch it prelaunch?

There have been reports of these crashes since 2022. It only got worse, as more and more CPUs have degraded, either because of voltage, or because of oxidation.
Only now is Intel taking this issue seriously.

 

[Doctor Hades]

I have been using an Intel i5-13600KF in a pre-built PC from PCSpecialist here in the UK since December 2022. Fortunately, the builders had the foresight to enable the Enforce All Limits option in the BIOS and I haven't had any real issues with it. The PC has been stable without any of those weird error messages that are popping up for other 13700/14700 and 13900/14900 CPU users.

I actually didn't update the BIOS that came with my PC until May this year and have since updated it twice. I am currently on 3701 for my ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard.

One thing I have changed with the new BIOS though is the re-enable the ASUS OC profile with Enforce All Limits enabled post-install and reboot because, bizarrely, on my system the new default Intel baseline profile, which also enables the Enforce All Limits setting, actually results in higher temperatures (typically as much as 10-20 C!!!) and voltages despite the P-Cores still hitting the rated 5.1 GHz and the E-Cores 3.9 GHz during intensive gaming. I'm not sure why this is but it seems like a bug to me. Higher voltages and temperatures are what degrade CPUs in the first place so if the new Intel profile is running hotter and using more power then it makes no sense to me to continue using it over the previous ASUS OC profile (with all limits enforced) which has been 100% stable. I've had a total of three blue screen crashes since December 2022 but all of these have been one-offs, spread months apart and likely caused by driver updates rather than related to the CPU, at least in my opinion anyway.

 

[P:axMagellanic]

Funny as fuck, this'll be bumpgate all over again

 

[SportsFan581]

The fact this hasn't been a problem with laptop chips is hopefully a good sign that a voltage adjustment might smooth things out. Will be interesting to see what the benchmark differences are. Most testing that I've seen shows that you can take a lot of wattage away from these things without effecting gaming performance all that much.

 

[Leonidas]

Leonidas didn't post a part of Intel's statement, regarding the issues with oxidation.

Are you blind? That was added later and I mentioned it in the 4th post of this thread...

 

[winjer]

Are you blind? That was added later and I mentioned it in the 4th post of this thread...

I admit I didn't see that 4th post, but still, you didn't put everything in it.
And neither the direct source for the Intel post.