As Intel issues statements for separate issues, details involving instability reports for select 13th and 14th processors are becoming clearer. It has almost been like a shell game for owners of Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen (K/KF/KS) desktop processors to isolate and fix ongoing instability issues for their CPUs. From blame being laid on the motherboard manufacturers for providing settings that were said to disable thermal and power safeguards to the CPUs and in turn higher-voltage, to Intel’s multiple profiles, Default vs Baseline, to reports of specific game engines having crash issues, things have been all over the map for owners of the flagship processors seeking fixes. Now as Intel issues statements for both the instability and early 13th gen oxidation reports perhaps some may be a path forward for owners of affected systems.
So, it’s a mixed bag for the above-reported issues; for some, their only recourse may be getting an RMA done. Concerning instability issues, Intel has said that a new microcode to address the root cause will be rolled out around mid-August. It has been confirmed from a returned processor that the root cause is a faulty microcode. Intel has provided a link to a video on how to check to see if your system has been affected.
Per 7/22/2024 Update:
- “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.”
However, as reminded by TechPowerUp, those whose processors have already been damaged by the faulty microcode will need to seek to get a replacement. As anyone who has tinkered with voltage settings on any electronic device knows doing so can cause irreparable damage, and this faulty microcode may have done just that but if so it should be covered under warranty.
Per TechPowerUp:
“It’s important to note here, that the microcode update won’t fix the issues on processors already experiencing instability, but prevent it on chips that aren’t. The instability is caused by irreversible physical degradation of the chip. These chips will, of course, be covered under warranty.”
Meanwhile, a lesser-known issue for specific 13th Gen processors was mentioned on Intel’s Reddit page where it provided a more expanded statement regarding reports of oxidation with select processors. Intel wants owners of 14th gen processors to know that the instability and oxidation issues are not related to them and only a small portion of early 13th Gen processors suffered from instability issues caused by oxidation.
Per Intel (via Reddit):
- “Short answer:Â 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:Â 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.“