Intel has issued a statement in response to some of the stability issues that some 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core users have apparently been facing, explaining that the problem likely stems from out-of-specification operating conditions. The company hasn’t found a root cause yet, but it will be publishing another statement on the matter late next month.
The statement from Intel:
Intel has observed that this issue may be related to out of specification operating conditions resulting in sustained high voltage and frequency during periods of elevated heat. Analysis of affected processors shows some parts experience shifts in minimum operating voltages which may be related to operation outside of Intel specified operating conditions.
- While the root cause has not yet been identified, Intel has observed the majority of reports of this issue are from users with unlocked/overclock capable motherboards.
- Intel has observed 600/700 Series chipset boards often set BIOS defaults to disable thermal and power delivery safeguards designed to limit processor exposure to sustained periods of high voltage and frequency, for example:
- Disabling Current Excursion Protection (CEP)
- Enabling the IccMax Unlimited bit
- Disabling Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) and/or Enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost (eTVB)
- Additional settings which may increase the risk of system instability:
- Disabling C-states
- Using Windows Ultimate Performance mode
- Increasing PL1 and PL2 beyond Intel recommended limits
Intel requests system and motherboard manufacturers to provide end users with a default BIOS profile that matches Intel recommended settings.
- Intel strongly recommends customer’s default BIOS settings should ensure operation within Intel’s recommended settings.
- In addition, Intel strongly recommends motherboard manufacturers to implement warnings for end users alerting them to any unlocked or overclocking feature usage.
Intel is continuing to actively investigate this issue to determine the root cause and will provide additional updates as relevant information becomes available.
Intel added:
“Intel will be publishing a public statement regarding issue status and Intel recommended BIOS setting recommendations targeted for May 2024.”
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It seems like this might be similar to AMD's issue with motherboard partners over-volting chips by default at stock settings.
Some discussions on that subject from almost a year ago:
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I suspect since so many reviewers test motherboards to see how "overclockable" they are, this has resulted in motherboard manufacturers being sneaky and stealthily overvolting chips at stock settings so they look better in reviews.
They seem to focus on Asus, but it is clear all the big motherboard players have been doing this.
I personally had this issue with Gigabyte back in late 2019/ early 2020 when my TRX40 Aorus Master killed two Threadripper 3960x's at stock settings before I tried a different motherboard.
I had suspected the motherboard was the problem after my first Threadripper died, but when I RMA'd it back to Gigabyte they sent it back with "no problem found".
They probably got away with the practice for years, until newer smaller process nodes made CPU's more sensitive to being overvolted, and now they shit is hitting the fan.
I lost almost a year of using the most expensive PC I've ever built due to this bullshit. I wouldn't mind a class action lawsuit, but I know that would only result in like $5 for us normal people, and a windfall for the lawyers.
I wouldn't be surprised if the solution is a completely new and larger CPU package so AMD and Intel can bring their VRM's on package where they can control them, and make sure they cannot be overvolted. At least not without some pretty serious disclaimers.
Discussion (1 reply)
Join Discussion →It seems like this might be similar to AMD's issue with motherboard partners over-volting chips by default at stock settings.
Some discussions on that subject from almost a year ago:
[embedded media]
[embedded media]
[embedded media]
[embedded media]
I suspect since so many reviewers test motherboards to see how "overclockable" they are, this has resulted in motherboard manufacturers being sneaky and stealthily overvolting chips at stock settings so they look better in reviews.
They seem to focus on Asus, but it is clear all the big motherboard players have been doing this.
I personally had this issue with Gigabyte back in late 2019/ early 2020 when my TRX40 Aorus Master killed two Threadripper 3960x's at stock settings before I tried a different motherboard.
I had suspected the motherboard was the problem after my first Threadripper died, but when I RMA'd it back to Gigabyte they sent it back with "no problem found".
They probably got away with the practice for years, until newer smaller process nodes made CPU's more sensitive to being overvolted, and now they shit is hitting the fan.
I lost almost a year of using the most expensive PC I've ever built due to this bullshit. I wouldn't mind a class action lawsuit, but I know that would only result in like $5 for us normal people, and a windfall for the lawyers.
I wouldn't be surprised if the solution is a completely new and larger CPU package so AMD and Intel can bring their VRM's on package where they can control them, and make sure they cannot be overvolted. At least not without some pretty serious disclaimers.