Earlier this year, gamers using Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen Core i9 processors reported an increase in system crashes. Last week, Intel announced that it had found the cause of the instability and was going to release a patch. However, it’s far from good news for many customers.
What’s the issue?
In April 2024, computer news websites started highlighting concerns about Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen Core i9 processors. Users also reported that games were causing out-of-memory errors or exiting to the desktop. In other cases, some computers were completely locking up. In addition, Epic Games posted guidance on how to prevent these frequent crashes while Alderon Games advised people to switch to AMD. Intel soon acknowledged the issues and began to investigate.
Why is it happening?
Earlier this month, Intel reported that it had found the cause of the instability. In a support post on July 22nd, 2024, the company wrote: “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.”
Which processors are affected?
In an interview with The Verge, Intel’s spokesperson Thomas Hannaford confirmed that the issue could affect most processor models. Hannaford said, “Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with 65W or higher base power — including K/KF/KS and 65W non-K variants — could be affected by the elevated voltages issue. However, this does not mean that all processors listed are (or will be) impacted by the elevated voltages issue.”
What is Intel doing to resolve the issue?
Intel has confirmed that it is going to deliver a microcode patch. This should address the root cause of the elevated voltages that cause the crashes. The company also said that it is currently carrying out validation and hopes to release the patch in mid-August. In addition, Intel confirmed that some early Intel Core 13th Gen desktop processors were affected by an oxidation issue that occurred during manufacture. However, the company said that its “analysis to-date has determined that only a small number of instability reports can be connected to the manufacturing issue.”
Is Intel going to recall the faulty processors?
Intel confirmed to The Verge that it won’t recalling the 13th and 14th Gen processors. In addition, the microcode patch is a preventative solution for processors in service that haven’t yet experienced crashes. If you have already had problems, you might be out of luck. Hannaford said, “It is possible the patch will provide some instability improvements to currently impacted processors; however customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance.”
What should I do next?
Intel says that until the patch is released, you should use the Intel Default Settings for your processors. Other solutions posted online include manually downclocking or undervolting your Intel processor. You should also ensure that the BIOS is up to date. In addition, if you have already had problems with your system you should contact Intel support to see if you can get an exchange.
What we think
It’s becoming apparent that the issues with Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen Core i9 processors aren’t going away anytime soon. The microcode patch should bring comfort to users who haven’t had any problems so far. However, it’s not clear whether those processors may have already experienced damage that hasn’t presented with a fault yet. In addition, the patch won’t address the oxidation issue that affected some 13th Gen processors. It can’t undo any damage caused by the elevated voltage fault either. If you have any concerns, you should run tests on your system and reach out to Intel Customer Support as soon as possible.
