Intel is rolling out a new microcode update for its 13th and 14th Generation Raptor Lake processors to address a problem that could lead to permanent damage and cause desktop computers to crash.
Although no fix is currently available for processors that are already experiencing crashes, Intel has started providing its microcode update 0x12B to motherboard manufacturers. This update is designed to prevent a specific issue where the central processing unit (CPU) could request excessive power while performing light tasks or when idle, which has been identified as a contributing factor to potential damage. High voltage levels during these periods can accelerate wear on the chip.
A Raptor Lake ‘Vmin Shift’ issue
According to a post by Intel employee Thomas Hannaford on the company’s community forum, the root cause of this instability has been identified as a “Vmin Shift” issue, which occurs due to a clock tree circuit within the IA core that is vulnerable to elevated voltage and temperature. Under these conditions, the clock’s duty cycle can shift, leading to system instability. The new microcode update is designed to address this issue by controlling elevated voltage requests during idle or light tasks.
The CPU manufacturer outlined four key operating scenarios that contributed to the instability. These include motherboard power settings exceeding Intel’s guidelines, a microcode algorithm allowing high performance under high temperatures, and elevated voltage requests over extended periods. The 0x12B update integrates earlier fixes, such as those from the 0x125 and 0x129 microcode updates.
Intel has stated that it could take several weeks for motherboard manufacturers to validate and release BIOS updates that incorporate this new microcode. However, users may not need to wait for these updates, as previous BIOS versions already include earlier microcode fixes aimed at reducing the risk of damage. Additionally, these earlier updates also provide new power management settings that may help mitigate the issue.
For users whose processors are already experiencing crashes, Intel advises against applying a BIOS update and suggests returning the affected chip directly to Intel or to the system provider. The processor should be covered under Intel’s special extended warranty policy in such cases.
Intel has not yet disclosed the number of Raptor Lake processors affected by these or other instability issues. Furthermore, the company has not provided information on specific batches impacted by an earlier oxidisation issue, though follow-up questions on this matter have been submitted.
Intel said that its mobile processors, including those from the upcoming Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake families, are unaffected by this voltage-related instability. Despite earlier reports of similar behaviour in Raptor Lake laptop models, Intel has maintained that these chips are not impacted by the issue.
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