NVIDIA Points Intel Raptor Lake CPU Users to Get Help from Intel Amid System Instability Issues

[AleksandarK]

According to a recently published help guide, spotted by the X/Twitter user @harukaze5719, NVIDIA has addressed reported stability problems users are experiencing with Intel's latest 13th and 14th generation Raptor Lake Core processors, especially the high-performance overclockable K-series models. In a recent statement, NVIDIA recommended that owners of the affected Intel CPUs consult directly with Intel if they encounter issues such as system instability, video memory errors, game crashes, or failures to launch certain applications. The problems seem particularly prevalent when running demanding workloads like gaming on Unreal Engine 5 titles or during shader compilation tasks that heavily utilize the processor and graphics capabilities. Intel has established a dedicated website to provide support for these CPU instability cases. However, the chipmaker still needs to issue a broad public statement and provide a definitive resolution.

The instability is often attributed to the very high frequencies and performance the K-series Raptor Lake chips are designed to achieve, which are among the fastest processors in Intel's lineup. While some community suggestions like undervolting or downclocking the CPUs may help mitigate issues in the short term, it remains unclear if permanent fixes will require BIOS updates from motherboard manufacturers or game patches.

Update: As the community has pointed out, motherboard makers often run the CPU outside of Intel's default spec, specifically causing overvolting through modifying or removing power limits, which could introduce instabilities into the system. Running the CPU at Intel-defined specification must be assured with a BIOS check to see if the CPU is running at specified targets. Intel programs the voltage curve into the CPU, and when motherboard makers remove any voltage/power limits, the CPU takes freedom in utilizing the available headroom, possibly causing system instability. We advise everyone to check the power limit setting in the BIOS for the health of their own system.



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[Daven]

Now AMD is having platform issues with its CPUs and games. And they just recently had GPU driver crashes in a gaming tournament.

PGL Investigating GeForce RTX 4080 GPU Driver Crash, Following Esports Event Disruption | TechPowerUp}

Why would anyone buy AMD with so many problems? An Intel-Nvidia platform is much more stable.

 

[Denver]

Now AMD is having platform issues with its CPUs and games. And they just recently had GPU driver crashes in a gaming tournament.

PGL Investigating GeForce RTX 4080 GPU Driver Crash, Following Esports Event Disruption | TechPowerUp}

Why would anyone buy AMD with so many problems? An Intel-Nvidia platform is much more stable.

Believing that you won't have drivers issues and bugs on your PC whatever the logo color on your hardware is pure and simple alienation.

 

[theouto]

Now AMD is having platform issues with its CPUs and games. And they just recently had GPU driver crashes in a gaming tournament.

PGL Investigating GeForce RTX 4080 GPU Driver Crash, Following Esports Event Disruption | TechPowerUp}

Why would anyone buy AMD with so many problems? An Intel-Nvidia platform is much more stable.

Where does this say AMD? And the news you're replying to is literally reporting on instability with Intel-Nvidia?

Also yes, much like denver said, no matter the brand of the hardware, you will have issues with your computer, Intel, AMD or Nvidia.

Because it's relevant: I once had an intel-nvidia laptop with modern components (2070) that would refuse to update GPU drivers.

 

[SL2]

Now AMD is having platform issues with its CPUs and games. And they just recently had GPU driver crashes in a gaming tournament.

PGL Investigating GeForce RTX 4080 GPU Driver Crash, Following Esports Event Disruption | TechPowerUp}

Why would anyone buy AMD with so many problems? An Intel-Nvidia platform is much more stable.

Wow, what an interesting take, and it's also offtopic.

A technical malfunction occurred due to an NVIDIA driver crash

Edit: Yeah, I didn't see the irony there, because, you know, text...

 

[Kenjiro]

...

Bzzz, lame troll detected, avoid, avoid!

 

[KrazyT]

Given the quick poll, almost 50% of owners got a problem.
Didn't expected that much :/
Hope a fix will be found soon

 

[Noyand]

Where does this say AMD? And the news you're replying to is literally reporting on instability with Intel-Nvidia?

Also yes, much like denver said, no matter the brand of the hardware, you will have issues with your computer, Intel, AMD or Nvidia.

Because it's relevant: I once had an intel-nvidia laptop with modern components (2070) that would refuse to update GPU drivers.

I think that he was being ironic, and wanted to demonstrate that AMD is the super platform for everyone

 

[SL2]

What I don't get is: how come I read about this last week and not a year ago? 13000 is 18 months old. Or is it due to recent UE changes only?

I think that he was being ironic, and wanted to demonstrate that AMD is the super platform for everyone

Yeah you're on to something. I just read his comment in his link..

 

[Bruno Vieira]

Where does this say AMD? And the news you're replying to is literally reporting on instability with Intel-Nvidia?

Also yes, much like denver said, no matter the brand of the hardware, you will have issues with your computer, Intel, AMD or Nvidia.

Because it's relevant: I once had an intel-nvidia laptop with modern components (2070) that would refuse to update GPU drivers.

Exactly.. unless you overpay for an underperforming OEM computer, even just XMP can overheat your RAM sticks. Make your stability.

 

[Daven]

Sorry for the early morning sarcasm, everyone. It's just that brand loyalty has become so virulent that horrible internet memes like this company or that company's drivers are better/worse has created such a bad tone deafness it drowns out all rational thought.

Kudos to everyone who knows that any company can have driver and platform problems and no company is better/worse than any other when it comes to these kinds of problems. They happen. We are only human. But of course this doesn't mean that one company's products can't have better performance/features than another. This is why we rely on sites like TPU to review products and help us make informed buying decisions. I highly recommend against buying a product only because of its logo.

 

[theouto]

Sorry for the early morning sarcasm, everyone. It's just that brand loyalty has become so virulent that horrible internet memes like this company or that company's drivers are better/worse has created such a bad tone deafness it drowns out all rational thought.

I think what is worse of all is that we didn't detect the message as sarcasm. Such is the state of online discourse that we no longer see clear nonsense as someone clearly making a joke, because we have all seen someone spouting even more ridiculous nonsense while actually meaning it.

 

[P4-630]

Are there these issues as well for the i7 14700K? Or is it about the i9's only?

 

[john_]

I think what is worse of all is that we didn't detect the message as sarcasm.

It could be read easily as damage control. It wasn't clear. While that last line contradicts the article itself, pointing to sarcasm, the first line especially followed with that link, was the typical type of damage control someone would read under this kind of article.

In any case, hardware from 100 vendors will never be 100% compatible in every possible combination, running every type of software.

 

[SL2]

I highly recommend against buying a product only because of its logo.

Oh no, now you're gonna summon the real trolls..

Spoiler

Just kidding!

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

I think what is worse of all is that we didn't detect the message as sarcasm. Such is the state of online discourse that we no longer see clear nonsense as someone clearly making a joke, because we have all seen someone spouting even more ridiculous nonsense while actually meaning it.

Well, if someone has to say it's sarcasm, it probably wasn't don't properly

 

[dgianstefani]

Are there these issues as well for the i7 14700K? Or is it about the i9's only?

It depends if you're using your motherboard's
auto voltage settings.

Intel doesn't enforce their power limits etc strictly. So board manufacturers overvolt the chips to get slightly better out of box performance and thus YouTube reviewers etc promote their board as the "Fastest".

 

[Daven]

Oh no, now you're gonna summon the real trolls..

Spoiler

Just kidding!

Lolz!

 

[P4-630]

It depends if you're using your motherboard's
auto voltage settings.

Intel doesn't enforce their power limits etc strictly. So board manufacturers overvolt the chips to get slightly better out of box performance and thus YouTube reviewers etc promote their board as the "Fastest".

If I plop in a i7 14700K on my Z690 Aorus Master and leave the CPU at default settings in the BIOS?

 

[dgianstefani]

If I plop in a i7 14700K on my Z690 Aorus Master and leave the CPU at default settings in the BIOS?

IDK what default settings gigabyte sets.

If you want to be sure, copy the power limits from Intel and make sure the motherboard isn't pushing something stupid voltage wise, like 1.5 V in dynamic boost etc.

Static voltages/offset will fix instability caused by OEM stupidity with stock voltage curves.

 

[iameatingjam]

My 14700kf starting showing instability after a month. The replacement has been fine. But the whole thing is weird because at the time it seemed like I was the only one having this problem. Now everybody is having it apparently? And even with 13th gen which has been out for years.

 

[dgianstefani]

My 14700kf starting showing instability after a month. The replacement has been fine. But the whole thing is weird because at the time it seemed like I was the only one having this problem. Now everybody is having it apparently? And even with 13th gen which has been out for years.

Too high voltages for too long will degrade silicon.

Higher temperatures also cause more voltage leakage, requiring more voltage. Which is a bit of a vicious cycle.

 

[b1k3rdude]

Now AMD is having platform issues with its CPUs and games. And they just recently had GPU driver crashes in a gaming tournament.

PGL Investigating GeForce RTX 4080 GPU Driver Crash, Following Esports Event Disruption | TechPowerUp}

Why would anyone buy AMD with so many problems? An Intel-Nvidia platform is much more stable.

That's a sweeping and inaccurate statement, as it doesn't apply across the board. For example I've been running my X570, 3700x then 5900x, 1080Ti, then 3070 then 4080 - over the last few years and its been no less stable than the Z97/4790k/1080ti I had running a few years before that.

[edit] @Daven regarding the above, I didn't spot your second post

Regarding this article, I bet a "pound to a pinch of s**t" that this instability issue is 100% down to the fact almost ALL mobo makers are not running the intel CPU's at Intel specifications. As in they have the power and other limits unlocked by default. J2Cs did a video showing just how user-unfriendly it actually is to set the 12/13/14 gen CPUs to intel specs -

 

[nguyen]

Every chip manufacturer is overclocking their chips to the limits now, best practise is to undervolt/underclock your CPU/GPU (which would give you better frametimes consistency anyways)

 

[dgianstefani]

Every chip manufacturer is overclocking their chips to the limits now, best practise is to undervolt/underclock your CPU/GPU (which would give you better frametimes consistency anyways)

Unnecessary for stability. Just run the actual Intel stock settings. Not the motherboard "stock" settings.

You can lock your clocks/voltage for consistent performance, but I don't see how underclocking will give better performance than actual stock settings. Especially as the CPU will still have variable clocks unless you do a static tune.

It's the motherboards overvolting chips past limits that cause this issue, not the chipmakers. I'd argue the strongest criticism you can legitimately make is that Intel and AMD need to be stricter at enforcing their stock settings with their board partners.

The AMD melting chips/socket issue a while back was something you could actually blame on AMD, because it was their AGESA/EXPO algorithms that were causing the overvolting.