Intel Statement on 13th and 14th Gen Core Instability: Faulty Microcode Causes Excessive Voltages, Fix Out Soon

[efikkan]

Even if it is just a re-calibrated microcode that's missing the processors have been running at an over-voltage for quite a while now, I wonder if material is still the same/good (semiconductor and connections).

Assuming Intel's assessment is correct, all affected models will have (some) shortened lifespan due to higher than normal wear, but by how much will depend not only on the CPU's load but also variations in silicon quality. This is probably why it's been taking so long to pinpoint the underlying "problem". But I assume the vast majority will not notice anything, but you wouldn't know until symptoms appear, whether your sample have 90% or 1% lifespan left (at least not without some diagnostics).

That's crazy cause I haven't had a single crash

You may have a CPU of higher silicon quality. Relax and enjoy it

-----

While there are many theories in circulation, and many have their suspicions about Intel's explanation, theirs is the most logical explanation to date. But time will tell. I've too have followed the coverage from news sites, Level1techs, GamersNexsus and others, and while I think thorough third-party investigation is more than welcome (perhaps even necessary), they should make sure to have the right (engineering) expertise to assess it properly (possibly even request hardware debugging tools and data about silicon quality?).
It has been suggested that about half of affected CPUs may be fixed with firmware, but let's dismiss that one outright; if there is (for any reason) abnormal wear, no firmware will reverse that. The fixed firmware will (presumably) avoid further abnormal wear.
Also various estimates of rates of completely defective CPUs of 20%, 50% or even ~99%, which I highly doubt.

 

[TomWeng]

They said update can prevent it, but cann't fix it....they don't even dare to admit the issues......

 

[aytokpatop]

The question is, will the CPU retain the performance characteristics once the voltage is dropped? or was it just enough to keep the CPUs in the top of the benchmarks for long enough to compete with current/next gen CPUs and the quietly drop the voltage and the performance when reviewers stop looking and retesting?

very unlikely

 

[dont whant to set it"']

Did anyone bring popcorn?
I've just completed a long drive and have some catching up to do. Back to page one.

 

[ToxicTaZ]

These articles are funny as their is nothing wrong with their chips as it's a bad May Bios upgrade from all manufacturers.

Then it says Intel update fix is August??? MSI gave that fix June 20th!

My 7 months old Motherboard.

https://ca.msi.com/Motherboard/MEG-Z790-ACE-MAX/support

I'm a proud owner of both 14900K & 14900KS systems with zero issues. The real problem is people have no clue what they're doing and just easyer to play the blame game.

13900K have been out for 18 months until the bad MAY Bios upgrade.

Very unfortunate what's happening in this falling apart would.

Cheers

 

[b1k3rdude]

"It has found that faulty processor microcode has been causing the processors to operate under excessive core voltages, leading to their structural degradation over time."
So if the excessive core voltage degraded the CPU, then HTF is a microcode update going to fix those degraded chips like..?

• Users should be able to get a damaged CPU exchanged but will still end with lower performing parts than what was reviewed.
• Bar any wierd OS or atypical setup, the microcode will be delivered and then pushed to the CPU at every boot. You don't need EUFI updates.

• Eh, then you didnt get what you paid for. At that point I would expect a voucher or cash in addition to the replacement CPU.
• The code has to be written to the CPU, or at least the bios. As having it in the OS is not a fix.

 

[Visible Noise]

Intel is also enforcing with MB vendors that they cannot overclock CPUs without the users permission. Reining in MB “enhancements” being on by default.

 

[azrael]

No company wants to recall if they can avoid it - no doubt there is a legal / numbers game that decides on certain things.
Last time Intel had to recall CPUs in public domain in same way was the Pentium FPU bug I mentioned earlier.... they handled that quite badly actually (initially they knew but didn't mention it until public knowledge forced them to acknowledge the errata, then you could only get a replacement if you could prove you were impacted by it* until eventually pressure forced them to offer replacement to all), although to be fair back in the day this was a rarer event and I don't think many companies were quite geared up for the fall out not providing worthwhile RMA warranty support would bring.

* Kinda ridiculous as you have no way of knowing if some soon to be released software might trigger the issue repeatedly after the warranty has lapsed...

Are you referring to the Pentium FDIV bug back in the 90s? I was actually affected by this. My first ever PC, sporting a blisteringly fast Pentium 90 MHz and the legendary Intel Plato motherboard.

 

[pressing on]

"It has found that faulty processor microcode has been causing the processors to operate under excessive core voltages, leading to their structural degradation over time."
So if the excessive core voltage degraded the CPU, then HTF is a microcode update going to fix those degraded chips like..?

Intel make no reference to structural degradation in the statement on their website. They only talk about instability, a fault in the algorithm and the microcode update fixing the algorithm. Intel microcode updates are delivered as BIOS updates by their motherboard partners. The 'leading to their structural degradation over time' is an editorial comment.

The instability referenced is described as "...reported system instability issues such as OS/Application errors, crashes, hangs, and BSOD on boards and systems with 13th and 14th generation Intel K SKU (unlocked) processors are the signs/symptoms of the affected units". The 'affected units' means "...all K SKUs of 13th and 14th Generation Core Processors (i5, i7 and i9)" source: Intel.

 

[Geofrancis]

Intel have been running very high voltages for boost clocks for a very long time, now they are up at 1.525v on some 14th gen chips, I think they just kept pushing and pushing until now something is broken, thats an insane number for 10nm. the last intel chips to use over 1.5v was a pentium 4.

I find it very suspicious that intel suddently had 4 different issues, I think they are trying to act like its 4 different issues with most of them fixable, while they release patches that limit the damage and hope users think its fixed until its past the warranty. I think they are going to limit boost clock times a lot, so its only there for a much lower time, that way they can say "peak performance" was not reduced.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Intel make no reference to structural degradation in the statement on their website. They only talk about instability, a fault in the algorithm and the microcode update fixing the algorithm. Intel microcode updates are delivered as BIOS updates by their motherboard partners. The 'leading to their structural degradation over time' is an editorial comment.

The instability referenced is described by Intel as "...reported system instability issues such as OS/Application errors, crashes, hangs, and BSOD on boards and systems with 13th and 14th generation Intel K SKU (unlocked) processors are the signs/symptoms of the affected units". The 'affected units' means "...all K SKUs of 13th and 14th Generation Core Processors (i5, i7 and i9)".

Well, the processors affected remain affected even if you install them on another motherboard, so that electrical/physical damage has occurred is pretty much a given. If your CPU has become crash happy due to this issue, an RMA seems to be the only solution. The chips will need to be discarded and replaced with new ones.

 

[agent_x007]

Sudden Northwood Death Syndrome (v2) : Now more global, because CPUs can overclock themselves to death by being on stock/recommended settings

Cause : Greed (as always), but how do we got here ?

Intel HQ some years ago :
Boss : How to increase profitability/margins ?
...
Director : Why bother limiting Vcore to "reasonable" levels ?
Push sucker to max and get as much dies validated as "OK" (less wasted dies = better profits), top die quality stuff may even do 6GHz !
Which means there is possibly for even higher prices, and very good marketing opportunity.
Engineer #1 : Sure, that's doable. There will be higher power usage (than necessary), which will mean more expensive cooling and VRMs will be required for end user... but what about longevity ?
Director : Any safeguards and mitigations we can do to mitigate those cons on our part ?
Engineer #2 : We could limit power consumption artificially in BIOS by adding long term and short term power limits (no more power hungry CPUs [s but not really /s]), and prevent very fast CPU degradation by limiting current going through it (decreasing chances of worst scenario occurring when very high voltage and max. temperature are being experienced by CPUs at the same time).
Director : Genius idea - I like it. Our technology process is best in industry, and we never failed to deliver new process technology on time.
So, with those safeguards in place we should be set. Let's do it !
Engineer #3 : But... is this... is this enough safeguards ?
Engineer #2 : Both power and temperatures are covered, so I guess... they all still need to be implemented by MB manufacturers ?
Director #2 : That's their job. If someone wants to run without them we can add those options (being OC friendly company we are and all).
Boss : Enough chit-chat. Do not forget to put everything important into datasheets, so that we are covered if any motherboard manufacturer does anything stupid.
All : Sure thing boss !

Disclaimer : This is fictional story, above does not represent how things work at Intel, and I'm not and never were Intel employee.

 

[Shrek]

• CrowdStrike
• Intel 13/14 Gen
• AMD Ryzen 7000

We are being overwhelmed by complexity; some say that AI is the solution.

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