Back in August, Intel started shipping its 0x129 microcode update for 13/14th generation "Raptor Lake" and "Raptor Lake Refresh" processors. This update fixed incorrect voltage requests to the processor that are causing elevated operating voltage. Intel's analysis showed that the root cause of stability problems is voltage levels that are too high during the operation of the processors. These increases in voltage cause degradation that increases the minimum voltage required for stable operation. Intel calls this "Vmin." Today, the company discovered the root cause of this instability issue and informed users that a new microcode patch is underway. As explained by Intel, the Vmin Shift instability problem stems from a clock tree circuit in the IA core. When exposed to high voltage and temperature conditions, this circuit is vulnerable to reliability degradation. Intel's research has shown that these factors can cause a shift in the duty cycle of the clocks, resulting in system instability.

There are four scenarios that can cause Vmin Shift: increased motherboard power delivery, eTVB microcode algorithm running at higher performance operating states even at higher temperatures, microcode SVID algorithm requesting higher voltages at higher frequencies and longer durations, and finally microcode and BIOS requesting elevated core voltages. For motherboard power settings, mitigation is switching back to default settings. For the eTVB issue, the fix is a 0x125 microcode update. The 0x129 patch fixes the SVID algorithm, and the fourth condition, where microcode and BIOS request elevated core voltage, is fixed by the upcoming 0x12B microcode update. Intel is reportedly working with OEMs to start rolling out the 0x12B update with no apparent performance degradation. While the timeframe for shipping this update is unknown, we expect to see it soon. Additionally, Intel once again confirmed that the upcoming "Arrow Lake" CPUs don't have these issues.

Intel has officially started shipping the "0x129" microcode update for its 13th and 14th generation "Raptor Lake" and "Raptor Lake Refresh" processors. This critical update is currently being pushed to all OEM/ODM partners to address the stability issues that Intel's processors have been facing. According to Intel, this microcode update fixes "incorrect voltage requests to the processor that are causing elevated operating voltage." Intel's analysis shows that the root cause of stability problems is caused by too high voltage during operation of the processor. These increases to voltage cause degradation that increases the minimum voltage required for stable operation. Intel calls this "Vmin"—it's a theoretical construct, not an actual voltage, think "speed for an airplane required to fly". The latest 0x129 microcode patch will limit the processor's voltage to no higher than 1.55 V, which should avoid further degradation. Overclocking is still supported, enthusiasts will have to disable the eTVB setting in their BIOS to push the processor beyond the 1.55 V threshold. The company's internal testing shows that the new default settings with limited voltages with standard run-to-run variations show minimal performance impact, with only a single game (Hitman 3: Dartmoor) showing degradation. For a full statement from Intel, see the quote below.

In response to Intel's recent statement regarding reports of instability in certain 13th and 14th generation desktop processors, MSI has taken swift action and collaborated closely with Intel to mitigate the impact on our customers. Upholding our commitment to high-quality product design, MSI has promptly released a BIOS update to address these concerns and alleviate consumer worries. In addition, we are extending the warranty for affected desktop processors by two years, ensuring that our customers can continue to use MSI products with confidence.

Customer satisfaction has always been MSI's top priority. We remain dedicated to enhancing service quality and product design to provide our customers with the best possible experience. If you have any questions, please contact your local customer service center. Stay tuned for further updates.

A fleet of recent reports have highlighted stability issues affecting Intel's 13th and 14th-generation desktop processors, raising concerns among consumers and industry professionals. The problem, which has gained significant attention over the past few months, is related to the processors' physical degradation over time. Custom PC builder Puget Systems has shared insights from its experience with these processors, revealing a nuanced perspective on the issue. While it has observed an increase in CPU failures, particularly with the 14th-generation chips, its failure rates remain notably lower than those reported by some game development studios and cloud gaming providers, who have cited failure rates as high as 50%. An interesting observation is that Puget Systems recorded a higher failure rate with AMD Ryzen 5000 and Ryzen 7000 series than Intel's 13/14th generation, with most failures happening at Puget's shop rather than the "field" in customers' hands.

Puget Systems attributes their more modest failure rates of Intel processors to their conservative approach to power management settings. By adhering strictly to Intel's specifications and developing their own power settings that don't hurt performance, they've managed to mitigate some of the stability issues plaguing other users. Intel has acknowledged the problem and announced plans to release a microcode patch by mid-August, with extended warranty program. This update is expected to prevent further degradation but may not reverse existing damage. Despite the elevated failure rates, Puget Systems' data shows that the issue, while concerning, still needs to be at critical levels for their operations. The company reports that failure rates for 13th and 14th gen Intel processors, while higher than ideal, are still lower than those they experienced with Intel's 11th gen chips and some AMD Ryzen processors. In response to the situation, Puget Systems is taking several steps, including maintaining its current power management practices, promptly validating Intel's upcoming microcode update, and extending warranties for affected customers. Below, you can see failure rates by month, by Intel's Core generation, as well as by "shop" vs "field" testing.

ADLINK Technology Inc., a global leader in edge computing, and a global supplier of industrial PCs and motherboards, announces the launch of the new IMB-C Value Series of ATX motherboards, extending the IMB series motherboard range with new, more affordable, options for users seeking high-performance at a lower price point. The IMB-C value series comes with processor options ranging from Gen 10 to Gen 14 Intel Core i9/i7/i5/i3 and includes features such as 2.5 Gbe, PCIe 4.0, DDR4, and USB 3.0, to suit applications in warehousing, industrial automation, smart manufacturing, and new energy.

The IMB-C series expands the IMB ATX motherboard range, providing a cost-effective alternative to the high-performance IMB-M series. Tailored for budget-sensitive projects without sacrificing essential features, the IMB-C models support DDR4 and PCIe 4.0, catering to applications that require solid performance with cost efficiency. Conversely, the IMB-M series is designed for top-tier performance, supporting DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, ideal for cutting-edge industrial use. The IMB-C series offers a comprehensive portfolio from Intel's 10th to 14th gen processors. Specifically, the IMB-C46 and IMB-C46H models come equipped with the Q470 and H420E chipsets respectively, optimized for 10th Gen Intel Core processors. Meanwhile, the IMB-M47 with the Q670 chipset, and the IMB-M47H with the H610 chipset, both support the 12th to 14th gen Intel Core processors, aligning with advanced system requirements and higher performance expectations.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, released the latest beta BIOS with Intel Baseline feature on Z790, B760 series motherboards for enhanced stability, regarding the feedback from Intel that high power consumption settings may cause system instability with 13/14th generation CPUs.⁠

GIGABYTE always prioritizes user experience, focusing on both performance and stability. Additionally, as a close ally of Intel, we promptly introduced the Intel Baseline feature with the latest beta BIOS. When using 13th and 14th generation K-SKU CPUs, the Intel Baseline setting will appear in the "Turbo Power Limits" option under "Advanced CPU Settings". After enabling Intel Baseline, the performance will be expected to be limited due to the power setting adjustments.

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.

We are likely to see even more Intel Core i9-14900KS pre-release leaks as its rumored mid-March launch window approaches—hardware sleuth, momomo_us, has spent the weekend following any Team Blue breadcrumb trails. Their latest discovery points to "BX8071514900KS" and "CM8071504820506" product codes, and two listings on PC21 France's web shop. Intel seems to be offering its upcoming limited edition Raptor Lake Refresh über-flagship unit in two different guises—the first being a traditional boxed package, and the second appears to be a tray option (for system integrators). As pointed out by VideoCardz, it is not unusual to see OEM parts reach retail channels—similar cases have leaked in the past. The no frills tray choice: "offers a more cost-effective option for users who don't require fancy packaging or bundled coolers, making it a budget-friendly choice for the new CPU."

The Core i9-14900KS is far from being a wallet friendly prospect, yet the untimely listings indicate that the OEM option shaves off a grand total of €16 (~$17.25) when lined up against its fancy boxed sibling. The French retailer states that both items are on order, with zero stock in their warehouses. The boxed Core i9-14900KS seems to cost €768.34 (~$828) including taxes, while the tray variant's entry indicates a charge of €752.62 (~$811), with VAT factored in. These leaked prices are subject to change—perhaps the current figures are based on a distributor's pre-launch estimation. PC21 France does not display any pricing for the already released Core i9-14900K and 14900KF SKUs, but VideoCardz has checked other retail listings in the country—they reckon that the gulf between "K" and "KS" is €146 (best case scenario).

MSI, a forefront leader in True Gaming hardware, proudly announces the incorporation of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 SUPER Series graphics cards into its latest 14th generation AI gaming desktops. The MEG Trident X2 14th, MPG Infinite X2 14th, MPG Trident AS 14th, MAG Infinite S3 14th, and MAG Codex 6 14th, initially featuring the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series graphics cards, now boast the cutting-edge RTX 40 SUPER Series, ushering in a new era of gaming excellence.

At the heart of these 14th gen AI gaming desktops lies the revolutionary RTX 40 SUPER Series, which are GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, and GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. This series reshapes the gaming experience with cutting-edge AI capabilities, surpassing the speed of their predecessors. Equipped with RTX platform superpowers, these GPUs elevate the performance of games, applications, and AI tasks, marking a significant advancement in the gaming landscape.

Yesterday's CPU-Z update—now version 2.09—brings support for unreleased next generation Intel and AMD processors. PC hardware sleuths have combed through the freeware app's mid-January changelog—we first see "improved support" for Intel's recently launched 14th Generation Meteor Lake mobile CPU series, while the same line also mentions "preliminary support" for Team Blue's Arrow Lake desktop processor family. The latter is hotly anticipated to launch at the tail-end of 2024, so it is intriguing to see CPU-Z's development team getting familiar with Intel's mainstream 15th gen microarchitecture.

The main competition also makes an appearance further down—AMD's "Hawk Point and Hawk Point 2 (Zen 4/Zen 4c)" CPU families are present, although the changelog does not clarify whether this is preliminary support (or full blown). "Hawk Point" seems to be a very light refresh of their proceeding "Phoenix" product line, with some extra NPU "oomph" sprinkled in. The rumor mill has Team Red's Ryzen 8040 Series of mobile parts marked down for a first quarter 2024 launch. Version 2.09 also adds support for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER (AD104-350-A1) GPUs. We expect to see the higher-up models joining in on the fun, with upcoming CPU-Z updates.

A conglomerate of Japanese hardware outlets has tested Intel's latest batch of Raptor Lake Refresh desktop processors—their findings arrived in the form of a YouTube video (viewable below). The lowly Intel 300 CPU was sampled as part of PAD's lab tests—this 14th generation model serves as a natural successor to Team Blue's Pentium Gold G7400 processor. Pentium and Celeron brands were retired in the "essential product space" in 2022, along with the introduction of a replacement: simple "Intel Processor" in a light blue color scheme.

Expectations are not set very high for a two-core, 4-thread CPU in modern times—some news outlets believe that this an Alder Lake part (AKA a frequency tweaked Pentium Gold G7400), despite being launched alongside many Raptor Lake Refresh parts. The Intel 300 sports two Raptor Cove P-cores with hyper-threading capabilities—base performance is set at 3.9 GHz, with no provisions for boosting above that figure. The rest of its basic specs consist of a 46 W TDP and 6 MB of L3 cache (3 MB on each core). Team Blue's Core i3-14100 quad core CPU sits just above the 300 in the latest batch of 14th Gen—naturally, the former pulls ahead of the latter in synthetic benchmarks. PC Watch and Co. tests present a maximum 55% multi-core performance gap between the two lower end options, although the single-threaded difference was measured 13% (in Cinebench).

Eurocom, a leading manufacturer of high-performance laptops, has announced the release of two new models: the Raptor X17 and Nightsky RX415 with up to 96 GB of DDR5 memory. Both laptops are powered by the latest 14th generation Intel Core i7 14900HX CPU and now support 96 GB of DDR5 memory (2x 48 GB). The Raptor X17 is equipped with a 17.3-inch 240 Hz display, while the Nightsky RX415 features a 15.6-inch UHD OLED display. These laptops are designed to deliver exceptional performance and speed for gaming, content creation, and other demanding applications.

"While 96 GB of DDR5 memory may be considered overkill for certain use cases, it can deliver tangible benefits for professionals engaged in video editing, rendering, multitasking, virtualization, and other memory-intensive workloads. We are excited to be able to offer this option to our customers in the Nightsky RX415 and Raptor X17 high performance laptops as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible inside a laptop form factor." Mark Bialic, Eurocom President.

Intel has reportedly rolled out its China market-exclusive Core i7-14790F "Black Edition" CPU—MEGAsizeGPU tweeted out an initial glimpse of the decidedly not-very-Team-Blue outer packaging. A Core i7-14700F desktop processor was included in an announced list at CES 2024 and launched via global retail channels a few days ago, but its somewhat similarly monikered "Black Edition" appears to be region specific (also notably absent from last week's trade show). Intel's Core i7-14790F's nomenclature would suggest that its sits just a little bit above the i7-14700F in Raptor Lake Refresh's hierarchy, but the "Black Edition" specifications paint an odd picture. As noted by Tom's Hardware: "This CPU has an odd configuration since it has fewer cores and more cache than the Core i7-14700F, contrary to what its SKU would imply to be a higher-spec variant. "

The Core i7-14790K is currently priced at 2909 RMB (on JD.com) which converts to ~$410 (USD). The Core i7-14700F's asking price is roughly ten dollars more, which nets you a 16-core processor that packs 8 performance cores, 12 efficiency cores and 28 threads. Chinese buyers are presented with the slightly cheaper Core i7-14790F and its curiosity specs: 16 total cores comprised of 8 performance cores, 8 efficiency cores and 24 threads. Both F-models share the same list of clock speeds, but the Black Edition does slightly better with an overall total of 36 MB Intel Smart Cache (versus 33 MB)—in turn it loses out in L2 cache designation (24 vs. 28 MB). Tom's Hardware has kindly assembled a comparison table (see below).

EK, the leading manufacturer of premium liquid cooling gear, is excited to announce full compatibility of the EK-Nucleus AIOs with the recently unveiled Intel 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs and the upcoming new Z790 motherboards. The Raptor Lake refresh series CPUs feature faster cores that can go up to 6 GHz for improved multi-tasking, gaming, streaming, and more. It is paramount to have a good cooling solution for the CPU to reach these high frequencies through Thermal Velocity Boost. EK's Nucleus AIOs are ready for that task with their ample radiator surface, powerful fans for heat dissipation, and potent pumps to circulate the warmed coolant.

EK-Nucleus AIOs
The coldplate that comes in contact with the CPU IHS is made of copper to enhance the thermal transferring characteristics. It has a dense stack of microfins that boost the thermal transfer area between the copper base and coolant, ensuring unparalleled cooling. These AIOs feature a straightforward installation procedure, powerful and daisy-chainable FPT fans optimized for radiators, strong pumps, diamond-cut fittings, sleeved tubing, and more. The versatile Nucleus All-in-One CPU cooling solutions come in various models - with and without D-RGB when it comes to lighting, in white and black color, and 360 mm and 240 mm variations in terms of size.

MSI, a trailblazing brand in gaming hardware and innovation, continuously strives to fulfill gamers' dreams. Today, we take immense pride in unveiling AI-powered gaming desktops featuring the 14th generation Intel processor. This marks the perfect fusion of intelligence and performance, promising gamers an invigorating gaming experience.

Next-Generation AI Gaming Desktops
In our commitment to delivering unparalleled gaming experiences, MSI proudly introduces the MEG Trident X2 14th and MPG Infinite X2 14th, equipped with the latest 14th generation Intel processors. These desktops incorporate cutting-edge Frozr AI Cooling technology, delivering exceptional performance through intelligent cooling. Frozr AI Cooling employs advanced algorithms to dynamically monitor component temperatures, ensuring rapid responses to temperature changes and suppressing temperature spikes. Gamers can now enjoy maximum performance without the need for manual adjustments.

By error, over the weekend Canada Computers published prices of upcoming Raptor Lake Refresh desktop CPUs—a competing national store, PC-Canada, also prematurely leaked placeholder charges midway through September. Analysis of last month's figures revealed a 4% (on average) price hike over equivalent 13th Gen Core predecessors, although that information could be out-of-date by now. The numbers released by Canada Computers (now removed from their searchable database) are alleged to be closer to the final article, since we are nearing Intel's October 16th launch day of higher-end 14th Gen Core SKUs, comprised of K and KF variants.

A VideoCardz reader, Kithana, managed to log all of the gory details prior to Canada Computers removing all traces of embargo-busting data. Their news section has pored over the numbers: "A quick check reveals that new SKUs are expected to see an increase ranging from 0% to 7%. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that the upcoming next-gen Core i5-14600KF is currently listed at the same price point as its predecessor, 13600KF, at $399 CAD. Notably, not present is the Core i9-14900K model on this list."

Intel's Core i5-14600K CPU was benchmarked mid-September, courtesy of ECSM getting their hands on some engineering samples—these examples were put under strain through Cinebench R23, Cinebench 2024, and CPU-Z suites. The ever reliable Benchleaks has kept track of mid-range Raptor Lake Refresh processor leaks—late last week they pointed to a new entry on Geekbench Browser. PC hardware news outlets have reported that reviewers now possess pre-release silicon, so we should be expecting an increase in leaky activity over the next fortnight—Intel's official embargo will likely be lifted on the 14th Gen Core launch day (October 17). Team Blue's Core i5-14600K has popped up a few times via Geekbench 6.2 results—TestKT's build was running on stock settings, and hit a maximum clock of 5.3 GHz (K and KF variants), with an ASUS Z790 TUF PLUS motherboard accompanied by 32 GB of DDR5-5200 memory, while an anonymous bencher fielded a system sporting a Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Master X mainboard and 48 GB DDR5-7600 RAM. The latter had some overclocking on the go; Geekbench 6.2 stats reported clocks reaching 5.7 GHz on the Core i5-14600K.

TestKT's stock 14600K achieved scores of 2819 in single-threaded, and 16666 multi-threaded. Their 14600KF scored 2779 and 16707 (respectively) on the same ASUS platform. The unnamed Gigabyte system wielder tallied 2861 (SC) and 17974 (MC) on an overclocked 14600K. VideoCardz noted that: "this represents a minor increase in single-core performance and approximately an 8% improvement in multi-threaded performance." They brought in a previously leaked higher-end CPU for comparative purposes: "Since the latter score is using the same (Gigabyte) system as in the Core i7-14700KF Geekbench leak, we can now conclude that Core i7 CPU will be at least 8% and 18% faster respectively than the Core i5 SKU. That's, of course, assuming both scores were using OC settings." We will have to wait until the publication of official reviews to find out whether these figures were produced on finalized silicon.

Intel did put a small spotlight on its upcoming 14th Gen Core "Raptor Lake Refresh" processor series at last week's Innovation event. This very brief aspect of their presentation has received only minor press coverage (in retrospect) since Team Blue did not do a great deal to publicize their "next-gen" release. In a pre-keynote segment on the second day of proceedings, an on-the-floor demonstration focused on AI-related virtual production methods. Craig Raymond, a Team Blue Technologist, showcased a workstation rig that deals with "meta-human" avatar plug-in for Unreal Engine.

Raymond pointed to a PC tower positioned under the work desk and introduced it as "running on our Raptor Lake Refresh right here," he continued: "so, we're showing off some of our brand new hardware for the first time, that is pre-launch, so we're giving everyone a first peek on what that really looks like." A grand total of 12 seconds was dedicated to 14th Gen Core during the second day livestream. They quickly moved onto previewing a Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptop that sat in the demo room. Intel is likely lining up a proper reveal of Raptor Lake Refresh SKUs closer to the expected October 17 launch of higher-end K and KF variants.

Six Intel 14th Gen Core Raptor Lake-S Refresh SKUs were prematurely listed by an e-tailer late last month, with the already leaked Core i9-14900K CPU model popping up again (a week later) via CPU-Z and Geekbench tests. This higher end K and KF product lineup is expected to launch at some point next month—according to the rumor mill. Team Blue could be preparing cheaper non-K models for an unveiling at CES 2024, but a leaker has decided to spoil the fun way in advance. YuuKi_AnS uploaded an allegedly extremely comprehensive list of 14th Gen SKUs, complete with full specifications to their X/Twitter handle. This grants an early glimpse of lowly Intel 300 and 300T models—both featuring a 2P+0E core configuration—these appear to be modern successors to (now retired) Pentium Gold and Celeron branded budget-friendly processor families.

It should be noted that the leaked slide (dated September 5) states that everything sitting within the table is a qualification sample (QS), therefore these chips are subject to change due to their pre-production nature. Parts of the table look a bit iffy—support for DDR5 memory varies across the range, while EEC memory support is also very inconsistent. Intel seems to be sticking with the usual set of three different die designs for desktop Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs—Tom's Hardware points out that: "the B0 die (8P-16E) powers SKUs from the Core i5-14600 and up, while the C0 (8P+8E) die targets models from Core i5-14400 to Core i5-14500T. On the contrary, the H0 (6P+0E) die, which is the lowest of the trio, will be inside the Intel 300 to Core i3-14100T chips."

An alleged Intel Core i9-14900K engineering sample CPU was tested out recently in CPU-Z, with results leaked onto the internet earlier this week—courtesy of wnxod—978 points in single-core and 18117.5 points in multi-core. This particular sample of the flagship Raptor Lake Refresh processor managed to surpass its predecessors quite handily—with 9.7% SC/8.4% MC gains over the i9-13900K (Raptor Lake), and an uplift of 19.4% SC/59% MC over the i9-12900K (Alder Lake). Thanks to the i9-14900K's Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB) capability, it is able to hit a maximum 6.0 GHz clock speed (with P-cores) on 1.385 volts according to the leaked CPU-Z info.

Another example was put through the ringer via Geekbench 6.1.0 on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit. The database entry popped up this morning, and several PC hardware news outlets were quick to pounce on the figures. In terms of single core performance, the benched Core i9-14900K achieved a score of 3121—blowing past a previous record holder—3089 set by a Core i9-13900KS CPU. Intel's 14th generation contender looks to be the fastest single-threaded chip out there, despite a less than optimal test system configuration—16 GB of DDR5-4800 memory on a Biostar Z790A-Silver mainboard, with Windows running a balanced power plan. The Core i9-14900K's multi-core score lagged behind its main rival—19032 versus 21678 (respectively). It would be nice to witness some nicer test builds materialize as we get closer to Intel's Innovation September event, and the rumored launch of K-series Raptor Lake Refresh processors around late October.

Intel 14th Gen Core CPU series leaks continue to emerge this week—MSI let slip an NDA slide during a livestream a few days ago, and now a retail outlet in the Ukraine has listed six Raptor Lake-S Refresh SKUs on its online store, as spotted by the ever watchful momomo_us. The placeholder product pages that have popped up on Telemart seemingly provide us with yet another look at SKU names, basic specifications, cache sizes, as well as maximum clock speeds. These appear to reaffirm information gleaned from previous leaks regarding 14th generation K and KF models.

Intel's Innovation 2023 event is set to take place on September 19 to 20—where Team Blue is expected to make a big presentation on Raptor Lake Refresh processor ranges (as well as Meteor Lake), so it is somewhat surprising to see retail listings appear well in advance of next month's official announcements, and the anticipated 14th Gen Core K-series product launch in October.

With Intel about to launch its 14th generation of Core processors, the motherboard makers are refreshing their LGA-1700 motherboards, as Intel won't be releasing a new chipset for the 14th gen CPUs. ASUS has now revealed three new boards that will come ready out of the box for Intel's 14th gen Core CPUs. This kind of meagre lineup is likely what we'll be seeing from all of the major board makers, since it doesn't make sense to overhaul all of their boards for the new CPUs, since only a BIOS/UEFI update is needed for the new CPUs to function in just about any 600- or 700-series motherboard. ASUS' lineup of new boards consist of the ROG Maximus Z790 Dark Hero, the ROG Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi II, and the TUF Gaming Z790-Pro WiFi.

Apart from a design overhaul of all three models with some minor changes to slot placements, which includes new, improved M.2 heatsinks with a much more refined look, ASUS has added WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 support to two of the three new models. On the ROG Hero board, ASUS has dropped the Hyper M.2 Card in favour of an onboard M.2 slot with a taller heatsink, looking much like what we've seen on some AMD X670E boards. ASUS has also added support for USB PD 3.0 and Quick Charge 4+ to the front USB Type-C ports and even made an app that shows how much power is being delivered by the port in question. Furthermore, ASUS has added support for AEMP II which the company claims makes it easier to optimise memory performance on the boards. ASUS did not reveal when the new boards will be available or what they'll cost. Specs of all three boards after the break.

According to a short article released by ITHome, Machenike, a popular Chinese PC hardware company displayed several interesting Intel CPU-based systems at the Bilibili World exhibition (in Shanghai). The manufacturer confirmed (to the reporter) that their next generation hardware will be hitting the market within the next three months, which coincides with the rumored launch of Intel 14th Gen Core Raptor Lake-Refresh desktop K-series SKUs.

Exhibited material implied that Machenike's upcoming PCs—arriving in the form of a "LIGHT-05" desktop tower, mini models and laptops—could be among the first batch of systems to support PCIe Gen 5 storage (as standard). Potential buyers could be attracted to next-gen machines offering access to faster NVMe SSD, on top of rumored higher core counts provided by the Raptor Lake Refresh. ITHome believes that a number of the mini-PCs at Machenike's booth were already running on Raptor Lake Refresh or (Core rebrand) Meteor Lake processors.

Golden Pig Upgrade, a Chinese PC hardware content creator, has issued more Intel-related insider info via their Bilibili page. Their short post claims that the Intel 14th Gen Core-HX series (aka enthusiast grade laptop Raptor Lake Refresh SKUs) will be based on 8P+16E die configurations, said to replace all previously reported 8P+8E and 6P+0E setups. This improved HX lineup could provide a nice upgrade over equivalent 13th Gen Core units, with larger L2 cache allocations and increased core counts.

A few examples are mentioned—the upcoming Core i7-14650HX sports an 8P+8E configuration, granting two extra performance cores when compared to the current gen equivalent 13650HX (6P+8E). The Core i5-14500HX could stick with the same configuration (6P+8E) as seen on the older 13500HX, but Golden Pig Upgrade believes that the former will be upgraded with a larger pool of L2 cache. Previous leaks have already pointed out higher-end 14th Gen Core i9 SKUs being based on the 8P+16E die configuration, with the possible offering of higher clocks and support for faster memory speeds. The Raptor Lake Refresh desktop lineup is expected to debut around mid-October, but insider information regarding HX has not yet pinpointed a firm launch period for high-end 14th Gen Core laptop/mobile SKUs.

Intel China has taken to Weibo and Bilibili in a new effort to explain how things will pan out for 14th generation CPU lineups, with emphasis on its new branding and naming conventions for 2023 and beyond. These announcements contain the company's first official acknowledgement of Raptor Lake-U, Raptor Lake-S and Raptor Lake-HX SKUs getting a refresh. Team Blue's branding scheme is set to become even more convoluted with Meteor Lake premiering with "Core Ultra" instead of the old "i" labelling system. The China office's product rundowns indicate that the Raptor Lake Refresh series will be split into Core # and Core i# families, which complicates matters further.

It seems that Raptor Lake-U & H Refresh (mobile) and the entire Meteor Lake lineup will be assuming the new Core # branding scheme, but the latter series will be more performant—hence the adding of Ultra (e.g Ultra Core 5/7/9), so customers can tell the difference between product lines lumped into the same generation! Desktop Raptor Lake-S Refresh and high-end mobile Raptor Lake-HX Refresh processors will retain the company's traditional "Core i" naming convention, this will eventually be retired with the 14th gen family.