Something to look forward to: Intel's plan to address voltage-related crashes on desktop processors with a patch has some worried that performance and overclocking will take a hit. Past updates to resolve CPU security vulnerabilities established a precedent for the issue, but Chipzilla claims that the Raptor Lake fix won't be a repeat of Downfall.
Intel has released a statement detailing how its new microcode patch fixes instability problems in 13th and 14th-generation Raptor Lake desktop processors. The company assures that the update doesn't degrade performance and the issue won't affect upcoming hardware.
Users have reported frequent crashes in Intel's two most recent desktop CPU lineups for months, typically related to games and other demanding tasks. Developers also reported high failure rates, stoking demands to recall the chips.
Intel has finally traced the problem to microcode errors that caused incorrect voltage requests. Over time, the issue would raise minimum voltage levels across multiple cores, possibly explaining observations from retailers that Raptor Lake failure rates increased as the CPUs aged.
The microcode patch addresses the problem by limiting voltage requests above 1.55V. It will arrive as a BIOS update, so users should watch for patches from their specific motherboard manufacturer. Patches for Asus and MSI boards are already available.
All 13th and 14th-generation CPUs 65W and above are affected. Unfortunately, the fix only works for processors that haven't crashed yet. CPUs already experiencing problems must be replaced, prompting Intel's two-year warranty extension for boxed chips. Customers who purchased pre-built PCs should confirm whether their sellers will honor the extension.
Users can continue overclocking CPUs after applying the patch, Intel says. Disabling eTVB in the BIOS will also re-enable pushing voltage beyond 1.55V, but Intel warns against doing so.
Also read: Intel Stability Issues - The Story So Far
Internal tests show that performance changes are within the margin of error for many benchmark programs including 3DMark Time Spy, WebXPRT 4, Cinebench R24, and Blender 4.2. However, WebXPRT Online Homework and PugetBench GPU Effects Score might be slightly impacted.
Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Total War: Warhammer III should perform just as they did before the update. Still, Intel noted that Hitman 3's Dartmoor level encountered minor issues.
Hopefully, the motherboard patches help alleviate Intel's mounting troubles, which include a shareholder class-action lawsuit, falling market share, a declining market rating, and massive layoffs.