Summary

  • A microcode algorithm is causing incorrect voltage requests on Intel Core 13th and 14th gen processors.
  • Intel plans to release a microcode patch in mid-August 2024 to address crashing and stability issues.
  • The Intel Innovation event in September may reveal next-gen Intel Core processors compatible with Arrow Lake microarchitecture.

Intel released a statement to address crashing issues affecting 13th and 14th gen Intel Core CPUs, confirming that a fix is on the way. These stability issues caused Intel Core 13th and 14th gen processors to run at elevated voltages, negatively impacting performance during gaming sessions and productivity tasks.

Back in April, Intel responded to reports of stability issues affecting 13th and 14th gen CPUs, such as the Intel Core i9-14900K. At the time, Intel revealed that high voltage and frequency would cause the CPUs to run outside of Intel's recommended operating conditions, leading to elevated heat and performance issues. The company stated that most of the reports they received indicated that the issue was common on 600 and 700 chipset motherboards, thanks to overclocking and underclocking settings being toggled in BIOS. Motherboard BIOS updates were released by Intel's partners to attempt to remedy the issue, but many users still experienced issues after these updates. Intel confirmed it was investigating the exact cause of the issue, leading to a subsequent update from the company this week.

Intel employee Thomas Hannaford shared an update regarding the status of Intel's investigation into the Intel Core 13th and 14th gen stability and crashing issues, revealing that an in-depth analysis was finally complete. The analysis confirmed that elevated operating voltage on the Intel Core processors stemmed from a microcode algorithm. This algorithm would send incorrect voltage requests to the processor, resulting in the aforementioned crashing issues. To remedy this issue, Intel plans to deliver a microcode patch that directly addresses the incorrect voltage requests and instability experienced on 13th and 14th gen processors.

Intel Addresses Core 13th and 14th Gen CPU Crashing and Stability Issues

  • Issues stem from a microcode algorithm sending incorrect voltage requests
  • Microcode patch to be released in mid-August 2024

According to Intel, the company is continuing validation to ensure any scenarios of instability in its Intel Core 13th and 14th gen processors are addressed. Currently, Intel plans to release its microcode patch to partners in mid-August, following its full validation process. PC gamers who experience stability problems are also encouraged to share feedback with customer support in the meantime.

After the microcode patch is released, Intel will gear up for its Intel Innovation event in September, which could mark the reveal of its next generation Intel Core desktop processors. Utilizing the Arrow Lake microarchitecture, these new desktop processors will be compatible with the new LGA-1851 socket found on Z890 motherboards. The new processors are expected to be released before the end of 2024, with October being Intel's reported target for launch.

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Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
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Brand
Intel
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The Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-core, 32-thread CPU is Intel's special edition CPU take on its flagship 14th generation CPU, the Core i9 14900K.

It is essentially a cherry-picked 14900K SKU that can push higher clocks with up to a minimum of 6.2 GHz on its P-Cores, making it effectively the highest-clocked CPU out of the box to date when it comes to boost clocks from Intel.

It trades at a significant premium as a result and is expected, as a limited-run chip, to be a collectible SKU with high demand from enthusiasts and overclockers in 2024.

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CPU Model
Core i9 14900KS
CPU Socket
LGA 1700
Cores
24 Cores (8 P-Cores + 16 E-Cores)
Threads
32 Threads
PCIe 4.0 Support
Yes
Architecture
Raptor Lake Refresh
Process
Intel 7
Base Clock Speed
3.2 GHz (2.4 GHz E-Cores)
Boost Clock Speed
6.2 GHz (4.5 GHz E-Cores)
Cache
36 MB L3, 32 MB L2 Cache
PCIe
PCI-E 4.0 and 5.0 Support