Intel releases new patch for CPUs affected by instability issues but wait, werent we done with this already?

Date:
Fri, 09 May 2025 10:50:46 +0000

Description:
Did you forget about Intels CPU instability issues? Well dont, because theres a new patch that fixes further problems with 14th-gen and 13th-gen chips.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Intel has deployed a new patch for 14th-gen and 13th-gen chips This is another fix for the long-running episode around instability problems So it seems we
werent done with fixes for those issues after all, but the new patch is admittedly addressing a niche scenario

Intel has released another update for its processors in the long-running saga of instability issues with its 14th-gen and 13th-gen chips.

VideoCardz pointed out that Intels announced the deployment of a new microcode patch (excitingly named 0x12F) for those Raptor Lake and Raptor
Lake Refresh CPUs.

This is a supplement to a previous patch (equally catchily dubbed 0x12B)
which was rolled out back in September 2024.

In a press release , Intel says: This new microcode further improves system conditions that can potentially contribute to Vmin Shift Instability on Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop-powered systems.

In other words, its smoothing out further issues relating to elevated
voltages that were the main cause of the various crashing nastiness (and chip degradation) with those processors.

Intel further adds that it has released this patch after an investigation
into a limited number of reports of wonkiness with PCs that are continuously running for multiple days in a state of low activity (with just light workloads ticking away).

Intel suggests all affected 14th-gen and 13th-gen chip owners install their latest BIOS update the next release will contain this patch when its
provided by their motherboard manufacturer and promises that it doesnt slow down performance on the host PC. At least going by Intels own internal testing, anyway. (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler) Analysis: A surprise addition

But wait a minute, wasnt this whole elevated voltage bug already cured? Well, officially, it was. In October 2024, after the last patch before this new
one, Intel said the stability problems were fully fixed but apparently they werent. Not quite.

Okay, so to be fair to Intel, this is a niche situation. Not that many folks leave their PC on for days running some kind of light workload constantly,
and so this is something that the average user is (presumably) not going to encounter.

That said, maybe you do at least leave your PC on for multiple days at a time
even if its mostly not doing anything and as such, itll seem prudent to apply the patch anyway. Besides, there could be other minor side effects stemming from whatever issues this new release fixes up, so Id recommend as Intel does that everyone apply the patch as a matter of course.

Hopefully, as Intel claims, there wont be any performance impact from installing this patch. But if youre concerned about that possibility, just wait for independent testing of the microcode update which will happen soon enough to confirm that your PC wont be slowed down by this.

This latest installment in the instability saga does make you wonder if there might yet be further patches deployed by Intel in the future, too. You might also like AMD responds to reports of 9800X3D CPU issues Hang on handheld fans
we could be seeing AMD's FSR 4 upscaling on new handhelds after all if this new RDNA 4 leak is legitimate Here are the best cheap processor deals right now



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/cpu/intel-releases-new-patch-for-cpus-affe cted-by-instability-issues-but-wait-werent-we-done-with-this-already


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