Intel has announced that it will not recall its 13th and 14th generation Core CPUs, despite persistent stability issues linked to microcode errors. These issues have led to elevated voltages and potential damage to the chips, affecting models like the i9 14900K. While Intel acknowledges the problem, the company has confirmed that sales will continue and has not commented on potential warranty extensions for affected users.
A microcode update is expected in mid-August or sooner, with users advised to run their CPUs at default settings in the meantime.
Highlights
- Sales of 13th and 14th gen CPUs will continue without halting despite stability problems.
- No comments on possible warranty extensions for affected users; focus is on upcoming microcode update.
- Intel plans to release microcode update in mid-August or sooner, encouraging users to run CPUs with default settings.
Intel confirmed that the company will not be recalling 13th and 14th gen Intel Core CPUs that were affected by microcode issues, which negatively impacted CPU stability in recent months. In severe cases, users may experience elevated voltages on their Intel CPUs, leading to irreparable damage to the chips.
Intel first responded to reports of stability issues affecting a wide range of Intel Core 13th and 14th gen CPUs, such as the flagship i9 14900K, in April. The company confirmed that high voltage and frequency caused the CPUs to run outside the recommended operating conditions, leading to stability issues and crashes. Moreover, Intel determined that the issue was common in systems running with underclocking and overclocking settings. Despite the release of new BIOS updates for 600 and 700 chipset motherboards, the issues continued to be persistent for months. This month, the results of Intel”s investigation revealed that the microcode algorithm in the affected CPUs would send incorrect voltage requests, leading to instability and internal damage.
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Although a new microcode update for Intel CPUs is on the way, Intel confirms that 13th and 14th gen chips will not be recalled, according to an email sent to The Verge by Intel representative Thomas Hannaford. There are no plans to halt sales of Intel 13th and 14th gen CPUs, and there”s no comment on warranty extensions for users with chips affected by microcode issues. However, Hannaford reiterates that the microcode update will be available in mid-August or sooner, and more details will be revealed at that time. Hannaford also notes that Intel”s validation process is still ongoing to ensure all instances of CPU instability are recorded and addressed.
Intel Will Not Recall 13th and 14th Gen CPUs Affected by Microcode and Stability Problems
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- Sales of 13th and 14th gen CPUs will not be halted.
- Intel does not comment on potential warranty extensions.
- Microcode update launching in mid-August or sooner.
While waiting for the microcode update, users are encouraged to run their Intel CPUs with default settings, update their motherboard BIOS to the latest version, and share feedback with Intel”s customer support. Running the CPU with default settings may slow or stop any degradation, but it”s possible that issues could still occur. As a result, many users are returning their Intel 13th and 14th CPUs in order to avoid problems with their PCs altogether.
The issues involving Intel”s CPUs paint the company in a less favorable light, but the microcode patch could greatly alleviate the problem in just a few weeks. Intel can also turn the negativity surrounding its desktop offerings around in September, since next generation Intel Core desktop processors are expected to be revealed at the Intel Innovation event. These new processors are compatible with Z890 motherboards, and Intel is reportedly planning to launch them in October 2024 at the earliest.
Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
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.
Brand
Intel
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
Transistors
Unstated
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
Graphics
Intel® UHD Graphics 770
TDP
150 Base TDP
Power Draw
253 WExpand
