Intel Raptor Lake instability problem reaches laptops

The instability problem with Intel Raptor Lake processors may be more widespread than previously thought. New data suggests that outages are affecting not only desktop computers and workstations, but also high-end laptops.

Image Source: Intel

«Yes, we have several laptops that fail due to exactly the same problems. True, processor crashes occur a little less frequently than on a PC,” the developer wrote. Cassells’ statement puts to rest any theories that Raptor Lake instability could be an issue unique to desktops or the LGA1700 socket. A few days ago, Alderon Games said that almost 100% of their Raptor Lake desktop processors were experiencing crashes, so the fact that laptops were crashing only “slightly less frequently” suggests that the problem exists on all platforms.

Although the developer did not specify which processor models are most susceptible to the problem in Intel’s 13th and 14th generation mobile line, it is logical to assume that it may affect the flagship processors of the Core i9 HX series. Current trends on desktops show that the most powerful and therefore power-hungry Raptor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh chips are more prone to instability, so there’s no reason to expect the situation to be any different on laptops.

Intel still hasn’t provided a universal solution to the Raptor Lake instability issue. The company tried to solve this problem with microcode updates that included stricter power limits, security mechanisms such as CEP in the BIOS, and a bug fix in the Enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost (eTVB) automatic overclocking algorithm, but none of these solutions could completely eliminate systematic failures.

According to experts, the trouble with the instability of Raptor Lake also lies in the fact that the failures are random in nature – some chips “fail” only under certain conditions, while others under other situations. As a result, attempts at correction consequently produce uneven results. For example, disabling E-cores only works on some chips.

To make matters worse, a growing number of reports may indicate that many Raptor Lake chips are degrading even when running without overclocking, making any solution to the problem just a temporary attempt to fix the situation.

And the fact that workstations with W680 chipset motherboards suffer from the same problems suggests that Intel’s problem is not solely related to power consumption, as previously thought. While this doesn’t mean that changing power caps and implementing safety mechanisms don’t help limit instability to some extent, it’s clear that power options aren’t the only issue causing havoc with Intel Raptor Lake processors.