Intel is not going to recall the 13th and 14th generation Core processors from sale, despite the fact that the problem with their unstable operation may turn out to be much more serious than initially expected. The Verge turned to Intel representative Thomas Hannaford with questions about the current situation, and his answers did not seem entirely reassuring.
Image Source: Intel
Firstly, as it became known from Hannaford’s answers, potentially the so-called problem of excessive operating voltage, causing unstable operation, can be affected by any models of Core processors of the 13th and 14th generations with a nominal power consumption of 65 W, and not just models K-, KF- and KS-series with a higher rated TDP, as previously thought. This does not mean that absolutely all 13th and 14th generation Core processors will sooner or later exhibit unstable operation. Intel says it will release a microcode update in August that should prevent overvoltage-related problems in processors. However, it is not certain that this update will help processors that are already facing stability problems. “It is quite possible that the patch will reduce problems with instability of these chips,” said an Intel representative and immediately added that owners of processors who have already encountered instability should still contact the company’s technical support.
It looks like Intel is also replacing unstable processors. However, the company cannot guarantee that replaced chips will immediately receive the new microcode update. Intel has just started introducing it into new batches of processors. The company has also asked its OEM/ODM partners (PC manufacturers and assemblers) to install this update before shipping products to customers. However, according to Intel, partners will not be able to update their products until mid-August, when a new version of the microcode will be released.
At the moment, it is also unclear when motherboard manufacturers are going to release BIOS firmware updates based on the new microcode. The problem is that updating the BIOS is the only way to get the required microcode update for DIY solutions. Intel is not yet ready to comment on the warranty extension for its 13th and 14th generation Core processors, and also cannot provide details about what information the owner of the problematic processor must provide to the service center to be able to replace the chip.
The company also denied rumors that problems with its 13th and 14th generation Core processors could be caused by oxidation due to errors in the manufacturing process. The company confirmed that some 13th generation Core units did have problems with track oxidation, but this issue was resolved back in 2023. In addition, Intel does not agree with statements that 13th and 14th generation Core mobile processors are also susceptible to instability due to overvoltage. According to her, all the problems encountered by users of such processors are associated with ordinary errors in laptop software or hardware, and they are not related to the problems encountered by owners of desktop processors.
It is noteworthy that Intel recommends using third-party applications as an accessible preventive tool for checking processor instability. This was reported by the Robeytech YouTube channel. Before checking, you must install the latest BIOS versions for your motherboards and use only Intel-recommended settings to eliminate other possible factors of PC malfunction. For owners of systems with Nvidia video cards, the company advises reinstalling the full GeForce driver package several times (5, or better yet 10). The driver installation process actively uses the processor and file decompression functions, which is one of the triggers for unstable operation. In this case, the following error will appear when installing the driver.
Image Source: YouTube/Robeytech
For reliability, it is recommended to reinstall the driver 10 times. If an error still appears during the installation process, the owner should restart the PC. After this, the user can either contact Intel support or wait for the microcode update to be released (sometime in mid-August). If a new BIOS version based on new microcode also does not fix the problem of unstable processor operation, then the owner of the chip should definitely contact Intel technical support.
As for owners of Radeon video cards, they are recommended to run the 10-minute Cinebench test several times. But, unfortunately, this method is not as reliable as a check as in the case of the Nvidia driver. Why Intel itself has not developed a simple software tool to test its processors for stable operation and relies on third-party applications in this matter is a mystery.
In any case, the answers from an Intel representative in a conversation with The Verge hint that the company is still not considering, or pretending to not consider, the problem with unstable operation of the 13th and 14th generation Core chips as something more than usual an issue that can be resolved through technical support.