Intel’s stability struggles with its Raptor Lake processors may finally be coming to a close thanks to new microcode updates.
As we noted yesterday, Intel’s partners are starting to roll out motherboard BIOS updates that include the promised microcode fixes for its Raptor Lake processors. These patches should hopefully keep intact CPUs from degrading any further, although processors that are already damaged will have to be replaced. We were surprised to find out about this, though, as we hadn’t heard anything about it from Intel itself. Well, now we have.
In a post to the Intel Community Forums, the chipmaker says that it is currently distributing microcode patch 0x129 for Core 13th/14th Gen desktop CPUs «which will address incorrect voltage requests to the processor that are causing elevated operating voltage.» In short, the stability problems were largely the result of Intel’s CPUs requesting excessive voltage from the VRM. That was causing them to run hot, and the combination of high localized temperatures, high clocks, and too much voltage was quickly causing physical damage to the CPUs.
This is the third such update to address the issue, and hopefully the final one Intel has to release. Initially, Intel threw shade at its motherboard partners, claiming that board partners had selected improper settings for the CPUs and recommending that everyone manually set their chips to its recommended power settings.
