[Intel] Sept 2024 (Update on Instability Reports on Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen Desktop Processors

[Silent_Scone]

September 25th Update:

Beta BIOS Links (microcode 0x12B)

Note: Some pages may not have propagated, please check back later

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO EVA-02 EDITION

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 DARK HERO

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 APEX ENCORE

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 FORMULA

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 EXTREME

• ROG MAXIMUS Z790 HERO BTF

• ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI

• ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI II

• ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI

• ROG STRIX Z790-F GAMING WIFI II

• ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI

• ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI II

• ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4

• ROG STRIX Z790-H GAMING WIFI

• ROG STRIX Z790-I GAMING WIFI

• PROART Z790-CREATOR
  
  Z690
  

• ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO
• ROG MAXIMUS Z690 HERO EVA EDITION
• ROG MAXIMUS Z690 APEX
• ROG MAXIMUS Z690 FORMULAROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME
• ROG MAXIMUS Z690 EXTREME GLACIAL
• ROG STRIX Z690-I GAMING WIFI
• ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI
• ROG STRIX Z690-A GAMING WIFI D4
• ROG STRIX Z690-G GAMING WIFI
• ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI
• ROG STRIX Z690-E GAMING WIFI

Z760

• PROART B760-CREATOR
• PROART B760-CREATOR D4
• PROART B760-CREATOR WIFI
  
  Intel Community Forum
  Intel has localized the Vmin Shift Instability issue to a clock tree circuit within the IA core which is particularly vulnerable to reliability aging under elevated voltage and temperature. Intel has observed these conditions can lead to a duty cycle shift of the clocks and observed system instability.  

Intel has identified four (4) operating scenarios that can lead to Vmin shift in affected processors:

1. Motherboard power delivery settings exceeding Intel power guidance. 
   a.  Mitigation: Intel Default Settings recommendations for Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors.  
2. eTVB Microcode algorithm which was allowing Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen i9 desktop processors to operate at higher performance states even at high temperatures. 
   a.  Mitigation: microcode 0x125 (June 2024) addresses eTVB algorithm issue.  
3. Microcode SVID algorithm requesting high voltages at a frequency and duration which can cause Vmin shift. 
   a.  Mitigation: microcode 0x129 (August 2024) addresses high voltages requested by the processor.  
4. Microcode and BIOS code requesting elevated core voltages which can cause Vmin shift especially during periods of idle and/or light activity. 
   a.  Mitigation: Intel is releasing microcode 0x12B, which encompasses 0x125 and 0x129 microcode updates, and addresses elevated voltage requests by the processor during idle and/or light activity periods.  

Regarding the 0x12B update, Intel is working with its partners to roll out the relevant BIOS update to the public.

Intel’s internal testing comparing 0x12B microcode to 0x125 microcode – on Intel® Core™ i9-14900K with DDR5 5200MT/s memory1  - indicates performance impact is within run-to-run variation (ie. Cinebench* R23, Speedometer*, WebXPRT4*, Crossmark*). For gaming workloads on Intel® Core™ i9-14900K with DDR5 5600MT/s memory2, performance is also within run-to-run variation (ie. Shadow of the Tomb Raider*, Cyberpunk* 2077, Hitman 3: Dartmoor*, Total War: Warhammer III – Mirrors of Madness*). However, system performance is dependent on configuration and several other factors.

Intel® reaffirms that both Intel® Core™ 13th and 14th Gen mobile processors and future client product families – including the codename Lunar Lake and Arrow Lake families - are unaffected by the Vmin Shift Instability issue. We appreciate our customers’ patience throughout the investigation, as well as our partners’ support in the analysis and relevant mitigations. 

______________________________

August 2024

Hi all,

This update will be pinned here for clarity on the ongoing situation with some 13th and 14th-gen CPUs experiencing instability exhibited at stock.

Intel has issued the following statement (07/22/2024)

Based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors returned to us due to instability issues, we have determined that elevated operating voltage is causing instability issues in some 13th/14th Gen desktop processors. Our analysis of returned processors confirms that the elevated operating voltage is stemming from a microcode algorithm resulting in incorrect voltage requests to the processor.

Intel is delivering a microcode patch which addresses the root cause of exposure to elevated voltages. We are continuing validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed. Intel is currently targeting mid-August for patch release to partners following full validation.

Intel is committed to making this right with our customers, and we continue asking any customers currently experiencing instability issues on their Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.

https://community.intel.com/t5/Processors/July-2024-Update-on-Instability-Reports-on-Intel-Core-13th...

For CPUs that exhibit unstable behaviour

Ensure you're on the latest BIOS for your motherboard

Update your motherboard BIOS to the latest revision containing microcode 0x125. Whilst this ucode revision does not resolve the issue, Intel has clarified that it contains fixes within microcode pertinent to Enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost (ETVB) behaviour that results in unexpected boost behaviour under certain thermal conditions.

Use Intel Base Profiles
The latest BIOS for your motherboard should contain Performance Preference options for Intel Base profiles. Ensure Intel Default Settings is selected. If using a 13th-Gen or 14th Gen i9 processor, choose Profile Performance.
If not selected already, ensure that SVID Behaviour is set to Intel Fail Safe

My CPU is running hotter using Intel Base Profiles than Asus Optimised, is this normal?
Yes, it can be normal for your CPU to run hotter than usual when using Intel base profiles. This occurs because following Intel's guidelines more closely often results in higher core voltages under certain workloads. Previously, motherboard vendors set the Load-Line Calibration (LLC) lower than Intel's recommendations to achieve lower temperatures while still delivering high performance. However, depending on your motherboard adhering to Intel's guidelines can lead to increased voltages whilst operating within Intel's current limits. This can result in higher operating temperatures depending on the workload.

Disable XMP

XMP is considered overclocking. To eliminate overclocking instability XMP should be disabled if experiencing crashing or unstable behaviour. Be sure to retest the behaviour at DRAM defaults.

Evaluate Cooling

Ensure your CPU cooling is working within the expected realms. If still experiencing instability under the conditions described above, consider reapplying the thermal application and removing any third-party CPU contact frames which may impact signal integrity.

Is my CPU damaged?

If still experiencing instability at Optimised Defaults [Intel - Performance / Extreme Profile] with XMP overclocking disabled, you will need to contact Intel.

I've read there was a fabrication issue with oxidisation, Intel has confirmed it.
This issue is unrelated to the ETVB behaviour and firmware and is a physical defect. Currently,  Intel has gone on record to state that a number of 13th-generation CPUs from 2023 are potentially impacted by this issue

ASUS FAQ

[Silent_Scone]

Unless you're somehow aware of the expected behaviour of unreleased firmware, it's best to keep things in the realms of reality and be objective - we're not engineers. Nobody not closely involved in this case should be asserting that the forthcoming update will or won't fix something. You're sitting from your living room claiming that every CPU experiencing a problem is damaged beyond repair. When we put it like that, you can see how silly it sounds.

The aim isn't to cover every potential cause of failure, but provide users with the recourse already available at this time.

[Adrian1983]

On my release day 14900KF at stock with an -80mv Undervolt my CPU is still running rock stable from release day when I first got it on my Strix Z690 Gaming A D4 however I am not using one of the newer CEP bios's as I had multiple issues since anything after 2802 bios.

I can't help but feel some users are not setting their bios's correctly resulting in random/multiple issues however that being said "Auto" means "Auto" as it did in the past with previous CPU's/Mobo combos at stock and resulted in the correct spec of voltages, These more modern mobo's and CPU's that is not the case, They are way over volted.

[DREAMARZ]

Running 13900KS for over a year without a single crash. Should users who experience no instability also update to latest BIOS/Chipset drivers or wait a bit for more information, testing and overall how all this situation will unfold?

[swale]

My CPU has been stable too using conservative settings. I will update to the new BIOS after about a month once I see there are no obvious problems with the BIOS update. Intel should extend the warranty on the CPU batches affected by the oxidation problem. Intel have yet to say which CPUs area affected by the oxidation problem.

[Silent_Scone]

I can't answer that for you, unfortunately. However, based on the available information it's probably wise to update the CPU microcode if you have concerns.

[Silent_Scone]

Thread updated. Some eager beavers seem to be quick to post that the observed behaviour may be irreversible due to the impacts of electromigration or unrelated issues also reported recently. This isn't something we can currently quantify easily on a user-by-user basis, the thread is here to provide context on the recourse already available through BIOS updates.

[SpiT_Shine]

Z790-E Gaming Wifi II, 14900k recently bought in May. Bios version 1102.  I haven't had any issues so far, but I immediately went into the bios on day 1 and changed PL1 125, PL2 253, IccMax 307, disabled MCE, changed the 2- 6x cores to 57x, enabled XMPI at 5600. Cooling with the Corsair 420mm, max temps 60-70c gaming.  Has worked perfect.  Because pretty much every tech channel out there is saying to update to the newest bios I did that yesterday on my ROG STRIX Z790-E GAMING WIFI II. Updated to BIOS 1402 with microcode 0x125. Turned on the Intel defaults, trying extreme and performance settings and did not enable XMP.  I never went over 1.4v before the new bios but now I was going past 1.5v.  I noticed lowest Vcore/VidMax voltages were lower but also much higher Vcore/Vidmax voltages which scared me., also all my P&E clocks were dipping way down from 5.7 & 4.4 to only .800 randomly.  Also with the Intel default settings I could not change any other settings in bios, I just got a pop up every time saying not to change them.  So I went back to BIOS 1102 and I am going to wait for the August update to see if that is any better.  Maybe I should just stay with bios 1102?

[swale]

For my Asus Z790 board I find setting SVID behavior  to Typical gives a lower idle CPU temperature compared to Intel Fail Safe and setting Asus Multicore Environment to Auto also gives a lower idle CPU temperature compared to Disabled Enforce All Limits.

I therefore question that the Intel default settings provide the best CPU temperatures.

[Adrian1983]

I also use Typical SVID and anyone should use the lowest they can get away with if they want the coolest CPU and longest longevity out of their CPU.

[Adrian1983]

This is the most sensible thing to do especially with the newer bios's, I have tried these newer bios' with my usual same settings I have with 2802 on my Z690 which all resulted in worse performance and higher temps and voltages however if users cannot trust or rely on board vendors Auto being Stock as it should be then that is the way to configure and lock down current limits to ensure no silly high voltage at high load across all the cores while keeping power and current at Intel spec.