[INTEL]-How To Update Your Microcode for Intel HX 13/14th CPUs Laptops/Mobile Easily.

[Da-BOSS]

Let me start with a small background info...

Since we know all Intel's fiasco about what is happening with Raptor Lake/Raptor Lake Refresh which is Intel's codename for the 13th and 14th generations of Intel Core processors, Most OEM/Vendors doesn't want to provide BIOS update that includes microcode update along with required updated Intel ME FW in order to work more effectively.

Since most laptops got outdated Intel ME FW & outdated microcode... this has become a serious problem since the CPUID of Intel HX 13/14th CPUs share the same code with Desktop variants and hence it should be considered Intel HX 13/14th CPUs as a Desktop CPU in a laptop case.

So it means they share the same impact as Desktop variants even if it doesn't boost enough to be of a concern, it does have relevancy and you now have the option to use this very simple driver that I am sharing it to you here on any Intel HX 13/14th CPUs Laptops/Mobile as long as it has CPUID of B0671.

Either way the requirement of updated Intel ME FW are just only mandatory when used in conjunction with any new microcode (If it's needed) in the BIOS but outside BIOS like... while running Windows or Linux this requirement of having an updated Intel ME FW is just optional.

Thanks to this VMware CPU Microcode Update Driver I can use it on any windows without needing to mess with the BIOS. Safest thing to update microcode.

Now... How to check if you got the latest microcode update or not? By simply check through HWINO64 or AIDA64 or even if you are using ThrottleStop tool will tell you which microcode you are using.

Here's some examples how it is shown which microcode are you using through various tools...

HWINFO64

AIDA64

ThrottleStop

Now fortunately I already packed it for you & ready to use without any further work required. Saving you the time to do it.

For the next part... You need to download this .zip file and extract it. Simply run the "Install.bat" file as an administrator.

The .zip file attached on this post look at the end of this post.

It shouldn't even take long and only few seconds and you will see this window... which is success.

You can even check the event viewer which confirms the success operation and applying the new microcode update.

Notice:- If doesn't update your microcode and it shows failing to apply microcode on event viewers... you need to disable virtualization either through Windows or simply go inside your BIOS and disable Intel virtualization and VT-d in the BIOS. This would allow the driver work!

September Microcode Update aka [0x12B]

New microcode update got released! This is the September microcode update which now they call it 0x12B .Please if you are using the 0x129 microcode previously then simply download the latest .zip pack from the attachment of this main post. Simply run uninstall.bat as admin [by right clicking on the file and choose "Run as Administrator"  and then run install.bat as an admin. 

No need to reboot, You just updated your microcode! Yes... it's that simple!

If you ever wanted to uninstall your updated microcode for whatever reasons... simply run "uninstall.bat" file as an administrator & reboot your laptop.

[Da-BOSS]

I really wish that happens, from all my heart I wish ASUS releasing BIOS update for our Intel HX laptop CPUs like any other OEMs did already.

Some people here doesn't want the BIOS update for bizarre reasons 🙄 which is really weird to be honest...

[MarkusSVK]

If you didn´t notice. ASUS updates the BIOS every few months. The software is updated regularly. There were three new BIOS updates since March for the Strix/Scar G16/G18. Eight in total since the introduction of the 13th gen G16/G18 since 2023. That is why I don´t understand your constant hysteria and the constant bickering about "We will never ever get an update from ASUS and the world is going to end in a hairy fur ball!!!"

[Silent_Scone]

Thread cleaned, please stay on topic and keep things civil 👍

[Huzi]

Hello

Can you please guide me, i don't know much about this thing microcode stuff,is it important to update this microcode as I got asus rog strix g16 i7 13650hx with RTX 4070.

I even scared to update bios i am using v325 bios because on internet i read some thread that many people different issue while  updating bios .

Currently i am not facing any issue just throttling while game so for that i did undervolt CPU.

[MaxusLDragold]

So, basically, for electron migration to occur, you need voltage; the higher the voltage, the faster the electron migration, which increases the processor speed. However, due to an issue with the microcode, the voltage demanded by the CPU can exceed safe limits. The effects may not be immediately apparent, but they will eventually manifest, as this excessive voltage can be reached even during casual workloads.

If you prefer not to update the microcode, you can downclock the CPU using Intel XTU, as previously mentioned @hexaae (page 6 and 12), if you don’t care much about performance.

If you don't want to compromise on performance, you should install the microcode. I’m not sure how effective it will be, but you can give it a try and check the voltages using HWinfo.

[Silent_Scone]

---

@MaxusLDragold wrote:

So, basically, for electron migration to occur, you need voltage; the higher the voltage, the faster the electron migration, which increases the processor speed. However, due to an issue with the microcode, the voltage demanded by the CPU can exceed safe limits. The effects may not be immediately apparent, but they will eventually manifest, as this excessive voltage can be reached even during casual workloads.

This isn't accurate, let's not turn the thread into a pseudoscience bonanza 😁.

Power consumption directly impacts component longevity, so higher power draw increases the risk of degradation. It's important to consider not just voltage but also the frequency and the current in this equation. A lot of users don't realise frequency and current are intrinsically related, this is primarily due to the transistor switching states more rapidly.

The Vcore rail supplies power to both the CPU cores and the Uncore, the accumulated exposure to higher currents will be more notable on i9s due to the higher turbo frequency (as well as more cores under all core workloads), hence why the i9 desktop SKUs are primarily impacted by what Intel is referring to as the "excessive voltage issue". 

If we go retrospectively back to Haswell-E before Intel proactively throttled AVX workloads, it was quite easy to degrade the Ring by running Prime95 small FFTs, and this is on CPUs running a much larger process than what we're using now. This is why I find it baffling users would willingly expose their CPU to power viruses to find a level of stability at current levels they'll otherwise never see. It's important to note that different data patterns produce different swings in current, too. Running P95 only proves that the system can run Prime. An example of this is the Unreal Engine crashes - a data pattern that's consistently exposed the issue with some of the CPUs.

Roman covered electromigration quite well in his segment here recently and gives just enough of a window to comprehend what the primary factors are in causing accelerated ageing in silicon.

[MaxusLDragold]

You are probably right, I had just made some of my assumptions.

[MarkusSVK]

To update the BIOS is very simple. Just go to the ASUS page ( https://rog.asus.com/us/laptops/rog-strix/rog-strix-g16-2023-series/helpdesk_bios/ ) and select your G16 model. There you will find the windows version of the latest BIOS. Just download it and open. Follow the instructions. Have your laptop plugged in just to be safe. It takes some time, but it is quite safe. Done a lot of BIOS  updates in my life. Never had any trouble if you choose correct one. With the microcode, there is no official BIOS update at this time. It is disputable if this standalone microcode update from DA-BOSS has any real effect without a complete BIOS update that comes with it. By the way. I have never seen or read about a malfunctioning 13650HX. 13980HX or 14900HX yes, but just a few. I own a desktop 13600KF for two years without problems and a 13980HX laptop which works fine for now, hope it stays that way. I firmly believe that ASUS will provide a new BIOS with updated microcode in the near future. Just be patient.

[Da-BOSS]

It changes the boosting behavior, It will boost conservatively.

It's better to use the microcode update for the sake of safety and peace of mind.

I haven't received a single report issue from users using this driver on all brands. I watch report from Reddit, Techpowerup, Discord and Guru3d. All is fine while using this driver.

You can use the microcode update & if for whatever reason you want to uninstall it... it's easy to do it too!

There's no harm or drawbacks, just only benefits. 🙂

If it ever happened and ASUS released a new BIOS update in the future (hopefully... I doubt it) the driver will simply not use the microcode and instead it lets the BIOS load it own one. If it detects a newer microcode from the BIOS... the driver will simply stop & a report will be generated to event viewer that it doesn't need microcode update... like this image.. tested it 😉

[MarkusSVK]

Just don´t forget to mention, that your "fix" is not approved by ASUS. That means that if something goes wrong, and Huzi, who is afraid to do a simple BIOS update will loose his warranty. You should change your original post and warn people, that by doing this, they do it at their own risk and will loose warranty.