[Editors’ Note, Aug. 2, 2024: We updated this story with additional information regarding Intel’s announcement of warranty extensions for boxed 13th and 14th Gen processors. We have also appended eight of our 13th Gen Core and 14th Gen Intel Core CPU reviews with disclaimers pointing to this story, noting that we are in a wait-and-see posture regarding recommending them further.]
It’s increasingly hard to deny: Intel has a big chip problem. An unusual number of the company’s latest 14th Gen “Raptor Lake Refresh” chips, which debuted late in 2023, are proving to be prone to crashes and blue screens. Intel’s older 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” processors are, similarly, showing the same distressing traits.
Now, of course, no silicon lasts forever. However, escalating reports have been showing Intel’s most recent desktop chips have exhibited unprecedented stability issues early in their lifecycles. Not every user is seeing the problems, and not always in the same form or frequency, which is what is so vexing about the issues. However, under a storm of public pressure in forums online and from some game developers‘ public statements, Intel has stated that, upon investigation, it believes the issue is down to the CPUs pulling more power than they should under certain circumstances due to a microcode bug. That kind of stress can lead not just to instability, but also (unstated by the chip maker, but not disputed) permanent CPU damage.
This is a fast-evolving situation, with new facets (and statements from Intel) emerging over time. The latest: Intel has extended its warranty on boxed versions of the affected chips by two years. I’ve summarized here what we know so far to clarify what is going on and, more importantly, to help you protect your possibly affected PC from damage—or further damage.
Why Are ‘Raptor Lake Refresh’ and ‘Raptor Lake’ Chips Failing Now?
First, let’s discuss the likely causes of these problems. Due to the sporadic nature of these crashes and blue screens (and all sorts of conjecture in forums, YouTube videos, and the like), you might have seen a lot of mixed information over the past few weeks and months. These instability issues weren’t evident at launch but have only emerged over time. This suggests that nothing is inherently wrong with the processors, architecturally speaking. Instead, Intel is laying the blame at the feet of some faulty microcode (more about which in a moment).
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
As a preface: I’ve reviewed a host of these CPUs, among them the following:
As I reported in each of these reviews at the time of their launch, these processors run hot and consume a considerable amount of power. I test consumer desktop processors like these using a 240mm water cooler in an open-air test bed, and these chips have frequently hit their thermal limit. They also stay at this limit during prolonged tests, which is far from ideal for long-term use. You can see that in the big bars below next to the 13th and 14th Gen Intel chips.
Indeed, the logical first place to look for crashing issues under these circumstances would be the amount of power these processors pull, or the amount of heat they generate. It’s no mystery that prolonged heat and excessive voltage can cause processors not just to crash, but to degrade and fail gradually. Those who overclock know this quite well. Cautious overclockers attempt to balance the risks of shortening the lifespan of their parts against the performance gains they eke out.
The Raptor Lake Bug: How We Got Here
Intel’s current take on the situation is that excessive voltage is the issue. An Intel representative, Thomas Hannaford, posted the following on an Intel community page on July 22:
“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.”
It’s impossible for a layperson to verify, in every case, why and how these chips might be subjected to excessive voltages. Intel had suggested back in June that it could be an issue with select motherboards, which was credible as some motherboards, to improve stability, push a small amount of extra power or even increase clocks slightly. However, this has been a common practice for decades, and we haven’t seen widespread issues like this before.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
While a bit of extra voltage from motherboards might have exacerbated the issue, Intel is now saying that the quoted “microcode algorithm” is at fault, which means its processor settings were too high from the start. However, this doesn’t mean all Intel processors suffer from this problem—Intel’s 12th Gen “Alder Lake” processors and everything that came before them have not shown evidence of the same issues. Currently, it is localized to 13th Gen Raptor Lake and 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh desktop processors.
It’s not entirely clear which specific 13th and 14th Gen chips are affected yet. Both generations of Core i9 and Core i7 processors appear to be the most affected chips. However, Intel stated in an answer to a query from The Verge:
“Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with 65W or higher base power—including K, KF, KS and 65W non-K variants—could be affected by the elevated voltages issue. However, this does not mean that all processors listed are (or will be) impacted by the elevated voltages issue.”
I think that it’s unlikely the problem extends all the way down the product stack, as lower-end chips, typically, aren’t pressed quite as hard on clock speed or voltages, nor are mobile chips. (Also, note that some lower-end chips designated 13th Gen in the Raptor Lake line are actually rebadged 12th Gen parts.)
Speaking of which: There’s also the question of laptop chips. Intel has confirmed that it is looking into reasons why its 13th and 14th Gen mobile CPUs should not be affected by the same malady as the desktop chips. A spokesperson, Intel community manager Lex Hoyos, noted on Reddit on July 22:
“The symptoms being reported on 13th/14th Gen mobile systems—including system hangs and crashes—are symptoms stemming from a broad range of potential software and hardware issues.”
Though some failures have been reported in those cases, individual products from every processor line sometimes fail, and a critical mass of evidence hasn’t emerged (at least yet) to suggest that the same stability issues affect Intel’s laptop processors.
The elephant in the room in all this—unanswerable with any certainty at the moment—is whether these failures indicate permanent damage to the chip, even after the microcode fix is applied. My take? It almost certainly depends on the chip model, the individual chip sample, how it was used, the cooler in play, and how hard it was stressed and for how long. Figuring that out will be a longer game.
One thing before we start: If you have a 13th or 14th Gen desktop at this point, regardless of status, we’d suggest—first and foremost—checking with its motherboard manufacturer or the OEM in question for the very latest BIOS update and applying it. And we do mean very latest; this is a fast-evolving issue, and new versions may emerge on any given day. We also expect a flurry of them in August as Intel issues its microcode fixes. For now, though, this will get the board reverted to Intel’s suggested safe default CPU settings (the “Intel Baseline Profile”), exclusive of any motherboard-maker overclocking. But you’ll still want and need the coming critical microcode fix, even if you update your BIOS now.
How Do I Know If My PC Is Affected?
If you own a 13th or 14th Gen Intel desktop PC, irregular system crashes or blue screens are the most obvious signs that your PC might have this issue. This is particularly true if your system worked fine for the last few weeks or months but now crashes consistently while doing something it used to do without a problem.
If that isn’t happening to you, your system might be OK, or it might just not be suffering from this flaw—yet. Either way, performing some basic PC wellness checks would be wise to ensure your system continues to work without issue. First and foremost? Check the operating temperature of your processor.
The easiest way to do this (again: after you have updated your BIOS to the very latest version!) is by downloading and running two programs together. The first is CPUID’s HWMonitor, though you can also use the open-source alternative Open Hardware Monitor. This app does just as its name suggests and will scope out your hardware’s operating conditions.
Find your processor and unfold the info below it by clicking the “+” symbol. The thing you’ll need to watch closely is the Temperatures area for your chip. The last column in HWMonitor, as shown here, keeps track of the maximum temperature, which is the most important one to note.
(Credit: CPUID)
You can keep HWMonitor open while you run games, or use your system normally to eyeball what temperature it will hit under regular use.
As for the second program to get, I suggest running a program like Maxon’s Cinebench 2024 to test it more carefully. Cinebench typically takes just 10 minutes to run and is a favorite tool of ours for benchmarking processors. Because it engages all cores and threads, it works well for maxing out a chip, so it runs in its hottest and most power-hungry state. (This test can also cause a system to crash due to stability issues, which, in this case, is a plus for testing purposes.)
(Credit: Maxon)
Run both programs together, and you should get an idea of how hot your PC gets under stress. If the max temperature hits 100 degrees C, that’s not ideal, as that’s the thermal limit of these processors. This means your CPU is slowing itself down to avoid going over that temperature, so you’re pushing it as hard as possible, using as much power as possible, and not even getting all the performance it’s designed to deliver. It’s also bad for the processor’s lifespan if that’s sustained.
All that said, even if your system does not run excessively hot or crash during this test, it could still have issues. Overclockers often test their tweaked settings over prolonged periods, sometimes up to 24 hours, to ensure stability at a particular operating voltage and clock speed. This test is not meant to be definitive, but it’s an early warning sign if you have an issue. And it does an excellent job of checking maximum operating temperatures.
Got the Bug? Possible Next Steps
If your system is crashing often, you’ve applied the latest BIOS, and no luck, your best option is to pursue a return and replacement from either Intel or the company you bought the system from. Intel support should be the first place you go if you built your system yourself and purchased the processor as a stand-alone item. If you bought a prebuilt desktop PC with a 13th or 14th Gen Core desktop chip, Intel recommends first checking with the system’s manufacturer. If you get no joy from the system maker, Intel suggests then reaching out to its support.
Recently, Intel extended the warranties on its 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors by two years. This means affected chips will have five years of warranty coverage from the date of purchase. However, this only affects “boxed Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors,” according to Intel. If you bought a pre-built system with one of these chips inside, you will have to contact the system manufacturer.
If your system isn’t crashing or does so only intermittently and is running excessively hot in the tests above, you should still take some steps. I’ve gathered a few possible suggestions. As mentioned in its statement above, Intel will soon deploy a “microcode patch” that it suggests should stabilize the voltage issues. But as damage to a chip can build up over time, it’s best not to wait for that solution if you need to use your PC in the meantime.
Emphasizing this again: We’ll assume you went and updated your BIOS before trying any of the below tactics!
The Undervolting Option
The first (and arguably the easiest) measure is to undervolt your processor. Intel’s upcoming microcode patch likely will do just this, based on what Intel has stated about the patch so far. The company told The Verge last week in the same Q&A exchange cited earlier:
“Intel is confident that the microcode patch will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service, though validation continues to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.”
“Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected or at-risk processors on end user systems.”
“It is possible the patch will provide some instability improvements to currently impacted processors; however, customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance.”
The thing to note is that reducing voltage, in and of itself, can also cause instability issues, particularly when the processor is under a heavy load. This makes adjusting the voltage of a processor very much a balancing act. You want just enough to keep everything stable and running smoothly, but not an ounce more than you need. Voltage directly impacts heat production, and the lower the voltage you can operate with, the less heat you will have to deal with. This also has the plus side of cutting down the processor’s power consumption and can extend its lifespan.
Lowering the voltage can be done in several ways, none complicated. But for the above reasons, don’t go too far with any of them.
Undervolting: Via the BIOS
Depending on your motherboard, the best way to achieve this could be by adjusting the processor voltage offset inside the system BIOS. The processor voltage offset does just as it says: It will raise or lower the processor voltage by the amount set. This typically runs in increments of 5 millivolts, sometimes shown as 0.005v.
(Credit: ASRock)
This is relatively easy and safe to change; I regularly run the Core i9-12900KS in my system with the offset at its lowest allowed value of -0.100v (-100 millivolts) to help reduce heat and power consumption. How much you can lower your voltage will depend on your system, but you can easily reduce it 10 or 20 millivolts at a time, test for stability, and go lower if it’s OK, or go back up a little if it proves unstable.
Note: This adjustment may only be possible on Intel Z-series motherboards, based on the Z690 or Z790 chipsets. In some cases, Intel’s B-series motherboards will also support this feature, but those don’t officially support overclocking, so this feature isn’t always included.
(Credit: ASRock)
Undervolting: Via the Intel Xtreme Tuning Utility
Another option is to use Intel’s Xtreme Tuning Utility (XTU). This application also enables you to set a voltage offset that will reduce the CPU’s operating temperature and power consumption, just like editing it in the BIOS. It’s better to attempt this first via XTU; if you reduce the voltage too much, it’s easier to recover from the issue.
(Credit: Intel)
However, the problem with XTU is that you must keep this app running to keep that voltage set. This is where doing it via the BIOS becomes a better long-term option, as you can just leave it set and forget about it.
(Credit: Intel)
That said, Intel’s XTU is a friendlier option for beginners, so if you aren’t comfortable with poking around in the BIOS, try this. It also has many more options you can experiment with, but it’s beyond the scope of this article to cover them all, so use them at your own risk.
Undervolting: Via Throttlestop
One last option I should mention is Throttlestop, which I habitually use on several PCs. This app is similar to Intel’s XTU; you should use only one or the other, not both. In truth, I like the way Intel’s XTU lays out the controls better, but it doesn’t work on all systems. Throttlestop is an excellent choice for AMD-based systems, older PCs, laptops, and any desktops that don’t work with Intel’s XTU.
Recommended by Our Editors
Know that Throttlestop and Intel XTU will warn you about potentially damaging your processor. These alerts should be listened to but not overly feared. If you are overclocking, these would be more significant concerns, but reducing power shouldn’t cause any permanent harm.
(Credit: Throttlestop)
The Underclocking Option
Another option is to reduce your processor’s operating clock speed, or “underclock” it. This tends to have more pronounced reductions in operating voltage and temperatures than undervolting, but it comes with a more significant cost. Undervolting typically doesn’t hurt performance much, if at all. Under the right circumstances, undervolting can even improve performance if your processor is thermally limited and is now running a bit cooler due to the lower voltage.
Underclocking is quite different, as it technically always reduces performance. The idea of slowing your computer down isn’t popular for obvious reasons, especially if you paid a premium for a high-end CPU. But it needs to be considered in the proper context. Underclocking is safer and easier than undervolting and arguably more effective.
The way underclocking works is just that: by setting the CPU to run at a clock speed that is lower than its factory-defined maximum. Your processor is set to run at a certain speed of, say, 4.0GHz, and you tell it to run at something less, like 3.9GHz. It’s that simple. The processor is designed to run at different voltages and power settings depending on its clock speed, and by reducing the clock speed, you are also setting it to not operate at those higher power settings. This naturally reduces power consumption and heat, as well.
Underclocking: Via BIOS and Software
Reducing the clock speed can be done in numerous ways, including all the same ways you can reduce voltage. That’s to say, you can do it in the BIOS, via Intel’s XTU, or via Throttlestop. The simplest way with all three options is the same: Find the clock multiplier or ratio, and set it lower. We won’t go over how to lower the clocks in BIOS as it is a bit more risky of an operation, but it is safe and easy to do with Intel’s XTU or Throttlestop. I will set my Core i9-12900KS processor to 4.2GHz in the examples below; its top clock speed for all cores is 5.2GHz.
First, if you look back at the compact view for Intel’s XTU below (repeated from earlier), you’ll see “Performance Core Ratio” dead center with the current shown core ratio in the gray drop-down box…
(Credit: Intel)
You can click either the drop-down box or the arrows to set a clock speed. If you go into Advanced View, you will see the section shown in the image below. Here, each of the high-performance P-Cores of the Core i9-12900K are represented by one of those big blue blocks, while the green blocks on the right represent the high-efficiency E-Cores.
(Credit: Intel)
Nothing suggests the E-Cores are the issue to date, so we’ll leave those alone. The P-Cores here can be set lower on a core-by-core basis by clicking the arrows beside the number or by using the drop-down box just to the right of the blue blocks. This field will show the settings for the P-Core you have selected on the left, and you can click a different blue block to switch between them.
In Throttlestop, you have similar options. You’ll want to click the “FIVR” button from the main menu, which will open a more advanced menu. From here, you will see in the bottom left-hand corner a section labeled “Turbo Groups.”
(Credit: Throttlestop)
(Credit: Throttlestop)
This section essentially sets the clock speed that the P-Cores will operate at depending on how many cores are active at a given time. Group 5, for example, indicates it is the ratio it will use when six cores are active, but not five cores or seven. You can set each of these with a different ratio to change the clock speed. There’s a rule in place here that you cannot have more cores acting at a higher clock speed than fewer cores. (For example, you cannot have the processor set to run at 5.0GHz with all cores, but for it to run at 4.0GHz with just one core active.) Due to this rule, you can easily lower the clock speed on all cores, regardless of how many are active, by simply lowering the ratio for Group 0. In this case, I have set the processor to not run higher than 4.2GHz.
Higher clock speeds require a disproportionate amount of additional power, so each step down you take reduces power consumption drastically. (For this reason, I never run my personal laptops at their maximum speed and keep Throttlestop running on them all the time to conserve battery.) If you are attempting to remedy a crashing issue or prevent damage to your processor by reducing the clock speed, it’s best to use the aforementioned HWMonitor and Cinebench tools to help you determine how low you should set your clock speed. You don’t want your processor going over 90 degrees C, so by lowering the clock speed, running Cinebench, and watching your operating temperature, it should be easy to see if you should push the processor’s clock speed down even more, or if you can maybe even raise it back somewhat. Just keep working on it until you find that perfect balance.
Underclocking: Via Windows Power Plan
Reducing the clock speed is also possible without using any of these methods, right in Windows. If you open the Windows Power Options (type “Power Options” into the search on the taskbar), click “Change plan settings” on your current power plan, and then click “Change advanced power settings,” you’ll see an option for “Processor power management.” Under this is a “maximum processor state” option that is percentage-based.
(Credit: Microsoft)
Just dropping this from 100% to 99% will significantly reduce power consumption, but it will also considerably reduce clocks, because all forms of Turbo Boost will be disabled. When configured like this, the processor will operate at 99% of its listed base clock speed, or lower if you pushed it down further. You could also simply disable Turbo Boost in the BIOS, in Intel’s XTU, or in Throttlestop and get the same result, but we don’t recommend it. Suffice it to say that editing the power plan is simple, safe, and reliable without the need to navigate a BIOS menu or install any third-party applications. It’s also the easiest to reverse if you need the extra power for a minute.
Keep Your PC Better Cooled
Adding better cooling to your system may also help. If possible, I would aim to keep under-stress operating temperatures below 90 degrees C for the benefit of the system long-term. This is true for AMD- and Intel-based systems alike, as 90 degrees is already a bit higher than I would feel comfortable with for everyday use.
You’ll find a limitation to how much cooling can do, though, particularly if you keep your system in a closed environment like a desk niche. But if you’re running a high-end 13th or 14th Gen chip with marginal cooling, you may want to look into liquid cooling, or a larger liquid cooler, if your chip is exhibiting instability.
Intel’s Upcoming Patch…and Some PC Buying Advice
The microcode patch Intel is working on is not out yet, and you can always wait for that update to help resolve this issue, as well. Note, however, that this coming patch likely isn’t a guaranteed solution to the problem, either. If excessive voltage has already damaged your chip, you may be stemming further damage with the update, but that’s it. It remains to be seen if this patch is a “fix” or a “stop to the bleeding.” It will almost certainly depend on your specific situation.
We cannot guarantee that enacting any of the procedures we suggest above will resolve or prevent the problem from happening, either. Again, excess power and heat can shorten a processor’s lifespan. That is a gradual process, and any damage inflicted or time taken off a processor’s lifespan isn’t coming back, no matter what you do. Intel’s patch and the workarounds suggested here only aim to hopefully return the processor to a stable working condition and slow its gradual decline to a more acceptable rate. But they cannot undo what has been done.
Best AMD Ryzen Processors We’ve Tested
For anyone in the market for a new PC or planning a new build, I strongly recommend a wait-and-see approach before jumping to any 13th Gen or 14th Gen Intel desktop processors or prebuilt systems with those chips, even if they are steeply discounted. We’d wait for a green light that the microcode fixes are effective and rolled out on whatever 13th Gen or 14th Gen desktop CPU or PC you buy. Also, this advice is not grounded just in this bug. Intel’s planned, rearchitected next-generation processors, code-named “Arrow Lake,” are expected to be out later this year, and AMD’s next-generation desktop Ryzen 9000 processors will launch in August.
With next-generation core components just weeks or months away, it’s simply in your best interest to wait and see what the latest platforms offer, rather than jumping in with last-gen hardware that, right now, has a big, dark cloud over its head.
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