Modern processors are incredibly complex, and even a tiny flaw during manufacturing can have serious and widespread repercussions. This seems to be the case with 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core desktop processors, where a manufacturing issue has resulted in users experiencing widespread instability.
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The good news is that Intel has prepared a fix that should be ready later this month. The bad news is that processors may have already suffered permanent damage.
The cause of this issue has been traced back to erroneous CPU microcode (this is the firmware that runs on the processor, controlling low-level operations), causing the chip to ask for more power than it needs and pushing the processor outside its safe operating envelope. This issue only appears to affect desktop processors, with mobile versions of the 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processors being unaffected.
Intel has created updated microcode that patches the issue, and it expects this to be ready by mid-August. This is good news, but it's also where things get messy.
First off, this updated microcode has to make its way to affected PCs through BIOS updates from motherboard makers or via Windows updates, so it could be a while before this trickles down to affected users.
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It gets worse. According to a report by Tom's Hardware, as soon as a PC starts to crash, the processor has suffered "irreversible degradation," which means it's been permanently damaged. No microcode update can fix a damaged processor, and the advice from Intel is that "customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance."
Intel isn't making it easy for customers to figure out if they are affected, either. The company has yet to give 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core users a way to tell if their processor is affected beyond pointing them to a YouTube video by Robeytech that shows how to use the Nvidia GeForce driver package to test for this issue -- the rub being that this only works for Nvidia GeForce GPU users, so there's no universal test to confirm an affected processor.
Intel has only said that Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with a 65W power usage or higher -- including K/KF/KS and 65W non-K variants -- could be affected. Not all are. The company alsosaid that it is "investigating options to easily identify affected processors on end-user systems," but there's no more information or timescale on this.
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What if your PC isn't crashing, and you want to prevent it from being damaged? The advice from Intel is as follows: "Intel recommends that users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors, along with ensuring their BIOS is up-to-date. Once the microcode patch is released to Intel partners, we advise users to check for the relevant BIOS updates."
Will Intel issue a recall? The company gave The Verge a single-word answer: "no."
FAQ
Q: What processors are affected?
A: It is believed that all Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with a 65W power usage or higher are affected, including K/KF/KS and 65W non-K variants. Mobile versions appear unaffected.
Q: How many processors are affected?
A: Unknown, as Intel won't supply this information.
Q: Does the patch fix crashing processors?
A: No. Once a processor has begun to crash, it has been permanently damaged, and the best course of action is to replace it.
Q: I've seen mention that this issue is down to a "via Oxidation." What is this, and is this the problem?
A: In circuit board design, a via is a pathway for tracks on the circuit board to cross layers. The "via Oxidation" problem was a manufacturing issue dating back to 2023 affecting some early Intel Core 13th Generation desktop processors, but Intel says this is not the issue here.
Q: Are Macs affected?
A: No. The last Intel-based Macs were built in 2020 and used 10th Generation Intel CPUs.
Q: How do I know what processor is inside my PC?
A: The easiest way to find this information in Windows 10 and Windows 11 is by firing up Control Panel and going to System and Security and then System, and on this screen you will see your computer's CPU model and speed displayed. Alternatively, you can download and install CPUID, an app that gives you a huge amount of in-depth info about your PC.
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