July 2024 Update on Instability Reports on Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen Desktop Processors

I've had no problems but I set a BIOS option for the CPU temperature not to exceed 85C.

My latest Asus BIOS has a fix for Updated with microcode 0x125 to ensure eTVB operates within Intel specifications.

Is this the fix Intel refers to?

Steve C said:

I've had no problems but I set a BIOS option for the CPU temperature not to exceed 85C.

My latest Asus BIOS has a fix for Updated with microcode 0x125 to ensure eTVB operates within Intel specifications.

Is this the fix Intel refers to?

Click to expand...

Nope, and this fix made my cpu even more unstable, and if your cpu has been damaged, the new bios which should be available mid august will not fix the issue, only new cpus.

On top of that Intel support said it could take a few weeks to get my CPU replaced, this is unacceptable, even PB Tech (company I bought the cpu from has been unwilling to replace)

The is a much longer version with additional information and advice of the post Intel linked by Brink over at Reddit posted by Intel.


There is additional information about an oxidation issue during the manufacturing process in 2023.

I have been using an Intel i5-13600KF in a pre-built PC from PCSpecialist here in the UK since December 2022. Fortunately, the builders had the foresight to enable the Enforce All Limits option in the BIOS and I haven't had any real issues with it. The PC has been stable without any of those weird error messages that are popping up for other 13700/14700 and 13900/14900 CPU users.

I actually didn't update the BIOS that came with my PC until May this year and have since updated it twice. I am currently on 3701 for my ASUS ROG Strix Z690-A Gaming WiFi D4 motherboard.

One thing I have changed with the new BIOS though is the re-enable the ASUS OC profile with Enforce All Limits enabled post-install and reboot because, bizarrely, on my system the new default Intel baseline profile, which also enables the Enforce All Limits setting, actually results in higher temperatures (typically as much as 10-20 C!!!) and voltages despite the P-Cores still hitting the rated 5.1 GHz and the E-Cores 3.9 GHz during intensive gaming. I'm not sure why this is but it seems like a bug to me. Higher voltages and temperatures are what degrade CPUs in the first place so if the new Intel profile is running hotter and using more power then it makes no sense to me to continue using it over the previous ASUS OC profile (with all limits enforced) which has been 100% stable. I've had a total of three blue screen crashes since December 2022 but all of these have been one-offs, spread months apart and likely caused by driver updates rather than related to the CPU, at least in my opinion anyway.

Steve C said:

I've had no problems but I set a BIOS option for the CPU temperature not to exceed 85C.

My latest Asus BIOS has a fix for Updated with microcode 0x125 to ensure eTVB operates within Intel specifications.

Is this the fix Intel refers to?

Click to expand...

The microcode update referred to by Intel in their communications yesterday is apparently a new one which is in the process of being validated and released to motherboard manufacturers by mid-August. See this reporting from Arstechnica.

The company announced yesterday that it has wrapped up its investigation and that a microcode update to fix the problem should be shipping out to motherboard makers in mid-August "following full validation."

Click to expand...

So according to the reports my 13900k should be in the range for oxidation issues as I purchased it in late 2022, however, I've not seen any stability issues with it yet (knock on wood).

PurSpyk!! said:

Nope, and this fix made my cpu even more unstable, and if your cpu has been damaged, the new bios which should be available mid august will not fix the issue, only new cpus.

On top of that Intel support said it could take a few weeks to get my CPU replaced, this is unacceptable, even PB Tech (company I bought the cpu from has been unwilling to replace)

Click to expand...

Why do you say the BIOS fix only applies to new CPUs?

Steve C said:

Why do you say the BIOS fix only applies to new CPUs?

Click to expand...

It looks like that line has now been removed from the Intel article, but it was stated.

"If you're using a 13th- or 14th-generation CPU and you're not noticing any problems, the microcode update should prevent your processor from degrading. But if you're already noticing stability problems, Tom's Hardware reports that "the bug causes irreversible degradation of the impacted processors" and that the fix will not be able to reverse the damage that has already happened"

My irritation is the down caused by this,. all customers with faulty CPUs should get sent replacements, the faulty CPU can the be sent back if the replacement CPU actually fixes the issue, or we could be going around in circles. Why must the consumer be even more affected by this crap

PurSpyk!! said:

It looks like that line has now been removed from the Intel article, but it was stated.

"If you're using a 13th- or 14th-generation CPU and you're not noticing any problems, the microcode update should prevent your processor from degrading. But if you're already noticing stability problems, Tom's Hardware reports that "the bug causes irreversible degradation of the impacted processors" and that the fix will not be able to reverse the damage that has already happened"

My irritation is the down caused by this,. all customers with faulty CPUs should get sent replacements, the faulty CPU can the be sent back if the replacement CPU actually fixes the issue, or we could be going around in circles. Why must the consumer be even more affected by this crap

Click to expand...

Intel has publicly stated to use the RMA system to obtain a replacement. If I see anything I'll do it but not before obtaining a 14900k.

HRPuffnstuff said:

Intel has publicly stated to use the RMA system to obtain a replacement. If I see anything I'll do it but not before obtaining a 14900k.

Click to expand...

So you recon they should send a replacement first then return the faulty cpu? My cpu has been acting strange since December, it was purchased in November 2023

I have a Core i7-13700K CPU bought in March 2023. I've had no issues to date. What are the symptoms of the CPU problems and is there a way of finding out wich CPU batvhes are affected by the oxidation problem?

Steve C said:

What are the symptoms of the CPU problems and is there a way of finding out wich CPU batvhes are affected by the oxidation problem?

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occasional random bsods & os system hangups/freezes are some of the signs caused by faulty cpus

My 13900K was purchased here in New Zealand in March 2023. I'd love to know when the batches of CPUs with the oxidation issue were actually manufactured. Fortunately, the CPU has so far been very stable throughout. I do wonder about longevity though.

Marcus Vinicus said:

My 13900K was purchased here in New Zealand in March 2023. I'd love to know when the batches of CPUs with the oxidation issue were actually manufactured. Fortunately, the CPU has so far been very stable throughout. I do wonder about longevity though.

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I bought my i7-13700K in April 23 and also would like to know the batches concerned. I checked my CPU warranty which expires in May 2026. That doesn't give much time if there is a longevity issue. Intel needs to extend the warranty cover for the CPUs affected.

I was watching a Der8auer video and this issue causes material migration inside the cpu's even while its working properly leading to reduced lifespan. I was curious so I ran Cinebench 2024 and when I saw the wattage go past 253 I stopped it as mine hit 280. Yeah this is going to bite Intel in the butt real hard.

Steve C said:

I've had no problems but I set a BIOS option for the CPU temperature not to exceed 85C.

My latest Asus BIOS has a fix for Updated with microcode 0x125 to ensure eTVB operates within Intel specifications.

Is this the fix Intel refers to?

Click to expand...

that temp seems a tad low...

I am not bragging, just saying my system is stable, I use it for gaming in VR. A friend who has a similar system is having tons of issues.. I have not seen his rig in person though... Asus Z790 ROG, Intel 13900, DDR5 Ram... etc... but he has a Gigabyte MB I believe. I suspect some boards just have issues, the motherboards are not your daddy's mother boards any more they are built cheap, the cpu pins are cheap as hell, and the layers are cheap... I have not personally bought and used any other brands for a couple decades.

retiredat44 said:

that temp seems a tad low...

Click to expand...

I tested that 85C limit using Cinebench and the performance hit was only a few percent compared with no restriction. It's probably fortunate I set that limit from new.

Are the stability issues only under heavy load? I recently purchased a Dell Precision 7780 17" laptop with Core i9 processor. Way overkill, but that's a topic for a different day (business writeoff).

If stressing the CPU, it gets too much voltage. I'm assuming this eventually causes permanent damage to the CPU? Will the firmware fix correct this or will it require a new CPU?