Intel Admits to Core Processor Problems, Will Issue Patch

Microprocessor giant Intel took the rare step this week of admitting to a flaw in some of its recent microprocessors that causes reliability issues. It will issue a microcode patch to address the mistake.

“Based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 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,” Intel’s Thomas Hannaford writes in a post to the Intel Community support site. “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 says that it will issue a microcode patch in mid-August after validating that the fix works with its PC maker and component partners. This patch will be delivered to customers via a BIOS update from PC makers and Windows Update.

Intel’s processors always ship with various issues, some major, some minor. But the reliability problems with the 13th and 14th generation Core processors—first reported as long ago as December 2022—somehow went mainstream in recent weeks, with gamers and others using heavy processing workloads experiencing system crashes and other reliability problems. It’s not clear if Intel’s patch will impact performance.

This problem is so severe, however, that some heavily overclocked processors experienced physical damage internally. Intel says it will replace those chips for free.

Related to this, some hardware sites are reporting that these problems may also impact Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors for mobile PCs. But Intel says that’s not the case.

“Intel is aware of a small number of instability reports on Intel Core 13th/14th Gen mobile processors,” an Intel statement notes. “Based on our in-depth analysis, Intel has determined that mobile products are not exposed to the same issue. The symptoms being reported on 13th/14th Gen mobile systems – including system hangs and crashes – are common symptoms stemming from a broad range of potential software and hardware issues.”

I have experienced various issues with Intel’s three most recent generations of Core processors for mobile related to USB-C hubs and, with its Core Ultra “Meteor Lake” processors in particular, battery life and general reliability. But these types of issues are usually addressed by or through PC makers more quietly than the desktop processor reliability problem that Intel is now acknowledging. For example, a Meteor Lake-based ZBook Firefly laptop I recently reviewed was experiencing multiple problems before an HP-issued fix resolved them. An HP EliteBook 1040 I’m currently reviewing includes built-in functionality that clearly addresses the problems as well.

More infamously, the processor reliability issues that triggered Surfacegate, where Surface Pro 4 and the original Surface Book would “hot bag” regularly, led to a rift between Intel and Microsoft after the software giant demanded that Intel address the problems, and it refused to take responsibility.