Intel’s BIOS updates for crashing CPUs are now rolling out
Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge
Asus and MSI have both released beta BIOS updates today to address Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake desktop processors. While the BIOS updates won’t fix CPUs that are already damaged, they include Intel’s new microcode update that should help further address the instability issues.
If it works well, this could be a very big deal for Intel, which lost some of its reputation after its flagship chips were found to crash earlier this year and, after a long investigation, discovered there would be no true fix, requiring customers to replace any damaged chips. Intel also isn’t having a great year, period, recently announcing layoffs of at least 15,000 workers and stopping “non-essential work.”
Asus has released its beta BIOS updates through its ROG forums for a variety of Z790 motherboards. These are also typically posted to Asus’ support pages a few days after they’re posted to its ROG forums. MSI’s BIOS updates can be found on the individual motherboard support pages for its motherboards:
MEG Z790 GODLIKE
MEG Z790 GODLIKE MAX
MPG Z790 EDGE WIFI
MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI
MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
PRO Z790-A WIFI
PRO Z790-A WIFI DDR4
PRO Z790-P WIFI
PRO Z790-P
PRO Z790-S WIFI
MEG Z790 ACE MAX
MPG Z790 CARBON MAX WIFI II
MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI
While we wouldn’t normally recommend using a beta BIOS update, given that this addresses an “elevated operating voltages” issue, you might want to go ahead and install these as soon as possible.
If you use a board other than MSI and Asus, or the microcode BIOS update isn’t available for your particular motherboard right now, make sure you’re on the latest BIOS update either way. Even if they’re missing the latest fix, recent BIOS updates should already include Intel’s recommended power delivery profiles, which could reduce the likelihood of your chip getting damaged.
“Please help us get the word out to all Raptor Lake desktop users, especially i9 users, in big screaming headlines that they need to update their PC to the latest BIOS now to stop/prevent the CPU wear and hopefully avoid the need for an RMA,” said Falcon Northwest founder Kelt Reeves in an email to The Verge earlier this week.
If you have an Asus board and want to check that your BIOS is set to the right power profile, Falcon Northwest has a good overview we’ve embedded below. The very latest Asus BIOS updates should already default to Intel’s settings instead of the company’s own overclocking profile.
For Intel 13th/14th Gen Core i9 CPUs:Our tests show May 31 BIOS’ for @ASUSUSA Z700 motherboards finally compliant with intel specs.DEFAULTS are Intel DEFAULTS.Should prevent CPU wearMay stabilize CPUsPerf still goodMinor LL,TVB & i7 work to goWe recommend this BIOS update. pic.twitter.com/9WKQos2U05— Falcon Northwest (@FalconNW) June 5, 2024
Intel reportedly said these BIOS updates shouldn’t cause any performance loss, and reviewers are already gearing up to test Intel’s latest microcode to ensure there are no big changes for its 13th and 14th Gen chips.
We’re also still waiting on Intel to provide a tool to test existing machines for any processor degradation. Intel has also extended its warranty on a variety of 13th and 14th Gen CPUs by an additional two years. PC makers are largely passing on that warranty extension to consumers, and you can find out if your own system is covered right here.
Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge
Asus and MSI have both released beta BIOS updates today to address Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake desktop processors. While the BIOS updates won’t fix CPUs that are already damaged, they include Intel’s new microcode update that should help further address the instability issues.
If it works well, this could be a very big deal for Intel, which lost some of its reputation after its flagship chips were found to crash earlier this year and, after a long investigation, discovered there would be no true fix, requiring customers to replace any damaged chips. Intel also isn’t having a great year, period, recently announcing layoffs of at least 15,000 workers and stopping “non-essential work.”
Asus has released its beta BIOS updates through its ROG forums for a variety of Z790 motherboards. These are also typically posted to Asus’ support pages a few days after they’re posted to its ROG forums. MSI’s BIOS updates can be found on the individual motherboard support pages for its motherboards:
MEG Z790 GODLIKE
MEG Z790 GODLIKE MAX
MPG Z790 EDGE WIFI
MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK WIFI
MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI
PRO Z790-A WIFI
PRO Z790-A WIFI DDR4
PRO Z790-P WIFI
PRO Z790-P
PRO Z790-S WIFI
MEG Z790 ACE MAX
MPG Z790 CARBON MAX WIFI II
MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI
While we wouldn’t normally recommend using a beta BIOS update, given that this addresses an “elevated operating voltages” issue, you might want to go ahead and install these as soon as possible.
If you use a board other than MSI and Asus, or the microcode BIOS update isn’t available for your particular motherboard right now, make sure you’re on the latest BIOS update either way. Even if they’re missing the latest fix, recent BIOS updates should already include Intel’s recommended power delivery profiles, which could reduce the likelihood of your chip getting damaged.
“Please help us get the word out to all Raptor Lake desktop users, especially i9 users, in big screaming headlines that they need to update their PC to the latest BIOS now to stop/prevent the CPU wear and hopefully avoid the need for an RMA,” said Falcon Northwest founder Kelt Reeves in an email to The Verge earlier this week.
If you have an Asus board and want to check that your BIOS is set to the right power profile, Falcon Northwest has a good overview we’ve embedded below. The very latest Asus BIOS updates should already default to Intel’s settings instead of the company’s own overclocking profile.
For Intel 13th/14th Gen Core i9 CPUs:
Our tests show May 31 BIOS’ for @ASUSUSA Z700 motherboards finally compliant with intel specs.
DEFAULTS are Intel DEFAULTS.
Should prevent CPU wear
May stabilize CPUs
Perf still good
Minor LL,TVB & i7 work to go
We recommend this BIOS update. pic.twitter.com/9WKQos2U05
— Falcon Northwest (@FalconNW) June 5, 2024
Intel reportedly said these BIOS updates shouldn’t cause any performance loss, and reviewers are already gearing up to test Intel’s latest microcode to ensure there are no big changes for its 13th and 14th Gen chips.
We’re also still waiting on Intel to provide a tool to test existing machines for any processor degradation. Intel has also extended its warranty on a variety of 13th and 14th Gen CPUs by an additional two years. PC makers are largely passing on that warranty extension to consumers, and you can find out if your own system is covered right here.