Major motherboard manufacturers offer “beta” firmware updates.
TL; DR: Intel promised to fix the Raptor Lake stability issues with a microcode update, but said it could take weeks for motherboard manufacturers to implement the fix. However, it’s only been a few days since that release and we’re already starting to see it available from some manufacturers.
Just a few days after Intel announced the new 0x12B microcode as the correct solution for the Vmin Shift instability issue, motherboard manufacturers have started to include the update in their firmware releases. There is still some work to be done, as OEMs have labeled many of these updates as “beta” releases.
During its extensive investigation of crash-prone 13th and 14th generation Core desktop processors, Intel discovered that a Vmin Shift instability issue was the cause of several stability complaints. In short, compatible motherboards were powering CPUs with excessive voltage levels, making the entire system unreliable and in some cases permanently damaging the CPUs.
The new microcode update 0x12B includes previously released updates (0x125, 0x129), addressing the voltage issue in the Raptor Lake chips and hopefully avoiding permanent hardware damage. The bad news is that the update won’t work on CPUs that already suffer from Vmin Shift instability. The good news is that end users have already started receiving replacements under Intel’s warranty program.
Tom’s Hardware notes that companies have implemented the 0x12B microcode update in their latest firmware. Asus has started providing new beta “BIOS” builds for its Z790 motherboards, saying that Intel’s 0x12B microcode will respond to high voltage demands during idle or light operation. The update should help alleviate Vmin Shift instability issues.
The new microcode is not yet available for Asus LGA1700 boards using B760 and Z690 chipsets, as the latest firmware updates only include Intel microcode 0x129. The Taiwanese manufacturer decided to give the 0x12B update to its flagship players first. However, we can expect the new microcode to make its way to other models eventually after confirmation.
ASRock is also starting to roll out new firmware versions that include the Vmin Shift instability setting, with the first batch of updates targeting Z790 motherboards. MSI is the only other OEM to implement the microcode, but only for a few of its Z790 motherboards. At the same time, Gigabyte, Aorus and other third-party manufacturers do not have the very important solution in their products.
2024-09-30 20:15:08
#firmware #update #designed #fix #Intels #Vmin #Shift #instability #observed #wild
