Guide to Fixing Raptor Lake Instability
Introduction
Introduction
Intel might be late into the lifespan of the 14th Generation processors as the model that counts as the newest – we know the next Gen is very near – but some problems still remain. If you were here when we reviewed them you’ll know that we thought their primary issue was high voltages leading to hot temperatures. High temps have very much been the bane of the high core count Intel processors for all the LGA1700 generations. We hope with each new release that an improvement will be found, but so far that hasn’t been the case.
To this end we wrote – and recorded – our guide to undervolting your Intel processor. This is partly because low temperatures give improved performance, but also because low temperatures allow you to have less expensive cooling. In the current global climate lower costs are always something to seek.
Why is this important today? There have been some reports of issues within high-load situations, be it rendering or games. Obviously we live in a click-bait world so most claims we take with huge wheelbarrows of salt. None of our processors or personal systems had the kind of problems being spoken about. Rather than address it on our site, until now, we’ve been keeping an eye on the reports.
Intel Statement
Intel have recently released a statement regarding these potential issues.
Based on extensive analysis of Intel Core 13th/14th Gen 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. 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 is delivering a microcode patch which addresses the root cause of exposure to elevated voltages. We are continuing validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed. Intel is currently targeting mid-August for patch release to partners following full validation.
Intel is committed to making this right with our customers, and we continue asking any customers currently experiencing instability issues on their Intel Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.
With it being so official we had to address it. Not because we are leaping on the clickbait train, but we want all of you with 13th and 14th Generation Intel processors to enjoy their full potential. Clearly if you’re experienced in manually tweaking your system, now is the time to ensure you do so. For those of you who are nervous about delving into the heart of your rig, our undervolting guide will follow on the proceeding pages.
We would suggest that those of you with ASUS and Gigabyte motherboards in particular pay attention. MSI have generally, and we can only speak in general terms, been more willing to stray from Intel’s guidelines and have lower voltages ‘at stock’ than their rivals. An MSI motherboard has been stress tested to within an inch of its life in the office for a few weeks without seeing any of the reported issues.
What You Need
Obviously you’ll need an Intel processor. Any motherboard should do, but for this guide we’re focussing upon Z790 ones. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve a B series though. It should all be the same. We recommend you update to the latest BIOS too. It’s not vital, but it never hurts. You’d be amazed at how much manufacturers continue to tweak long after the product has been released.
You’ll also need something to measure your voltages, temperature and clock speeds. HWMon is perfect for this. It’s a small download and runtime. You don’t even need to do anything other than run it. Lastly you’ll need something that tests your CPU hard. Our favourite, and indeed the simplest to use, is Cinebench. You can use any of the most recent versions. For this we’re using R24, but R23 works just as well. You can download Cinebench from Maxon themselves. R24 is quite a chunky file at over a 1.3 GB. R23 is just 249 MB. Your call. Once you’re all setup, perhaps with a pen and paper to note the results, we can crack on.
