Intel Fixes 13th and 14th Gen Core CPU Voltage Instability

Intel has officially resolved the instability issues affecting its 13th and 14th Gen Core “Raptor Lake” processors. Users had reported frequent crashes, which Intel now attributes to “Vmin Shift Instability.” This issue, caused by excessive voltage requests from the processors, has been addressed with the release of the 0x12B microcode update.

Intel explained that these crashes stemmed from the chips asking for too much voltage under certain conditions, prematurely aging the hardware. The update mitigates the issue by optimizing power delivery and processor performance states. As an Intel spokesperson confirmed, “Yes, we’re confirming this is the cause and that it is fixed.”

Microcode Updates Fix Voltage Problem

Intel’s 0x12B microcode integrates fixes for various voltage-related issues, including the eTVB and SVID algorithms that led to high voltage requests. This update protects systems from further damage, but if your CPU is already affected, you should pursue warranty support.

Intel’s customers are encouraged to update their motherboard’s BIOS for protection, as the fix does not repair damaged chips. The company also announced a two-year warranty extension for affected CPUs.