Intel finds root cause of CPU crashing and instability errors, prepares update

Intel has identified the root cause of CPU crashing and instability errors in its 13th and 14th Generation Core ‘Raptor Lake’ processors. The issue, known as Vmin Shift Instability, stems from a clock tree circuit in the IA core that is prone to failure under high voltage and temperature. This causes a shift in the clock duty cycle, leading to system instability¹.

Intel has pinpointed four key operating conditions that trigger this issue:

1. Motherboard Power Settings: Exceeding Intel’s recommended guidelines can cause Vmin shift. Intel advises users to follow its default power settings¹.
2. eTVB Microcode Algorithm: Allowed certain processors to maintain high performance even at elevated temperatures. This was corrected with the 0x125 microcode update released in June 2024¹.
3. SVID Microcode Algorithm: Sometimes requested higher voltages over an extended period, increasing the risk of instability. This was resolved with the 0x129 microcode update, distributed in August 2024¹.
4. Microcode and BIOS Requests: Elevated voltages during idle or light activity were mitigated by the 0x12B microcode update, combining previous fixes¹.

Intel is working with motherboard manufacturers to ensure the 0x12B microcode update is distributed via BIOS updates¹.