Intels fix for high-end CPU crashes is coming, but a new leak suggests Team Blue could still be in hot water

Date:
Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:31:41 +0000

Description:
Intels cure for CPU crashes may not be the end of this story, as the investigation into the flaw is still ongoing.

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Intels problems with high-end 13th and 14th-gen CPUs crashing and suffering from instability in general may not be over with the patch Team Blue has inbound for mid-August, at least if some fresh leaked info is anything to go by.

You probably wont have missed the latest development from Intel whereby earlier this week, the company pinned instability gremlins on an issue with elevated operating voltage with its newer Core i9 (and maybe lower-tier) processors set to be fixed by the mentioned microcode update due next month.

However, this patch may not be the complete solution for the CPU crashing blues, because if leaked info from Igors Lab is right add your own
seasoning, naturally Intel is still looking into other root causes for the instability in evidence here.

The details Igors Lab obtained from an internal communication within Intel, apparently claim that: Intel observes a significant increase to the minimum operating voltage (Vmin) across multiple cores on returned affected
processors from customers.

This increase is similar in outcome to parts subjected to elevated voltage
and temperature conditions for reliability testing.

The notes go on to say that factors causing said Vmin increase include elevated voltages (which the patch addresses), as well as high clock speeds and elevated temperatures (the former will drive the latter, of course). And that even when the CPU is idling, and relatively cool, spikes of activity can cause briefly elevated voltage, and at a sufficiently high voltage, these short-duration events can accumulate over time, contributing to the increase in Vmin.

The conclusion is: Intel analysis indicates a need to reduce the maximum voltage requested by the processor in order to reduce or eliminate
accumulated exposure to voltages which may result in an increase to Vmin.

While Intel has confirmed elevated voltages impact the increase in Vmin, investigation continues in order to fully understand the root cause and address other potential aspects of this issue. (Image credit: Future) Analysis: A waiting game

As Igors Lab observes, theres nothing reprehensible about these (purported) internal notes from Intel, and they underline something we reported in our previous article on this topic . In a separate statement on Reddit, Intel observed that the elevated operating voltage issue was a key element in the crashing woes users are experiencing, which suggests that there are other elements. As we mentioned in our previous discussion, these could be factors not yet pinned down (as opposed to past advice and patching, such as Intels tweaking to Enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost ).

In short, there may still be gremlins lurking in the works, and the August microcode update which is set to limit the max voltage the CPU can request (known as the VID) to 1.55V may not be a cure-all for the crashing issues.

As Intel further states in the leaked notes: While this microcode update addresses the elevated voltage aspect of this issue, further analysis is required to understand if this proposed mitigation addresses all scenarios.

Essentially, if these musings from Intel staff are indeed correct, the firm isnt fully sure that this will solve everything. Indeed, the leaked material further states that: This microcode update, once validated and released, may not address existing systems in the field with instability symptoms.

Could that be because they are too far gone in terms of experiencing the problem for months now, and degradation issues therein? Thats what a lot of worries are focused on, from what weve seen, and the possible future effects of this problem in the longer term.

Intel seemingly advises that: Systems which continue to exhibit symptoms associated with this issue [after the microcode update] should have the processor returned to Intel for RMA.

As Intel has said before, its committed to making this right with customers
in terms of remedying these crashing problems, and so youd hope that affected CPUs will be replaced without question.

Meanwhile, we can only wait and see if there are any further revelations of glitches and perhaps necessary patching beyond whats already surfaced to
date. A glimmer of good news here, though, is that Intel also clarifies that its early testing indicates that the August microcode update should have a minimal performance impact albeit with the caveat that this conclusion is based on a small number of benchmarks.

Via Toms Hardware You might also like Processor upgrade: how to choose the right CPU Best gaming CPU: 5 top processors reviewed and rated Here are the best cheap processor deals right now



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/cpu/intels-fix-for-high-end-cpu-crashes-is -coming-but-a-new-leak-suggests-team-blue-could-still-be-in-hot-water


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