Intel and its partners have begun rolling out the microcode update that addresses stability and degradation issues affecting 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core desktop CPUs. The update arrived slightly ahead of the anticipated ‘mid-August’ timeframe, with new BIOS updates featuring the 0x129 microcode now available for various motherboards.
ASUS motherboard owners were the first to receive information about the microcode’s availability, with a BIOS update (currently listed as BETA – via the ROG Forum) available for Z790 motherboards. This covers the company’s enthusiast and high-end boards in the ROG MAXIMUS and ROG STRIX line-ups. Notably, ASUS mentions that the BIOS update also improves ‘system performance.’
MSI has also announced the first batch of BIOS updates for a range of its Intel boards, encompassing Godlike, Ace, Carbon, and Tomahawk models. The new 0x129 microcode is readily available for these models. ASRock is also providing BIOS updates for select motherboards.
MSI has stated that all of its Intel 700 and 600 series motherboards will receive the critical BIOS update by the end of August. Consequently, BIOS updates will likely become available for all major motherboards from prominent brands in the coming weeks.
Intel has communicated that this microcode update resolves an issue that caused its 13th and 14th Gen CPUs to operate with elevated voltages. This excessive voltage could lead to hardware damage and degradation. Intel has further clarified that this fix prevents the issue from occurring and safeguards against any damage or further damage to the CPU. However, it’s important to note that CPUs already affected by the issue remain damaged and require replacement.
In response to this situation, Intel has extended the warranty of Intel 13th and 14th Gen ‘Raptor Lake’ CPUs by two years, bringing the total warranty period to five years.
Given the risk of permanent damage, it is strongly recommended that all users upgrade their motherboard’s BIOS as soon as possible.
For reference, here’s a list of ASUS, MSI, and ASRock boards with the 0x129 microcode BIOS update: [Insert list of affected boards here].
