A recent report reveals a concerning trend of high return rates for Intel’s 13th-gen and 14th-gen processors, attributed to widespread instability issues. A European retailer, anonymously cited by Les Numeriques, reported receiving four times as many returns for 13th-gen Raptor Lake processors compared to their predecessors, the 12th-gen Alder Lake chips. This staggering increase in returns, particularly within recent months, indicates a significant problem.
The retailer observed that return rates for all three generations (12th, 13th, and 14th) were relatively similar during the initial six months after their respective launches. However, the return rate for Raptor Lake CPUs has since quadrupled, with Raptor Lake Refresh seeing a three-fold increase. This alarming trend suggests that these processors may be degrading over time, a concern that has been circulating among users.
Intel has acknowledged the issue, attributing it to elevated voltages and other unknown factors. While the company continues to investigate, the microcode update scheduled for August aims to prevent future issues, not repair those already experiencing instability. This lack of a solution for existing problems is a cause for concern, particularly as the damage is reportedly irreversible.
The overall return rate for these Intel chips is estimated to be around 5%, significantly higher than the typical 1% for other CPU families. This figure, based on conservative estimates, as some silicon is dealt with directly by Intel, not retailers, may be even higher in certain scenarios.
This situation presents a significant challenge for Intel, impacting their reputation and potentially causing widespread customer dissatisfaction. The company’s ongoing investigation and the promised microcode update are critical in addressing these issues, but the impact of the high return rates and irreversible damage will likely have long-term implications.
