Hundreds of millions of AMD CPUs are susceptible to a new vulnerability called Sinkhole, affecting processors dating back to 2006. While the vulnerability is serious, it’s highly unlikely to impact most users. Only the most recent AMD chips will receive a patch, leaving older models vulnerable. Despite the severity, Sinkhole requires deep access to a PC and is unlikely to affect everyday users.
ASUS is actively releasing beta BIOS updates with the ‘0x129 microcode’ update for its Intel 600 and 700 series motherboards, addressing potential hardware issues with 13th and 14th Gen CPUs. The company aims to provide official BIOS updates to all affected customers starting mid-August.
Intel’s next-gen desktop platform, Nova Lake, is set to revolutionize the CPU landscape with a groundbreaking architecture and TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm process node. The upcoming Nova Lake-S CPUs will succeed the Arrow Lake series, offering significant performance improvements and a possible chance for Intel to regain its lead over AMD. However, the release of these powerful CPUs is still years away, with an estimated launch in 2027.
Despite postponing its Innovation 2024 event, Intel has confirmed that its next-generation Arrow Lake CPUs remain on track for a Q4 2024 launch. The company has assured the public that there are no changes to its launch plans, timing, or product readiness.
The first attempt to delid an AMD Ryzen 9000 series CPU resulted in a cracked I/O die, rendering the processor unusable. ASUS China manager Tony Yu shared the experience on Bilibili, highlighting the risks associated with delidding these new CPUs.
Intel has begun rolling out a microcode update to fix stability and degradation problems affecting its 13th and 14th Gen Core desktop CPUs. The update arrives ahead of schedule, with new BIOS updates containing the 0x129 microcode available for various motherboards from ASUS, MSI, and ASRock. The update addresses a voltage issue that caused damage and degradation to affected CPUs, and Intel has extended the warranty for these CPUs by two years. Users are advised to upgrade their BIOS as soon as possible to prevent potential damage.
AMD’s latest budget CPU, the Ryzen 5 9600X, offers performance improvements over its predecessor, the Ryzen 5 7600X. However, the significant price drop on the last-gen chip makes it a more attractive option for budget-conscious gamers. While the 9600X boasts faster single-core performance and a new architecture, the 7600X delivers exceptional value and remains a top contender in the budget CPU market.
Intel addressed stability issues with its 13th and 14th Gen Core CPUs in China, promising a BIOS update to resolve them without affecting overclocking capabilities. The company also hinted at the impressive power efficiency of its upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs, slated to launch later this year.
AMD’s new Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X CPUs boast impressive single-core performance thanks to the new Zen 5 architecture, but they face an unusual landscape with Intel’s instability issues and AMD’s own 3D V-Cache chips dominating the gaming scene. While these chips offer a significant upgrade for those new to AM5, gamers should wait for the 3D V-Cache versions for the best performance.
Puget Systems, a computer system builder, has released a report showing significantly lower failure rates for Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen CPUs compared to widely reported concerns. The company attributes this to its own stringent testing and configuration parameters, differing from industry-standard settings.
