Intel published information Friday about a patch for the Microcode bug affecting 13th and 14th generation Intel Core processorsAnd the news from the chipmaker is a mix of good, bad and ugly.
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The good news
According to Intel, the patch is being rolled out to all of its partners and is specifically targeting K, KF, and KS processors. Intel is also investigating potential mitigations for systems already showing symptoms and expects to have an update by the end of August. If your processor is showing signs of damage, Intel recommends replacing it.
Intel’s testing also indicates that the patch does not negatively impact system performance, so this is good news for gamers and those who want the fastest system possible.
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Intel says “all future products will not be affected by this issue.”
The bad news
It is not yet known whether laptop chips from these generations are affected, so owners are in a wait-and-see situation. Additionally, there is no easy way for owners of affected chips to determine whether their processor is faulty and requires an upgrade, other than manually checking their CPU model (using One of the methods I described here).
Additionally, there is no official method for owners of failing systems to definitively determine whether their chip has been damaged or whether the system failure is due to another factor.
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And then there’s the part where Intel warns about overclocking these chips, stating that the update “will not prevent users from overclocking” but also that “overclocking may void your warranty and/or affect system health” and that it recommends owners “use Intel’s default settings.”
The bad news
The patch will only be available as part of a BIOS update, meaning owners will need to find, download, and install the correct patch themselves. Distribute the patch via Windows Update would have made it accessible to a wider range of PC owners, not just those aware of the problem.