Intelligence released information Friday on a patch for Microcode bug affects 13th and 14th Gen Intel Core processorsAnd the chipmaker’s news has been mixed, good, bad, and ugly.
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Good news
According to Intel, the patch is being distributed to all of its partners and specifically targets the K, KF, and KS processors. Intel is also investigating possible mitigations for systems that already have symptoms and expects to have an update by the end of August. If your processor shows signs of damage, Intel recommends replacing it.
Intel’s testing also showed that the patch doesn’t negatively impact system performance, so this is good news for gamers and those who want the fastest system possible.
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Intel said “all future products will not be affected by this issue.”
Bad news
There is no word yet on whether mobile (laptop) chips from these generations are affected, leaving owners to wait and see. Additionally, there is no direct way for owners of affected chips to determine whether their processor is affected and needs an update, other than manually checking their CPU model (using one of the methods i have mentioned here).
Furthermore, there is no official method for owners of troubled systems to determine for sure whether their chip is damaged or if the system is crashing due to some other 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 stating that “overclocking may void the warranty and/or affect system health” and advising owners to “use Intel’s default settings.”
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. Patch distribution via Windows Update will make it accessible to more computer owners, not just those who are aware of the problem.
