Intel’s high-end desktop CPUs, particularly the Core i9 and Core i7 processors in the 13th and 14th generation families, have been experiencing stability issues during certain games and applications. The root cause of these crashes has not been identified by Intel, but they are actively working on it. A recent report from Igor’s laboratory claimed that Intel had found the root cause, but Intel clarified that they have only identified a contributing cause related to an error in the Improved Thermal Velocity Boost (eTVB) feature of high-end Core i9 CPUs.
The eTVB feature is designed to allow CPUs to reach higher clock speeds as long as thermal headroom permits, but there seems to be an issue with improper voltage/frequency scaling. The enthusiast community has already found a practical solution to the problem, which involves adjusting the CPU voltage to prevent crashes, but Intel is focused on understanding why the CPUs are not receiving sufficient voltage in the first place.
Intel explained that the problem stems from processors running at turbo frequencies and voltages even when the processor reaches high temperatures. This results in a feedback loop where high temperatures increase leakage, requiring more voltage for stability, which in turn raises temperatures further. One way to address this issue is by improving cooling, but the most effective solution is to lower clock speeds, which could impact performance.
To address the stability issues, Intel is rolling out an eTVB patch to motherboard vendors in the form of BIOS updates. This patch is expected to improve stability on Core i9 CPUs, but the company may face challenges if they cannot achieve complete stability at the rated clock speeds. Despite these setbacks, Intel is actively working on resolving the issues and ensuring that their high-end desktop CPUs deliver the performance and stability expected from them.
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https://hothardware.com/news/intel-etvb-bug-impacts-stability