65 votes

Intel has no plans to recall those crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs, hasn't halted sales, and the damage to affected chips may be permanent

25 comments

  1. [14]
    MimicSquid
    Link
    "Intel gambles that the class action lawsuit will be less painful than a recall." Is that the entirety of their gameplan here? It seems fine to keep selling them if they've actually fixed the...

    "Intel gambles that the class action lawsuit will be less painful than a recall."

    Is that the entirety of their gameplan here? It seems fine to keep selling them if they've actually fixed the issue, but no recall/replace for damaged chips seems like a great way to tank your popularity.

    61 votes
    1. [9]
      supergauntlet
      Link Parent
      That's hilarious. They're literally lighting their reputation on fire to pump their stock price more. I've started telling people buying computers to avoid Intel at all costs. AMD isn't a lot...

      That's hilarious. They're literally lighting their reputation on fire to pump their stock price more. I've started telling people buying computers to avoid Intel at all costs. AMD isn't a lot better but they are better. I heard a story from a friend that works at a retailer that the 9000 series has some recall on it, but there are CPU pallets already at the store. So it's not like AMD is totally in the clear, but at least they caught it before they were actually sold!

      36 votes
      1. Requirement
        Link Parent
        9000 series can be at the store but as long as they aren't in consumer hands, AMD is doing better than Intel right now. I was lightly impressed that AMD delayed launch but I suppose it's an easier...

        9000 series can be at the store but as long as they aren't in consumer hands, AMD is doing better than Intel right now. I was lightly impressed that AMD delayed launch but I suppose it's an easier decision when you see your main competition burning their reputation to the ground.

        19 votes
      2. [5]
        SunSpotter
        Link Parent
        These last 6 or so years have felt like Intel was completely surprised and unprepared for a competitive CPU lineup from AMD. It’s crazy that they’ve seeming never gotten over that. Ever since...

        These last 6 or so years have felt like Intel was completely surprised and unprepared for a competitive CPU lineup from AMD. It’s crazy that they’ve seeming never gotten over that.

        Ever since Ryzen/Threadripper became competitive, Intel has been pumping up the TDP on their chips so they could ‘beat’ AMD, and now we find out that their latest gen (probably) has over-volt issues that cause permanent damage…

        I don’t know what’s going on with Intel right now, but it’s clear their current strategy isn’t working.

        18 votes
        1. [4]
          whbboyd
          Link Parent
          https://danluu.com/cpu-bugs/ tl;dr: per industry gossip, Intel massively cut their validation program in the 2013-2014 timeframe, and we're reaching the point of the "find out" phase where it's...

          https://danluu.com/cpu-bugs/

          tl;dr: per industry gossip, Intel massively cut their validation program in the 2013-2014 timeframe, and we're reaching the point of the "find out" phase where it's really public and dramatic.

          28 votes
          1. [3]
            NoblePath
            Link Parent
            Around the same time Apple switched focus to arm in earnest.

            Around the same time Apple switched focus to arm in earnest.

            3 votes
            1. [2]
              Amarok
              Link Parent
              I've been seeing a lot of chatter about a serious flaw in ARM architecture. The short version is there is a way to use the speculative execution function to return data from memory address you...

              I've been seeing a lot of chatter about a serious flaw in ARM architecture. The short version is there is a way to use the speculative execution function to return data from memory address you want, bypassing memory security checks completely. The checks will fail a regular call, but if you set up your speculation properly, they won't check or fail anything happening in the speculative execution branch, and you can send data back from that and get at the memory. Doesn't appear to be a simple fix for that one either.

              Making processors is a lot harder than rocket science. :)

              4 votes
              1. Toric
                Link Parent
                Speculative execution has lead to so, so many hardware bugs, it seems.

                Speculative execution has lead to so, so many hardware bugs, it seems.

                2 votes
      3. [2]
        AugustusFerdinand
        Link Parent
        AMD's recall is most likely a typo on the laser engraving on the CPU. Big difference between that and Intel's issues.

        AMD's recall is most likely a typo on the laser engraving on the CPU. Big difference between that and Intel's issues.

        17 votes
        1. supergauntlet
          Link Parent
          yes, I was just informed it wasn't a problem with the CPUs just the packaging. Apparently they mixed up some heat spreaders. Again, tell all your not-in-the-know friends to avoid buying a new...

          yes, I was just informed it wasn't a problem with the CPUs just the packaging. Apparently they mixed up some heat spreaders.

          Again, tell all your not-in-the-know friends to avoid buying a new Intel CPU at all costs. Definitely the most important takeaway.

          20 votes
    2. raze2012
      Link Parent
      The theme of 2024 for tech is "we're not even going to pretend to not be greedy". So it seems to track. It's so all-encompassing that I'm wondering if some execs are just trying to all cash out of...

      Is that the entirety of their gameplan here?

      The theme of 2024 for tech is "we're not even going to pretend to not be greedy". So it seems to track. It's so all-encompassing that I'm wondering if some execs are just trying to all cash out of the industry at once or something. This short term "number go up" mentality was always there, but there really does seem to be no 5+ year skin in the game for execs these days.

      21 votes
    3. [3]
      Ullallulloo
      Link Parent
      They are replacing damaged chips. They're just not doing a recall of all chips since they can prevent future damage with an update.

      They are replacing damaged chips. They're just not doing a recall of all chips since they can prevent future damage with an update.

      3 votes
      1. MimicSquid
        Link Parent
        There's all the difference in the world between and an actual widespread effort to reach out to those who have been affected and replace the damaged chips en masse.

        There's all the difference in the world between

        If your chip has already been affected, Hannaford suggests that users continue to reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance.

        and an actual widespread effort to reach out to those who have been affected and replace the damaged chips en masse.

        9 votes
      2. teaearlgraycold
        Link Parent
        My understanding is they can not fix the oxidation issue, which was a manufacturing error and will eventually manifest as crashing in an unknown quantity of chips.

        My understanding is they can not fix the oxidation issue, which was a manufacturing error and will eventually manifest as crashing in an unknown quantity of chips.

        6 votes
  2. [4]
    zptc
    Link

    If you're an Intel chip owner affected by CPU crashing issues, you'll likely have been pleased by the official news from Intel last week that it was going to be delivering a microcode patch to address the root cause of exposure to elevated voltages.

    However, The Verge asked Intel if it was planning a recall of chips already affected, and the answer seems pretty definitive. Not only will it not be recalling the affected CPUs, but it has not halted sales and has yet to comment on whether it might extend its warranty.

    Not only that but if recent reports are to be believed, the damage to affected CPUs may be permanent. According to Tom's Hardware, while the microcode patch is expected to prevent crashing on processors yet to be affected by the issue, it will not fix chips that are already damaged.

    9 votes
    1. [3]
      Foreigner
      Link Parent
      How are they not opening themselves up to class action lawsuits? I have a 12th Gen chip because I was too impatient to wait for the next generation, but it looks like I lucked out. Don't think...

      How are they not opening themselves up to class action lawsuits? I have a 12th Gen chip because I was too impatient to wait for the next generation, but it looks like I lucked out. Don't think I'll buy Intel for my next rig though.

      14 votes
      1. [2]
        Tigress
        Link Parent
        I have the 11th gen chip and I kinda lucked out but if I remember the 11th gen had a security flaw that the fix for it slowed it down. Seems 12th gen is the really lucky spot lol. Least mine...

        I have the 11th gen chip and I kinda lucked out but if I remember the 11th gen had a security flaw that the fix for it slowed it down. Seems 12th gen is the really lucky spot lol. Least mine though doesn't have a flaw that makes it unusable. Hopefully for my friend their fix works cause she doesn't pay attention to this kind of news and just bought her kid a new computer with the 14th gen chip in it.

        8 votes
        1. Foreigner
          Link Parent
          Oof. I hope your friend is lucky too and nothing happens to the chip. Really disappointed by Intel...

          Hopefully for my friend their fix works cause she doesn't pay attention to this kind of news and just bought her kid a new computer with the 14th gen chip in it.

          Oof. I hope your friend is lucky too and nothing happens to the chip. Really disappointed by Intel...

          1 vote
  3. [4]
    RobotOverlord525
    Link
    My wife and I both have gaming PCs with Intel Core i5-13400F processors (i.e., 13th generation) and ASRock B760 Pro RS motherboards that I built back in September 2023. We haven't noticed any...

    My wife and I both have gaming PCs with Intel Core i5-13400F processors (i.e., 13th generation) and ASRock B760 Pro RS motherboards that I built back in September 2023. We haven't noticed any issues, but this is definitely alarming. I will be updating the BIOS on both machines and, I guess, crossing my fingers until that August update.

    Especially given this from The Verge's article:

    Does Intel anticipate the fix will be effective for chips that have already been in service but are not yet experiencing symptoms (i.e., invisible degradation)? Are those CPUs just living on borrowed time?

    Intel is confident that the microcode patch will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service, though validation continues to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.

    Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected or at-risk processors on end user systems.

    It is possible the patch will provide some instability improvements to currently impacted processors; however customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance.

    Will Intel extend its warranty on these 13th Gen and 14th Gen parts, and for how long?

    [No answer yet.]

    8 votes
    1. [3]
      Tmbreen
      Link Parent
      I saw a headline that Intel had extended the warranty by two years, which I believe brings it up to 5 years total. Long enough to find issues in your builds I hope, but this is still very...

      I saw a headline that Intel had extended the warranty by two years, which I believe brings it up to 5 years total. Long enough to find issues in your builds I hope, but this is still very worrying.

      I also saw an article about Intel doing poorly stock wise. Maybe this will drive more help and a better process for those affected.

      1 vote
      1. [2]
        RobotOverlord525
        Link Parent
        If their stock is doing poorly, that might actually cause them to do the bare minimum required for regulatory compliance. It depends on how heavily they weigh negative publicity.

        I also saw an article about Intel doing poorly stock wise. Maybe this will drive more help and a better process for those affected.

        If their stock is doing poorly, that might actually cause them to do the bare minimum required for regulatory compliance. It depends on how heavily they weigh negative publicity.

        2 votes
        1. Tmbreen
          Link Parent
          Yeah, I definitely think they are doing the bare minimum and hoping this blows over, but it's looking worse and worse for them.

          Yeah, I definitely think they are doing the bare minimum and hoping this blows over, but it's looking worse and worse for them.

          2 votes
  4. [2]
    Nihilego
    Link
    If this isn’t handing out the CPU market to AMD and ARM/Snapdragon on a Silver platter, I don’t know what is.

    If this isn’t handing out the CPU market to AMD and ARM/Snapdragon on a Silver platter, I don’t know what is.

    7 votes
    1. Akir
      Link Parent
      Ho boy, if there is a company I don’t want to replace intel it is Qualcomm. As many shitty things as Intel has done, at the very least their chips are fairly well documented and open.

      Ho boy, if there is a company I don’t want to replace intel it is Qualcomm. As many shitty things as Intel has done, at the very least their chips are fairly well documented and open.

      7 votes
  5. zptc
    Link
    Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs get two additional years of warranty coverage

    Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs get two additional years of warranty coverage

    Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process. We stand behind our products, and in the coming days we will be sharing more details on two-year extended warranty support for our boxed Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors.

    7 votes