While there’s still no way to fix the chip that has crashed, the company is now releasing microcode update 0x12B to motherboard manufacturers to help prevent one of the root causes of the damage. In this case, it prevents Intel CPUs from demanding too much power when idle or performing light tasks. (Excessive voltage can cause premature aging of the chip.)
Intel says it can take several weeks for motherboard manufacturers to verify and roll out BIOS updates in their products, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should wait. The previous BIOS update included two early Intel microcode fixes to help prevent corruption, as well as new power settings that also reduce risk.
Intel still hasn’t answered our questions about how many Raptor Lake wafers may be affected by these and other possible instability issues, nor has it identified which batches of wafers are affected by the early oxidation issue, but we’re asking again now.
