Based on the 8P+16E “Raptor Lake” silicon, Intel’s 13th and 14th generation Core processor models are vulnerable to an infamous fault that causes high voltage to cause irreversible degradation in performance and stability over time. This was limited to a microcode error. In response, Intel extended the warranty for processor models that were impacted and released many CPU microcode patches through PC OEMs and motherboard vendors that were included into UEFI firmware updates. The most recent of these microcode updates is 0x12B. The good news is that Intel thoroughly tested the impacted chip models and verified that the 0x12B microcode resolves the problem. You must update the BIOS (UEFI firmware) on your motherboard to the most recent version, which includes this microcode.

Thomas Hannaford, an Intel spokesperson, was recently interviewed by The Verge on this subject. He said that the company had discovered four scenarios that led to processors deteriorating irreversibly and had advised stable processors to take mitigation measures before the degradation started. The most recent microcode update resolved all of the remaining scenarios. The firmware update is useless if a processor is unstable (i.e., degradation has begun), and you should get it replaced under warranty. Intel expanded the warranty to include even the initial purchases of processor models that are impacted. According to Intel spokesperson Thomas Hannaford, “Yes, we’re confirming this is the cause and that it is fixed,” The Verge is informed.