Intel has released yet another microcode patch for its 13th and 14th Gen Core CPUs, claiming to improve stability. The brand recommends users owning these chips to update their BIOS to avoid any potential risks.
The so-called 0x12F patch supplements the 0x12B microcode update released in September 2024. It fixes an issue causing instability on some systems that continuously run for days with low-activity and lightly-threaded workloads.
The Vmin Shift Instability refers to a condition where the minimum voltage (Vmin) required for a processor’s stable operation increases over time. This degradation leads to application crashes and system hangs. Intel identified that elevated voltages and temperatures, especially over prolonged periods, caused this shift across multiple cores.
Thus, to maintain system stability and avoid potential side effects, Intel is recommending 13th and 14th Gen desktop processor owners to update to the 0x12F microcode while making sure to utilise its default settings profile in BIOS. Motherboard manufacturers such as ASRock are already offering this update on their websites.
This update should have no negligible impact to gaming performance either. Testing the patch with a Core i9-14900K, Intel claims it has recorded no measurable performance impact using the 0x12F microcode.
Most importantly, these measures are preventative and not curative, so if your system remains unstable after applying this microcode, you should contact Intel support for a replacement. Even if your processor is a few years old, it’s worth reaching out as the manufacturer extended existing warranty periods for two additional years.
While all parties involved would naturally prefer this problem didn’t exist to begin with, I’m glad to see Intel continue to provide support for its older CPUs. After all, they remain the favourites despite the launch of Core Ultra 200S replacements, as consumers continue to buy 13th and 14th Gen SKUs.
