Intel disaster.

[2525252525]

For those with warranty concerns, it was answered by Intel on their community board:

Additional Warranty Updates on Intel Core 13th/14th Gen Desktop Processors

*9/25/24 - Please go to the following link for the latest updates: Intel Core 13th and 14th Gen Desktop Processor Vmin Instability Issue Root Cause* Following Intel’s earlier announcement regarding two (2) year warranty extension – from date of purchase, up to a maximum of five (5) years - on...

community.intel.com

Then, as per their own resource guide:

Warranty Policy for Intel® Boxed and Tray Processors

Provides information on processor warranty eligibility.

www.intel.com

Then having a look at their terms and conditions:

Intel® Boxed Processors Three-Year Limited Warranty Terms and...

Three-year limited warranty information for Intel® Boxed Processors in English and other languages.

www.intel.com

The extended warranty applicable to the 13th and 14th generation is covered below that I have quoted above, but what needs to be known is covered in this PDF:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/s...Gen-Limited-Warranty-Terms-and-Conditions.pdf (PDF)

Though not explicitly stated what is covered under the extended warranty, it can be assumed that it is the same conditions as under the limited warranty. It is then a 5-year limited warranty on boxed CPUs.

As should be known, grey market CPUs won't be directly covered by Intel. Only authorised channels are honoured.

If true this is going to be a painful lesson for people who used the grey import route.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

Via distribution channel.

No, you can RMA directly to Intel. They don't even charge shipping fees.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

No, you can RMA directly to Intel. They don't even charge shipping fees.

I need to add to this. Your region has to match the region in which the CPU was sold. If your CPU is on record as being sold in the USA, you can't return it from South Africa.

I haven't returned a CPU to Intel for several years, but my last experience (around 2019) was as follows:

They will walk you through nonsense. CPU doesn't POST? Update the motherboard drivers. Just wait an hour or two before saying you've tried that and it didn't work.

Once the RMA has been approved (note that approval of an RMA is not approval of a replacement - an RMA being approved means you can send it in) they will send you a prepaid waybill from you to The Netherlands.

A lot of the time, a new CPU will be dispatched from NL to you before yours reaches NL. If this is the case, you generally have a new CPU within a week or so.

If they need to test your CPU first, the process is quick. It generally reaches them in 3-4 days, and approval for replacement can be issued as quickly as the same day. Total turnaround time is generally less than 10 days.

I've only had one RMA denied outright - a CPU given to me which was faulty. It was purchased in Taiwan, and Intel would only approve the RMA if I returned it from Taiwan. This was very recently, and I don't believe this has always been policy. I think they're trying to maintain control of channel by punishing grey imports (worldwide) from their side.

 

[Fulcrum29]

No, you can RMA directly to Intel. They don't even charge shipping fees.

I was under the impression that they use their IAD, their authorised (local) distribution channel. I have had direct shipments, one by AMD which I assume was due to not having a local allocation available.

Where there isn't local distribution, almost all brands I have worked with regard to product exchange, internationally, had me in contact with their business unit in The Netherlands. There are also agents.

From commercial business, the partners, or distros, handle the RMA. I only do the reporting, and submit it to them.

This is my experience, and as much as I will add.

 

[Fulcrum29]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1821522427920212177

"Single-threaded performance drops a bit"

It is negligible.

Time will tell whether this is a cure.

I don't know the source, but in the commentary.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1821543673437315574

All in all, lower voltages are noted, but no real negative impact (at this time). The "SA" bug seems mitigated. Longer testing periods are necessitated.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

I was under the impression that they use their IAD, their authorised (local) distribution channel. I have had direct shipments, one by AMD which I assume was due to not having a local allocation available.

You're supposed to, but as long as you're returning from the correct region they don't mind in the slightest.

Where there isn't local distribution, almost all brands I have worked with regard to product exchange, internationally, had me in contact with their business unit in The Netherlands. There are also agents.

What is it with NL? I can only assume it's because they have the largest port in Europe?

This is my experience, and as much as I will add.

Because you don't feel it'll add more, or because you wont? If the former, go for it, I'm always up for an interesting read. If the latter, understandable

 

[Fulcrum29]

J2C did a vid:

There is some impact, and I don't think that this will be the last patch to address the issue. I think the issue may be mitigated, but this patch was pushed in advance to address concerns. Another patch is likely to be released to optimise the package. For now, the issue seems to be contained.

Intel's own stated max is 1.72v, applicable to both 13th and 14th gen. From Jay's video it seems to now reach 1.5(25) without exceeding it. I didn't watch the video with sound, only watched the slides with one eye.

 

[tetrasect]

Intel 14th-gen stability BIOS update obliterates multicore performance with 23% loss in some benchmarks

PC Guide tested two different heavily multithreaded benchmarks immediately before and immediately after the BIOS update and found consistent performance degradation of 22–23% in each.

In Cinebench, the unlocked Core i9's score dropped a whopping 9,123 points from 39,783 to 30,660 points — or 22.9%. The publication's Blender render test also saw significant performance losses of 22%. The consistency of the performance loss in the multicore benchmarks — one synthetic and the other more realistic — indicates there is some significance to the results.

Fortunately, there was no apparent effect to gaming performance, with the CPU scoring identical FPS in Counter Strike 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Days Gone before and after the update.

Interestingly, during both the Blender and Cinebench multicore tests, per-core CPU voltage was slightly higher after the update, meanwhile per-core CPU clocks and CPU temperatures were significantly lower after the update. Looking at the average CPU temperatures and abnormally low clock speeds during the testing, it's reasonable to conclude that something about Intel's Thermal Velocity Boost wasn't working properly during the testing.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...with-23-loss-in-some-benchmarks.873898.0.html

 

[William1102]

Just built a i5 14500 pc before this Intel issue came up

I see my cpu isn’t even covered under the extended warranty

What is the best option for me, do I just do the microcode update and I’ll be good ?

Pc is basically for office use and no gaming

Mobo is a Asus prime B760-M

 

[tetrasect]

Just built a i5 14500 pc before this Intel issue came up

I see my cpu isn’t even covered under the extended warranty

What is the best option for me, do I just do the microcode update and I’ll be good ?

Pc is basically for office use and no gaming

Mobo is a Asus prime B760-M

Yup.

I would also slightly undervolt it. Usually gives better performance while also reducing temperature, wear and power consumption.

Plenty guides out there.

 

[2525252525]

Yup.

I would also slightly undervolt it. Usually gives better performance while also reducing temperature, wear and power consumption.

Plenty guides out there.

You sure recommending screwing with non spec voltages is a good idea right now? You see the price of some of these CPUs?

 

[tetrasect]

You sure recommending screwing with non spec voltages is a good idea right now? You see the price of some of these CPUs?

Lowering the voltage cannot damage anything. Only raising the voltage can.

 

[2525252525]

Lowering the voltage cannot damage anything. Only raising the voltage can.

What if doing that also messes with oxidation related issues? Some of these CPUs aren't okay, think sticking to manufacturer patching state is a safest.

 

[tetrasect]

What if doing that also messes with oxidation related issues?

Huh? No.

Some of these CPUs aren't okay, think sticking to manufacturer patching state is a safest.

Do whatever you want. Fact remains that undervolting is good for a CPU and will prolong it's life while increasing efficiency.

And BTW if intel setting were "safe", this disaster never would have happened.

 

[Mirai]

Once the RMA has been approved (note that approval of an RMA is not approval of a replacement - an RMA being approved means you can send it in) they will send you a prepaid waybill from you to The Netherlands.

A lot of the time, a new CPU will be dispatched from NL to you before yours reaches NL. If this is the case, you generally have a new CPU within a week or so.

If they need to test your CPU first, the process is quick. It generally reaches them in 3-4 days, and approval for replacement can be issued as quickly as the same day. Total turnaround time is generally less than 10 days.

I've only had one RMA denied outright - a CPU given to me which was faulty. It was purchased in Taiwan, and Intel would only approve the RMA if I returned it from Taiwan. This was very recently, and I don't believe this has always been policy. I think they're trying to maintain control of channel by punishing grey imports (worldwide) from their side.

What happens if they test the CPU and find no fault, and you've already received the replacement?

Doesn't SARS charge you tax (and duty, if applicable) on the replacement part?

 

[longboy]

Update:

Intel says the i9 chip I bought is not from South Africa and has to be RMA'd from country of Origin.

I'm stuck dealing with Evetech now...

 

[Mirai]

Update:

Intel says the i9 chip I bought is not from South Africa and has to be RMA'd from country of Origin.

I'm stuck dealing with Evetech now...

I heard Evetech provides best in class customer support experience.

Feel sorry for you dude. This may end up being a write off.

 

[Vorastra]

Update:

Intel says the i9 chip I bought is not from South Africa and has to be RMA'd from country of Origin.

I'm stuck dealing with Evetech now...

Absolute BS.
How about Intel shut tf up and fix their defective garbage.

 

[Progenix Oj101]

What happens if they test the CPU and find no fault, and you've already received the replacement?

Doesn't SARS charge you tax (and duty, if applicable) on the replacement part?

They probably keep it to use for the next RMA replacement, I have no idea. They’re not obligated to give a new in box replacement.

There’s no VAT or tax or anything as it gets invoiced at R 0.00.

Absolute BS.
How about Intel shut tf up and fix their defective garbage.

I mentioned this previously. If you want to RMA through channel you need to purchase through channel. If you want to RMA through the vendor you need to to purchase a CPU from the region purchase was authorized. People want the best of all worlds by buying cheap but unfortunately that’s not how it works.

 

[Vorastra]

I mentioned this previously. If you want to RMA through channel you need to purchase through channel. If you want to RMA through the vendor you need to to purchase a CPU from the region purchase was authorized. People want the best of all worlds by buying cheap but unfortunately that’s not how it works.

Literally what difference does it make to Intel. It's their product. If they have an issue billing whatever division for replacements then do it internally.

It doesn't change that their **** product is faulty.