Intel Extends thirteenth & 14th Gen Core Retail CPU Warranties By 2 Years In Response to Chip Instability Points

Capping off an intensive (and costly) week for Intel, the corporate has additionally introduced that they’re taking extra steps to deal with the continued chip stability points with desktop Raptor Lake chips – the 13^th and 14^th Technology desktop Core processors. With the intention to maintain homeowners complete, Intel will likely be extending the guarantee on retail boxed Raptor Lake chips by two years, bringing the cumulative guarantee for the chips to 5 years altogether.

This latest announcement comes as Intel remains to be within the means of getting ready their main Raptor Lake microcode replace, which is designed to mitigate the problem (or fairly, additional injury) by fixing the elevated voltage bug of their present microcode that has led to the problem within the first place. That microcode replace stays scheduled for mid-August, roughly a few weeks from now.

However till then – and relying on how shortly the replace is distributed, even afterwards – there may be nonetheless the matter of what to do with Raptor Lake desktop chips which are already too far gone and are consequently unstable. Intel’s retail boxed Raptor Lake chips ship with a 3 12 months guarantee, which given the October 2022 launch date, would have the oldest of those chips lined till October of 2025 – a bit over a 12 months from now. And whereas the in-development repair ought to imply that that is loads of time to catch and substitute any broken chips, Intel has opted to take issues one step additional by extending the chips’ guarantee to 5 years.

Total, that is much-needed bit of harm management by Intel to revive some religion of their present Raptor Lake desktop processor lineup. Even with the deliberate microcode repair, it stays unclear at greatest about what the long-term repercussions of the voltage bug is, and what it means for the lifespan of still-stable chips that obtain the fastened microcode. Within the best-case situation, an prolonged guarantee provides Raptor Lake homeowners a bit extra peace of thoughts, and in a worst-case situation, they’re now lined for a few years longer if the chip degradation points persist.

One necessary factor to notice, nevertheless, is that the prolonged guarantee will solely apply to boxed processors, i.e. Intel’s official retail chips. Intel’s unfastened chips which are offered by the tray to OEMs and sure distributors – generally known as “tray” processors – will not be lined by the prolonged guarantee. Whereas Raptor Lake tray processors do technically come with a three-year warranty of their own, Intel doesn’t present direct, end-user guarantee service for these chips. As an alternative, these warranties are serviced by the OEM or distributor that offered the chip.

With the majority of Intel’s chips going to OEMs and different skilled system builders, Intel will undoubtedly have to settle issues with these teams, as nicely. However with OEM dealings sometimes remaining behind closed doorways, it’s unlikely we’ll hear about simply what’s agreed there. Regardless, no matter Intel does (or doesn’t do) to assuage OEMs and distributors, these teams will stay accountable for dealing with guarantee claims for tray chips.

Lastly, it must be famous that whereas at present’s announcement outlines the two-year guarantee extension, it doesn’t ship the complete particulars on this system. Intel expects to launch extra particulars on the prolonged guarantee program “within the coming days.”

Intel’s full assertion is beneath:

Intel is dedicated to creating certain all prospects who’ve or are presently experiencing instability signs on their thirteenth and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported within the alternate course of. We stand behind our merchandise, and within the coming days we will likely be sharing extra particulars on two-year prolonged guarantee assist for our boxed Intel Core thirteenth and 14th Gen desktop processors.

Within the meantime, if you’re presently or beforehand skilled instability signs in your Intel Core thirteenth/14th Gen desktop system:

For customers who bought programs from OEM/System Integrators – please attain out to your system producer’s assist crew for additional help.

For customers who bought a boxed CPU – please attain out to Intel Buyer Assist for additional help.

On the identical time, we apologize for the delay in communications as this has been a difficult challenge to unravel and definitively root trigger.
–Intel Community Post

Further Particulars on Through Oxidation Difficulty

Individually, Intel’s neighborhood crew additionally posted a short replace on the by way of oxidation challenge that, though distinct from the present Raptor Lake instability points, got here into query at roughly the identical time. Intel has beforehand said that that challenge is unconnected to the continued stability points, and was fastened again in 2023. And this newest replace gives a couple of extra particulars on simply what that manufacturing challenge entailed.

The Through Oxidation challenge presently reported within the press is a minor one which was addressed with manufacturing enhancements and screens in early 2023.

The problem was recognized in late 2022, and with the manufacturing enhancements and extra screens applied Intel was in a position to verify full elimination of impacted processors in our provide chain by early 2024. Nonetheless, on-shelf stock could have persevered into early 2024 consequently.

Minor manufacturing points are an inescapable reality with all silicon merchandise. Intel repeatedly works with prospects to troubleshoot and remediate product failure studies and supplies public communications on product points when the shopper threat exceeds Intel high quality management thresholds.

–Intel Community Post