Intel has released its third major microcode patch, “0x12B,” aimed at fixing instability issues in its 13th and 14th-generation processors. This comes after the “0x129” patch, which followed the original “0x125” update. While these patches have helped reduce crashes and other problems, they cannot reverse any existing damage to affected chips. Damaged chips may still need to be downclocked or undervolted for stable performance.
The instability issues are linked to a Vmin shift, which causes the motherboard and BIOS to request excessive voltage during idle or light activity, potentially leading to crashes. The new “0x12B” update is expected to fix this issue while retaining the benefits of the previous patches.
The update will be rolled out by system and motherboard manufacturers via BIOS updates, which could take a few weeks to reach users. Intel has assured that there is no noticeable performance difference between the “0x125” and “0x12B” patches, with any variations being within the normal range of performance fluctuations.
