Raptor Lake microcode patch arrives for Intel motherboards this month, ASUS and MSI say

MSI even claims all of its LGA 1700 motherboards will get updated before month end

Updated Two of Intel's biggest motherboard partners say their users will start receiving new BIOS updates containing the crucial microcode patch for Raptor Lake CPUs next week.

In separate statements, ASUS and MSI announced their plans to deliver the new microcode for 13th and 14th Gen Raptor Lake Core family of CPUs over the course of August.

The updated CPU microcode, which should be finalized in the coming days, is supposed to stop Intel's wobbly desktop microprocessors from crashing at normal clock speeds (an "instability" as the x86 giant puts it) to frying themselves and causing permanent damage if not complete failure.

Apparently, the original microcode for Raptor Lake processors applied too much voltage to chips. While increasing voltage can make it possible to hit higher clock speeds with ironclad stability, too much voltage can be dangerous and degrade the silicon.

Although microcode updates are developed by Intel, they have to be distributed via motherboard BIOSes developed by individual motherboard vendors, including DIY brands like ASUS and MSI, and also OEMs. When it comes to microcode patches, Intel (and its rival AMD) can't guarantee when users will receive it or if all users will even get it at all, since it is up to individual motherboard makers to issue new BIOS versions.

That's not ideal for both Chipzilla and owners of Raptor Lake CPUs, as the longer it takes for the microcode to disseminate, the more opportunities there are for more chips to fail, providing more fuel for potential class action lawsuits.

However, at least ASUS and MSI seem to be working fast on updating their motherboards, with both saying that they'll start distributing BIOSes with the new microcode next week. Intel said the microcode itself wouldn't be done until the middle of the month.

MSI's commitment goes even further as the company claims every single one of its 600 and 700 series Intel motherboards will get the new microcode before the month is over. Of course, the latest and highest end motherboards equipped with the Z790 chipset are up first, with lower end and older models to follow.

ASUS and MSI are the first and so far only motherboard vendors to publicly announce how they plan on distributing the new microcode. The Register asked ASRock and Gigabyte, the two other major motherboard manufacturers, for comment on their timelines for distributing the microcode patch. We've also contacted OEM giants HP and Dell. ®

Updated to add on August 9, 2024

Ahead of schedule, Intel's microcode has already been completed and motherboard vendors are releasing the first BIOS updates for motherboards. MSI was the first to begin distributing new BIOSes, albeit as beta versions, for some of its top-end Z790 motherboards. Shortly afterwards, ASRock updated every single one of its 700 series motherboards, including budget B760 models.

"The two tech companies have yet to update any 600 series boards, however. For its part, Gigabyte says it expects all of its motherboards to get updated by the second week of September at the latest, a representative toldThe Register.

ASUS, HP, and Dell have yet to respond to our inquiries.