Intel still doesn't know what is causing Core i9 desktop CPUs to crash
What does the eTVB (enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost) feature do, and how is it related to the ongoing stability issues?
The eTVB (enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost) feature is a technology developed by Intel specifically for its Raptor Lake S processors1. It is designed to provide a burst of performance in games and applications by overclocking the processor's cores above the maximum turbo frequency under certain conditions. The eTVB takes advantage of the thermal headroom and turbo power budget to unlock extra CPU performance when the processor is operating below its maximum temperature.
Regarding the ongoing stability issues, it was initially reported that the root cause was an incorrect value in the microcode algorithm associated with the eTVB feature2. This mistake made the feature function incorrectly in some way, causing stability issues in scenarios when higher than standard power and voltage limits were available with many overclocking-ready motherboards.
However, Intel later clarified that while the eTVB bug may be a contributing factor to the instability, it is not the root cause. The company is still investigating the issue, alongside its partners, to determine the actual root cause of the stability problems affecting the unlocked Intel Core 13th and 14th generation (K/KF/KS) desktop processors.
What did the German blog Igor's Lab initially report as the underlying cause of the instability in Intel's CPUs?
The German blog Igor's Lab initially reported that the underlying cause of the instability in Intel's CPUs was "an incorrect value in microcode algorithm associated with the eTVB (enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost) feature."
What feature of the Raptor Lake S processors, developed by Intel, is linked to the reported performance bursts in games and applications?
The feature of the Raptor Lake S processors developed by Intel that is linked to the reported performance bursts in games and applications is the enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost (eTVB) technology. This technology allows the processors to overclock their cores above the maximum turbo frequency under certain conditions, providing a burst of performance in games and applications.