On Monday, it initially seemed like the beginning of the end for Intel’s desktop CPU instability woes — the company confirmed a patch is coming in mid-August that should address the “root cause” of exposure to elevated voltage. But if your 13th or 14th Gen Intel Core processor is already crashing, that patch apparently won’t fix it.
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There is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546355/intel_13900k_tomwarren__2_.jpg "There is no fix for Intel’s crashing 13th and 14th Gen CPUs — any damage is permanent")
Citing unnamed sources, Tom’s Hardware reports that any degradation of the processor is irreversible, and an Intel spokesperson did not deny that when we asked. Intel is “confident” the patch will keep it from happening in the first place. (As another preventative measure, you should update your BIOS ASAP.) But if your defective CPU has been damaged, your best option is to replace it instead of tweaking BIOS settings to try and alleviate the problems.
And, Intel confirms, too-high voltages aren’t the only reason some of these chips are failing. Intel spokesperson Thomas Hannaford confirms it’s a primary cause, but the company is still investigating. Intel community manager Lex Hoyos also revealed some instability reports can be traced back to an oxidization manufacturing issue that was fixed at an unspecified date last year.
This raises lots of questions. Will Intel recall these chips? Extend their warranty? Replace them no questions asked? Pause sales like AMD just did with its Ryzen 9000? Identify faulty batches with the manufacturing defect?
We asked Intel these questions, and I’m not sure you’re going to like the answers.
Why are these still on sale without so much as an extended warranty?
Intel has not halted sales or clawed back any inventory. It will not do a recall, period. The company is not currently commenting on whether or how it might extend its warranty. It would not share estimates with The Verge of how many chips are likely to be irreversibly impacted, and it did not explain why it’s continuing to sell these chips ahead of any fix.
Intel’s not yet telling us how warranty replacements will work beyond trying customer support again if you’ve previously been rejected. It did not explain how it will contact customers with these chips to warn them about the issue.
But Intel does tell us it’s “confident” that you don’t need to worry about invisible degradation. If you’re not currently experiencing issues, the patch “will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service.” (If you don’t know if you’re experiencing issues, Intel currently suggests the Robeytech test.)
And, perhaps for the first time, Intel has confirmed just how broad this issue could possibly be. The elevated voltages could potentially affect any 13th or 14th Gen desktop processor that consumes 65W or more power, not just the highest i9-series chips that initially seemed to be experiencing the issue.
Here are the questions we asked Intel and the answers we’ve received by email from Intel’s Hannaford:
How many chips does Intel estimate are likely to be irreversibly impacted by these issues?
Intel Core 13th and 14th Generation desktop processors with 65W or higher base power – including K/KF/KS and 65W non-K variants – could be affected by the elevated voltages issue. However, this does not mean that all processors listed are (or will be) impacted by the elevated voltages issue.
Intel continues validation to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th and 14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.
For customers who are or have been experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors, Intel continues advising them to reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance. Additionally, if customers have experienced these instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors but had RMA [return merchandise authorization] requests rejected we ask that they reach out to Intel Customer Support for further assistance and remediation.
Will Intel issue a recall?
Will Intel proactively warn buyers of these chips about the warning signs or that this update is required? If so, how will it warn them?
Intel targets to release a production microcode update to OEM/ODM customers by mid-August or sooner and will share additional details on the microcode patch at that time.
Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected processors on end user systems. In the interim, as a general best practice Intel recommends that users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors, along with ensuring their BIOS is up to date.
Has Intel halted sales and / or performed any channel inventory recalls while it validates the update?
Does Intel anticipate the fix will be effective for chips that have already been in service but are not yet experiencing symptoms (i.e., invisible degradation)? Are those CPUs just living on borrowed time?
Intel is confident that the microcode patch will be an effective preventative solution for processors already in service, though validation continues to ensure that scenarios of instability reported to Intel regarding its Core 13th/14th Gen desktop processors are addressed.
Intel is investigating options to easily identify affected or at-risk processors on end user systems.
It is possible the patch will provide some instability improvements to currently impacted processors; however customers experiencing instability on their 13th or 14th Generation desktop processor-based systems should contact Intel customer support for further assistance.
Will Intel extend its warranty on these 13th Gen and 14th Gen parts, and for how long?
Given how difficult this issue was for Intel to pin down, what proof will customers need to share to obtain an RMA? (How lenient will Intel be?)
What will Intel do for 13th Gen buyers after supply of 13th Gen parts runs out? Final shipments were set to end last month, I’m reading.
Intel is committed to making sure all customers who have or are currently experiencing instability symptoms on their 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors are supported in the exchange process. This includes working with Intel’s retail and channel customers to ensure end users are taken care of regarding instability symptoms with their Intel Core 13th and/or 14th Gen desktop processors.
What will Intel do for 14th Gen buyers after supply of 14th Gen parts run out?
Will replacement / RMA’d chips ship with the microcode update preapplied beginning in August? Is Intel still shipping replacement chips ahead of that update?
Intel will be applying to microcode to 13th/14th Gen desktop processors that are not yet shipped once the production patch is released to OEM/ODM partners (targeting mid-August or sooner). For 13th /14th Gen desktop processors already in service, users will need to apply the patch via BIOS update once available.
What, if anything, can customers do to slow or stop degradation ahead of the microcode update?
Intel recommends that users adhere to Intel Default Settings on their desktop processors, along with ensuring their BIOS is up to date. Once the microcode patch is released to Intel partners, we advise users check for the relevant BIOS updates.
Will Intel share specific manufacturing dates and serial number ranges for the oxidized processors so mission-critical businesses can selectively rip and replace?
Intel will continue working with its customers on Via Oxidation-related reports and ensure that they are fully supported in the exchange process.
Why does Intel believe the instability issues do not affect mobile laptop chips?
Intel is continuing its investigation to ensure that reported instability scenarios on Intel Core 13th/14th Gen processors are properly addressed.
This includes ongoing analysis to confirm the primary factors preventing 13th / 14th Gen mobile processor exposure to the same instability issue as the 13th/14th Gen desktop processors.
That’s all we’ve heard from Intel so far, though Hannaford assured us more answers are on the way and that the company is working on remedies.
Again, if your CPU is already damaged, you need to get Intel to replace it, and if Intel won’t do so, please let us know. In the meanwhile, you’ll want to update your BIOS as soon as possible because your processor could potentially be invisibly damaging itself — and if you know your way around a BIOS, you may want to adjust your motherboard to Intel’s default performance profiles, too.
Lastly, here is that Robeytech video that Intel is recommending to Redditors to potentially help them identify if their chip has an issue. Intel says it’s looking into other ways to identify that, too.
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Technology
This drone detection technology could have intercepted assassin’s drone 2 hours before Trump shooting
The FBI has admitted the assassination attempt on former President Trump was aided by a drone. The shooter apparently used the drone to get footage of where Trump was speaking.
This is a serious security lapse and something that could have been easily prevented if the security agencies had used drone detection technology at the location where the former president took the stage.
The harrowing incident unfolded at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13. A gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, opened fire from a rooftop, hitting Mr. Trump in the right ear, killing one attendee and leaving two others badly injured.
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Drone detection system (Dedrone)
What is the drone’s role in Trump assassination attempt?
FBI Director Christopher Wray provided new details on the drone that was recovered from the gunman. While speaking before the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, Wray noted that the shooter flew a drone over the Butler fairgrounds about two hours before Trump spoke at the rally.
Wray said Crooks flew the drone around the area, roughly 200 yards from the stage, from around 3:50 p.m. to 4 p.m. Trump took the stage around 6 p.m.
“We think – but we do not know, so again, this is one of these things that is qualified because of our ongoing review – that he was live-streaming, viewing the footage [for] about 11 minutes,” he said.
According to the FBI head, investigators have successfully reverse-engineered the drone’s flight path from the day of the rally. They believe the drone footage would have provided the shooter with a view of what was behind him, essentially acting like a rearview mirror for the scene.
Wray’s statement clearly indicates that the drone played an important role in informing the gunman of his surroundings and helping him plan the assassination attempt. At the time of the shooting, the drone was in Crooks’ vehicle, he said, adding that the device is now “being exploited and analyzed by the FBI lab.”
A drone in the air (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
THE US AIR FORCE’S XQ-67A DRONE THINKS, FLIES, ACTS ON ITS OWN
How drone detection could have prevented the assassination attempt
A drone detection system could have easily alerted the Secret Service about an unidentified drone flying in the region. Such systems are already utilized by the Army and certain police departments. For example, defense company Dedrone’s airspace security solution is currently used by the St. Petersburg Police Department in Florida and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Dedrone’s official website mentions that its drone detection system can not only detect the presence of a drone but also determine the drone and pilot’s location.
Drone detection systems also capture data such as the drone’s manufacturer, model, time and length of activity, video verification and flight history (including flight path). This data could have been easily used to identify suspicious activity at the Pennsylvania rally and might have led to the arrest and prosecution of the gunman even before he attempted the assassination.
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Drone detection system (Dedrone)
HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET
How counter-drone tech could have enhanced security at the rally
It’s known that counter-drone technology is currently restricted in use. Regulations limit its deployment to specific DoD (Department of Defense) personnel during narrowly defined events. However, the rally should have qualified as the kind of National Security Event that the regulations were designed to address.
If not drone detection tech, the Secret Service could have at least employed drones to capture aerial images of the site. Drones would have provided an unobstructed view of the building from which the shooter fired at Trump. Even if there were obstacles blocking a direct line of sight, drones equipped with thermal cameras could have scanned the building for potential threats.
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Drone detection system (Dedrone)
THE CRIME-FIGHTING DRONE THAT BEATS COPS TO THE SCENE
Kurt’s key takeaway
The assassination attempt on former President Trump highlights the need for drone detection technology at high-profile events. Had such technology been in place, the Secret Service could have detected the unauthorized drone activity, potentially preventing the shooter from gathering crucial reconnaissance footage.
How do you think advancements in drone technology will impact security protocols for future high-profile events? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25546164/videoframe_59854.png "Epic will bring Fortnite to third-party iOS app stores")
Epic Games plans to bring Fortnite to the third-party iOS app store AltStore PAL, which is only available in the EU. The company made the announcement in a Thursday blog post about its strategy for mobile stores, and it says it expects to announce support for “at least two other third-party stores soon.”
While Epic says that it plans to “bring our own mobile games including Fortnite to other mobile stores that give all developers a great deal,” it didn’t provide a specific timeline. In addition to Fortnite, Epic also plans to bring Rocket League Sideswipe to AltStore PAL, spokesperson Natalie Munoz tells The Verge.
When reached for comment, AltStore’s Riley Testut pointed to Epic’s post and said that “we’re very excited to be bringing Fortnite and more to AltStore PAL.”
The company is also working on bringing Fortnite to iOS in the EU, which it says will happen “soon,” and launching its own app store on iOS and Android.
Epic also announced that “we will be ending distribution partnerships with mobile stores that serve as rent collectors without competing robustly and serving all developers fairly, even if those stores offer us a special deal for our own games.” Epic is presumably talking about Apple and Google here, given the company’s disputes with both companies over their app store practices. Munoz declined to comment.
Epic also plans to pull Fortnite and other apps (Rocket League Sideswipe and Postparty, according to Munoz) from Samsung’s Galaxy Store. The company cites two factors as to why. One is Samsung’s “Auto Blocker” feature that blocks sideloading by default (though you can turn the feature off, according to 9to5Google). Another is “public revelations in the US Epic v. Google lawsuit of ongoing Google proposals to Samsung to restrain competition in the market for Android app distribution,” presumably referring to initiatives like Project Banyan, which Google gave up on.
Apple, Google, and Samsung didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.
Update, July 25th: Added details from Epic about what apps it will remove from the Galaxy Store.
Video game performers with SAG-AFTRA will strike beginning Friday as AI “loopholes” have caused concerns.
Beginning at 12:01 Friday morning, video game voice actors and motion capture performers under the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will strike over artificial intelligence protections.
This is the second strike for SAG-AFTRA performers in video games. While the union has conceded that wages and job safety have made gains in video game contracts, AI in interactive media continues to be a source of insecurity.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF GAMERS DESCEND ON LAS VEGAS FOR THE EVO TOURNAMENT
SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez shared at the presser on Thursday that some performers’ work may be treated as “data” under current AI guidance.
“We strike as a matter of last resort. We have given this process absolutely as much time as we responsibly can. We have exhausted the other possibilities, and that is why we’re doing it now,” said Rodriguez.
SAG-AFTRA captains Iris Liu, left, and Miki Yamashita, center, and SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland lead a cheer for striking actors outside Paramount Pictures studio, Nov. 3, 2023, in Los Angeles. Hollywood’s video game performers voted to go on strike Thursday, July 25, 2024, throwing part of the entertainment industry into another work stoppage after talks for a new contract with major game studios broke down over artificial intelligence protections. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Nearly two years of negotiations with gaming creators like Warner Brothers and the Walt Disney Company have led to the strike.
SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee shared with the AP that the definition of “performer” may differ between the union and the gaming companies.
AMERICAN LEGION EMBRACES VIDEO GAMES
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the gaming companies involved, with the AP that the companies’ offer “extends meaningful AI protections.”
Cooling added, “We are disappointed the union has chosen to walk away when we are so close to a deal, and we remain prepared to resume negotiations.”
Ari Fromm, left, as “Todd,” from “Bojack Horseman,” with their dog “Mr. Peanutbutter,” and Cameron Laventure, as “Link,” from the video game, “The Legend of Zelda,” on the Halloween line during the SAG-AFTRA picket, in front of Netflix in Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Andi Norris, an actor, said to the AP “the performers who bring their body of work to these games create a whole variety of characters, and all of that work must be covered. Their proposal would carve out anything that doesn’t look and sound identical to me as I sit here, when, in truth, on any given week I am a zombie, I am a soldier, I am a zombie soldier.”
“We cannot and will not accept that a stunt or movement performer giving a full performance on stage next to a voice actor isn’t a performer,” Norris argued.
According to SAG-AFTRA, the video game agreement represents 2,500 “off-camera (voiceover) performers, on-camera (motion capture, stunt) performers, stunt coordinators, singers, dancers, puppeteers, and background performers.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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