Intel 13th/14th Gen Core Stability Patch: Linux Test Results #
Intel recently released the 0x129 microcode patch aimed at resolving stability issues affecting its 13th and 14th Gen Core processors. After several updates, the patch has shown promising results on Windows, and according to tests from Phoronix, the performance on Linux is equally satisfactory.
Benchmark Testing on Linux #
Phoronix conducted 188 benchmark tests on the 0x129 microcode, comparing it with the earlier 0x125 version.
-
3DMark Wild Life Extreme test results showed no signs of performance degradation. In fact, there was a slight, negligible frame rate improvement.
-
7-Zip compression, PyPerformance, PyBench, Cryptsetup, and Perl tests were also conducted, covering different aspects of the CPU, such as floating-point units (FPUs) and instruction set architecture (ISA). The results indicated minimal performance loss after applying the patch.
Overall, Intel’s 13th and 14th Gen CPUs showed almost no performance loss after the 0x129 microcode update on Linux.
Performance Impact in WireGuard #
However, in the WireGuard test, there was an 11.8% performance decrease, which might be attributed to the patch’s influence on single-thread performance. While the impact is minor, it’s noteworthy for those using the VPN solution.
Intel’s Official Response #
Intel previously emphasized in an official statement that internal testing showed performance fluctuations between the pre- and post-patch scenarios were within normal error margins. Popular benchmarks like 3DMark Time Spy, WebXPRT 4, CineBench R24, and Blender 4.2.0 showed consistent results.
However, certain sub-tests, such as WebXPRT Online Homework and PugetBench GPU Effects Score, experienced minor impacts.
In terms of gaming performance, the patch caused negligible changes across most games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Total War: Warhammer III – The Mirror of Madness. However, Hitman 3: Dartmoor showed a slightly more noticeable change.
Intel also mentioned that the boost frequency promised at the time of product release could still be reached, but overclocked performance will inevitably be slightly affected.
Core Load Impact #
For full-core load applications, such as video editing and rendering, there may be a small performance loss. However, for single-core applications or gaming, which typically don’t utilize full core load, the impact is minimal.
Intel recommends that users of the 13th/14th Gen Core processors adopt the default settings to get the best daily experience.
Conclusion: Voltage Control and Future Prevention #
Intel’s analysis shows that the patch resolves issues related to voltage increase in affected processors. The minimum operating voltage (Vmin) of multiple cores is significantly higher, which accumulates over time, affecting overall processor stability.
The 0x129 microcode update will now limit voltage requests above 1.55V to prevent future instability in processors that have not shown signs of instability yet.
Intel also confirmed that future processors will no longer be affected by this issue, thanks to comprehensive validation.
