Intel’s Raptor Lake Microcode Update Might Work For, If You Use Default Power Settings

You Will Still Be Able To Overclock After Your Next BIOS Update, If You Dare

The Raptor Lake microcode update to prevent Intel’s chips from drinking too much juice and permanently falling down is being distributed as a BIOS update, with the onus on your motherboard manufacture to make it available.  If you are running a Raptor Lake you should definitely take a look for any new BIOS updates, especially ones mentioning microcode update (0x129).   That update should smarten up your motherboard’s Enhanced Thermal Velocity Boost (eTVB) and simultaneously cut your Raptor Lake off of pulling anything above 1.55V.

The problem is it doesn’t necessarily work as expected on some motherboards.

The Register includes the findings of one tester in their article, where a Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Master X was providing an i9-14900K with up to 1.5792V which is into the danger zone.   After additional testing it was discovered that the 1.55V limit requires both the microcode update and for the power settings on the motherboard to be set to Intel Default Settings.  If you are not running at those default settings your Raptor Lake could still electrify itself. 

Make sure to check through the BIOS after you update to ensure you are actually protected against sudden silicon immolation.