Intel in trouble: Class action lawsuit due to instability problems with 14th and 13th generation CPUs

Intel may be facing a legal challenge as instability issues with 13th and 14th generation CPUs are causing increasing displeasure. The law firm Abington Cole Ellery has announced that it will investigate these issues further and is currently looking into the possibility of a class action lawsuit. The cause of this legal threat lies in the repeated reports from customers of crashes and instability with certain Intel processors, particularly the 65-watt variants.

The affected processors belong to the Raptor Lake series and its refresh variants, which are based on the 13th and 14th generation of Intel Core architecture. These chips are characterized by high computing power, especially in the area of gaming and professional applications. However, it is precisely in these areas that users report considerable problems: Crashes during demanding games, application freezes and system instabilities that sometimes completely paralyze the operation of the computer. These problems not only have an impact on end users, but also on software development. Some game developers have even considered using AMD-based systems for the development of their games due to the persistent instabilities, as these are considered to be more stable.

The first reports of instability occurred in December 2022, just a few months after the launch of the 13th generation of Intel Core processors. At that time, users reported problems with “Out of Video Memory” errors with Core i9 CPUs, especially in conjunction with NVIDIA’s RTX 40 graphics cards. Over the course of 2023, reports of similar problems became more frequent, with AAA games being particularly affected. These games are often based on the Unreal Engine, which is known to perform shader compilation at the beginning of the game, which was apparently a frequent trigger for crashes.

The issue then reached a wider audience in February 2024. An article by Sebastian Castellanos drew attention to the stability problems, which led to increased coverage in the tech press. In the following months, more and more media and tech portals took up the issue and reported on the difficulties users were experiencing with the affected Intel processors.

In April 2024, both NVIDIA and Intel officially responded to the allegations. NVIDIA clarified that the problems were not caused by their graphics cards, but by the Intel CPUs. Intel then announced an investigation into the incidents and worked closely with motherboard manufacturers to develop BIOS updates to improve the stability of the affected systems. However, these updates often resulted in performance degradation, which further frustrated users.

In May and June 2024, Intel finally discovered a bug in the eTVB microcode, which was identified as a possible cause of the instabilities. However, despite the introduction of a microcode patch, the issue could not be fully resolved. Reports of instability and performance degradation continued, further exacerbating the situation for Intel, and the ongoing problems and customer dissatisfaction led more and more of those affected to consider switching to AMD systems, which are considered more stable and reliable. Particularly annoying for many users was the fact that Intel refused to return and replace (RMA) the faulty processors in many cases. It was only after sustained pressure from the community and increased media attention that Intel began to offer affected customers the option of an exchange. However, it was also reported that the process was slow and not all customers received the same treatment.

In July 2024, more details came to light when tech media outlets such as GamersNexus and Level1Techs revisited the instability issues and delved deeper into the root cause. They reported on possible oxidation issues with certain CPU batches that could also be contributing to the instabilities. Intel responded by confirming that a batch of CPUs was indeed affected by this problem, but that there was no solution for processors that had already been degraded. The situation escalated further when, in August 2024, the law firm Abington Cole Ellery considered a possible class action lawsuit against Intel. This legal action could have far-reaching consequences for the company, including the obligation to pay damages to affected customers. In the past, similar lawsuits have resulted in significant financial burdens for companies, especially when they result in class actions.

Intel is now under considerable pressure to solve the problem once and for all. The company has announced that it will release another microcode patch in mid-August 2024 to address the increased voltages in the affected processors. However, it remains to be seen whether this patch can eliminate the actual cause of the instabilities. Experts assume that further investigations and possibly additional technical adjustments will be required to fully resolve the problem.

If the class action lawsuit is indeed filed, this could have an impact not only on Intel itself, but also on the entire CPU market. The loss of confidence could lead to a decline in sales, especially if the problem also affects the next generation of Arrow Lake processors, which are due to be launched in the near future.

Overall, the current situation shows how important it is for companies to respond to customer feedback and address technical issues at an early stage. The ongoing instabilities with Intel’s 13th and 14th generation processors could damage the company in the long term if a satisfactory solution is not found. The coming weeks will be crucial to see how Intel deals with the challenge and whether the measures announced are sufficient to win back customer confidence.

Source: Abington Cole Ellery