Question Is my CPU just cooked? Or is it a voltage problem?

[Charizor234]

Specs:

Board: MSI Z790 GAMING PRO WIFI

Card: MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4060 8GB

CPU: Intel Core i7-14700KF 14th gen

PSU: CORSAIR RM750e

RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5

Drive: KingSpec SSD Internal Solid State Drive 2TB

I've had this up and running since Jan of 2024. Recently saw that the Intel 13th/14th gen CPU's were experiencing microcode problems, and sure enough, my CPU was sitting at 99-100C due to incorrect voltage. I immediately updated the BIOS, but now I cannot boot (BSOD stopcode. I can access BIOS menu. IRQL NOT LESS THAN OR EQUAL, Driver overran stack buffer, or just the neverending logo screen with my keyboard and mouse disabled). I rolled back to the previous BIOS version (with factory settings) and it boots just fine, however the temperature skyrockets.

Called Intel to see about getting an RMA, however, I just don't know for sure if it's the CPU or something else that's messed up. If I try to undervolt it with the old bios, I get the same problems as well.

I've tried booting from a couple live usb's, and none of them work so far. Various kernel errors. Recovery Drives/installation drives, fail with Blue Screens of Death as well.

So the basic question here is: Should I go through with trying to get an RMA, or is it something else that could be the problem?

(also if I posted in the wrong place, please let me know and I'll move it promptly. I'm new here.)

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

How are you cooling the processor? Intel is being hammered on all front's due to their mishaps and there are a lot of videos covering it across YT, Steve on Gamer's Nexus made a couple but the 14th Gen isn't shown as the afflicted processors though you might want to take that info with a grain of salt.

When you flashed the BIOS to the latest version, did you clear the CMOS afterwards?

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hey there,

Have you cleared CMOS after each bios update? If not, then you must do this. Here's how: https://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/printer/how-to-clear-the-cmos

Try both methods.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

When you flashed the BIOS to the latest version, did you clear the CMOS afterwards?

You just nipped in there before me!

 

[Charizor234]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

How are you cooling the processor? Intel is being hammered on all front's due to their mishaps and there are a lot of videos covering it across YT, Steve on Gamer's Nexus made a couple but the 14th Gen isn't shown as the afflicted processors though you might want to take that info with a grain of salt.

When you flashed the BIOS to the latest version, did you clear the CMOS afterwards?

Hello! Thanks!

be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX CPU Air Cooler | Black ARGB Air Cooler | LGA 1700 1200 2066 1150 1151 1155 2011(-3) Square ILM Compatible | Intel and AMD AM5 AM4 CPU Cooler | 150W TDP | BK033
^
This is the product I purchased in January of 2024. When booting into the BIOS on the first version, it overheats even then. On the newer version, it sits pretty at 40/50C

This was one of the articles in question that I had read, and it does seem to mention the 14th gen:

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-com...s-are-the-root-cause-fix-coming-by-mid-august

And yes, I've:

Cleared the CMOS a couple of times.
Reset to factory optimized defaults
Disabled/Enabled Fast Boot
Switched to CSM mode
Disabled/Enabled Internal WIFI/Bluetooth card
Set the BIOS settings to Intel's "recommended settings"
and a couple other random things/settings in the BIOS to try and debug it. None of them worked.

I'm gonna call Intel again today to check up on my RMA status as well. Hopefully I can get a refund and just switch to AMD cause this is a bit annoying

 

[Charizor234]

UPDATE: Just got off with Intel. They should be giving me a refund in the next few days. I'll have around $400 USD to spend on a CPU. Willing to go up to $500. Any good suggestions on what to get? (AMD please, I don't want to have anything more to do with Intel)

UPDATE 2: I know I will have to replace the motherboard. The motherboard is perfectly fine, and I'm ok with sticking with it so I might just go with Intel. Is the Intel Core i9-13900K any good?