MSI has taken the lead as the first motherboard manufacturer to release the latest 0x12B microcode BIOS patch aimed at resolving instability issues found in Intel’s 14th and 13th Gen CPUs. This swift rollout targets MSI’s Z790 and B760 motherboards, marking a significant step towards improved stability for users.
Yesterday, Intel unveiled its 0x12B microcode patch, promising a solution to the instability problems caused by elevated voltage requests during idle or light activity periods in the 14th and 13th Gen CPUs. According to Intel, the new BIOS patch will maintain performance levels within run-to-run variance, meaning users will likely not notice any significant performance differences post-upgrade, maintaining the smooth experience they’re accustomed to.
MSI has announced the first wave of motherboards to receive this microcode BIOS patch, covering a total of 14 products. The list mostly includes B760 series designs, along with two Z790 PCH-based designs. More patches are expected to roll out for additional motherboards in the coming days, and other manufacturers will likely follow MSI’s lead soon.
Here’s the complete list of MSI motherboards that have already received the update:
– 7D98 1.0 PRO B760-P WIFI DDR4
– 7D98 1.0 PRO B760-P DDR4
– 7D98 2.0 PRO B760-P WIFI
– 7D98 2.0 PRO B760-VC WIFI
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI II
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI II (MIA WHITE)
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI IV
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI III
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI 7 BULK
– 7D98 2.1 PRO B760-VC WIFI HS BULK
– 7E01 5.0 Z790MPOWER
– 7D89 2.2 MPG Z790 CARBON MAX WIFI
– 7D89 2.2 MPG Z790 CARBON MAX WIFI II
The official MSI BIOS changelog primarily states “Update CPU Microcode 0x12B,” with no further details provided. However, internal sources confirm Intel’s claim that there is no notable performance difference compared to the previous firmware. This is reassuring news, considering previous mitigations had negatively impacted the overall performance of the 14th and 13th Gen Core i9 chips due to stringent TDP and power limits.
Stay tuned as more firmware updates are released for other MSI motherboards. We will also keep you informed when other manufacturers begin offering BIOS updates featuring the 0x12B microcode patch.
