A Rollercoaster Ride with Intel’s Replacement CPU has good Performance Gains
After hearing about instability issues with the Intel Core i7-1400K and my processor not hitting full speed, the Intel(R) Extreme Tuning Utility showed even slower performance and thermal throttling. Intel support organized an RMA.
I received a replacement CPU from Intel, and to ensure optimal stability, I applied the latest BIOS 7E06vH7 patch from MSI for my Z790 Gaming motherboard. The updates included:
- – Update CPU Microcode 0x12B
- – ME Firmware ver: ME_16.1.32.2473
These updates were intended to fine-tune the processor’s performance and address any lingering instability issues.
After this, I then installed Windows 11.
The most notable enhancement was its ability to reach the full 5.6GHz speed, a significant leap from the 5.3GHz I had previously managed. Additionally, the operating temperatures saw a remarkable drop—from 38°C to a cooler 32°C. These changes initially suggested a more stable and efficient performance.
Below are HWinfo screenshots of both CPU’s for comparison. It seems my original processor did have max Turbo speed.
Just to add I have AI system management software which may reduce idle speed.
Despite these promising improvements, the journey took an unexpected turn. After the initial bluescreen crash, it is now ok and has passed tests.
After the update, you need to remove the Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool and reinstall it.
Change the ‘CPU Lite Load” in the BIOS from auto to Intel.
