New Microcode for Intel Processors. How Does It Affect Performance?
Motherboard manufacturers have begun rolling out BIOS updates with new microcode for Intel processors. How does it affect system performance?
Intel has finally released a new microcode version (0x129) for 13th and 14th generation Core processors that should finally eliminate stability issues. Many feared it would negatively impact CPU performance. The first tests have already appeared online.
New Intel Microcode 0x129 and Performance
The comparison was made by user JayzTwoCents. He checked the performance on the Intel Core i9-14900K system, which was mainly affected by the problems. He took several versions of microcode for comparison:
- 0x123 — May update that restored default processor settings
- 0x125 – update that fixed a bug with eTVB
- 0x129 — the latest version that is expected to finally fix the stability issue.
The results are quite clear. Performance did not change substantially. Both Cinebench R23 and Cinebench 2024 have comparable results and are within the measurement error range. The only difference is the TimeSpy Extreme test, where the result dropped from 11,941 to 11,264 points, or about 5.8 percent. It cannot be ruled out that this is due to the new microcode, but there is also no 100 percent certainty about it.
But in games again there is no difference. In Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider all results are virtually identical. JayzTwoCents also didn’t notice any difference in temperatures, voltages or CPU clocks. In short, everything works as before, only stably.
